Brand · West Germany · 1903–1990s

Used Olympia typewriters

Olympia grew out of AEG's typewriter business, which began in Berlin in 1903 and later moved to Erfurt. After the Second World War the company re-established itself in Wilhelmshaven, West Germany, where it built the SM portables that many typewriter mechanics consider the best of their kind: the SM3 (1953), the SM4 (1958), the restyled SM7 (early 1960s) and the SM9 (1964 to the late 1970s). All are segment-shift machines, so the carriage stays put for capitals and the touch is light. The smaller Splendid 33 and the SG1 office standard round out the range collectors look for. SM machines are common on eBay and not cheap: in late 2026 most unserviced SM3, SM4, SM7 and SM9 listings asked about $250–525 delivered, with the SM7 usually the value pick.