Perhaps the most appealing of all type-writer decals is the L.C. Smith tri-horse-with-yoke decal used by the company, not only on its type-writers, but on packing boxes, stationery, and envelopes. Note the legend, "Write in sight" on the decal. L.C. Smith was not the earliest visible writer, but certainly one of the earliest, second to the Hammond and Underwood.

The L.C. Smith type-writer incorporated some advanced features. As far as we are aware, the No. 2 (actually manufactured before the No. 1) was the first machine that was basket shifted instead of carriage shifted. However, the typing basket shifted up instead of down. The platen was easily removed without tools by moving back a clip over the axle between the platen and the platen knob on both sides of the carriage (see photos at right). This not only allowed replacement of worn-outs platens, but the quick insertion of platens for special purposes, such as manifolding and typing index cards. This featured stayed with the L.C. Smith Office model type-writer until the end of production as Smith-Corona, Inc.

Together with our No. 2, the Conservatory was fortunate enough to acquire an example of an original L.C. Smith & Bros. type-wrtier packing box, of the sort our machine would have been shipped in, fresh from the factory, in l9l0. Note the distinctive three-horses-and-yoke logo engraved (not painted) on the right side of the box. Both type-writer and packing box were acquired from Mr. John Tokar of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Agents of the Conservatory conducted the acquisition from Mr. Tokar at the trunks of our cars in the parking lot of a local airport under surveillance of the TSA.