This is one of the most common later-model manual portable typewriters. While the Classic 12 was introduced in 1964, its production only ended in 1983 when Smith-Corona ended manual typewriter production. This typewriter is from the 1980s--its high-impact carrying case was designed in 1979. (See the patent at www.google.com/patents/USD259975.pdf ). This typewriter is frequently found at thrift stores--never hesitate to open a typewriter case (often manual typewriters come in the same cases as their electric counterparts.) I found this machine at Goodwill for $10 in October 2012. When I saw the carrying case, I first thought that it would be another electric typewriter. Then I opened it, and thought "wow," because it was a manual typewriter, and it looked brand-new. These pictures are of this typewriter.
Below is a two-page article from the Seattle Times/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 2, 1983 announcing the end of Smith-Corona manual typewriter production.
