Smith-Corona Galaxie

In 1959, Smith-Corona redesigned its popular portable typewriter. A new bodyshell, designed by David O. Chase and Philip Stevens replaced the rounded bodyshell introduced in 1949. Where the styling of the previous generation of portable was soft and rounded, the new model was crisp, angular, and thoroughly modern. The keyboard surround and carriage ends were made of plastic; the keyboard surround was white plastic, and the carriage-ends were body-colored. The rear of the carriage was brushed stainless-steel, with the Smith-Corona logo on the back. Even the name was modern--Galaxie. While the bodyshell was redesigned, the Galaxie's mechanism dated back to 1932, with slight enhancements in 1949 (plastic keytops and new linespace mechanism), and 1954 (keyset tabulator). It was available in Star-Mist Blue, Oasis Green, Jet Black, Apache Tan, Hunter Red, and Driftwood Gray. 

1961 Smith-Corona Galaxie Bodemer Typewriter Collection

Early Galaxie portables were equipped with an olive green carrying case, with a textured band in olive that wrapped from the case's handle to the hinges. Around 1961, the carrying case received a new checkerboard covering of black and charcoal. The textured band was replaced with a two-inch grooved chrome band. In 1963, Smith-Corona redesigned its carrying case. The removable anchoring mechanism that held the portable in place (carried over from 1954's Holiday carrying case) was replaced by a built-in mechanism, similar to those in Smith-Corona's carrying cases from 1932-1954. This new case was called the "Trimline Carrying Case." It would survive in production until Smith-Corona ended production of its ten-inch carriage portable typewriters in 1974.

The Galaxie continued in production until 1964, when it was replaced by the Galaxie II.