1967 Smith-Corona Corsair Deluxe
Up for sale is a cute little Smith-Corona Corsair Deluxe which was manufactured in England the late 1960s. This typewriter is in excellent shape both cosmetically and mechanically, and is fully functional right down to the bell. Universal ribbons do not fit this machine, however Corsair Deluxe ribbons can be commonly found elsewhere online, otherwise the original spools in this machine can be re-thread once the current ribbon dries up. Unfortunately, the left-hand platen knob is missing, so this machine is priced accordingly.
This would not be my first recommendation for a workhorse to be used heavily for something like a novel. However, this typewriter is great for the occasional writer or anyone interested in making the move to a manual typewriter, as this one is very easy to use and care for despite not using universal ribbons sold on this site. The owner's manual for this machine can be downloaded for free here:
http://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/SCCorsairDeluxe.pdf
If you're looking for a first-time portable that can be used frequently for smaller writing tasks, then this is an excellent choice. The light-weight and portable design is also great if you want to bring it along with you on your travels.