Saturday, April 26, 2014

Olivetti Lettera 32s in Detail, Compared Through Generations

Machines A, B, C, and D left to right, bottom to top. 

Top to bottom: B, A/D, C 
Top to bottom: D, B/C, A 
Top to bottom: B, A/C/D 
Top to bottom: B, A/D (C has a ribbon cover from another machine, but is the crinkle paint variety). 
The ones made in Spain have labeled Tab keys, but the Italy made ones do not. 
Top you see what most Olivettis have, bottom is the mechanism on machine B, the earliest example.  This design is better I think than the newer machines. 
Top is machine B, the better design with one moving piece on the carriage lock.  The others are all the bottom which has two moving parts and does not work as well. 
Top to bottom: B, A/C, D
Here are some of these machines on the Typewriter Database:
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16 comments:

  1. x over itApril 26, 2014 at 8:49 PM

    Nice post. :) I'm always curious about how Spanish and Italian Olivettis differ. Would you say that the two Italian-made ones are better than the Spanish ones?

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    1. MarkApril 26, 2014 at 11:16 PM

      My Italians are older than the Spanish ones, so I do not know if they are different because of nationality or age. I can tell you the two older Italians are tighter than the newer Spanish ones which have a loose and flakey feel which is not entirely bad.

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  2. AnonymousApril 27, 2014 at 10:14 PM

    Interesting comparisons. The side of the carriage on Machine B is like that on Ivrea-made Lettera 22s, which are different to that on my Glasgow-made Lettera 22 (and probably the Spanish-made '22s). So it seems the '22s had similar variations. I have a Spanish '32 like your machine A.

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    1. MarkApril 28, 2014 at 12:10 PM

      I wonder whether any 22s had the odd ribbon retainers on my machine B.

      Delete
  3. notagainApril 28, 2014 at 5:03 PM

    That's very interesting, thanks for posting this. You might be interested in an old post of mine if you haven't seen it already.
    http://manualentry.blogspot.com/2011/09/lettera-22-and-32-comparison.html

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    1. MarkApril 28, 2014 at 5:13 PM

      So you have an early 32 judging by the end of the carriage, but you have the screws still for the ribbon spools. What I want to know more about are the spring-loaded flaps on mine.
      Good post, thanks for linking. I think I do remember seeing it before but I know more now and it was much more interesting to look at the pictures.

      Delete
  4. Rob BowkerApril 29, 2014 at 4:38 PM

    Those ribbon spool clips are entirely new to me. All my portable, semi-portable and standard Olivettis have screwtops, so thanks for an insightful comparison.

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  5. shordziMay 6, 2014 at 12:25 PM

    Just discovered your blog - thank you!

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  6. Don LampertMay 6, 2014 at 7:18 PM

    So do you like these Olivetti's? I've only had one and was pretty much unimpressed with it, so I don't look for them. Seems they got pretty cheap in latter years.

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    1. MarkMay 10, 2014 at 8:50 AM

      I love them, and I think the newer ones are actually better to type on. They feel a little flakey/cheap, but that makes them faster I think.

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  7. michaelianyJuly 2, 2014 at 10:39 AM

    wonderful post! the first typewriter I got was a lettera 32, made in spain. ive been on the lookout for one made in Italy bc I preferred that it said lettera 32 on the front rather than Olivetti lettera 32. it also has the crinkle paint and im pretty sure it has the Olivetti logo on the ribbon cover. ill have to dig it out to check. I haven't used it ever :( ive been meaning to restring its mainstring and keep putting it off. I do use my lettera 22s and have gathered that the 32s have a more solid base, obviously since its a bigger heavier machine.
    Once again great post - good to see these compared!

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  8. #itsjillApril 10, 2018 at 6:12 PM

    I have an Olivetti Lettera 32, and the Y and Z keys are reversed. Also, there are three or four unique character keys. Can you give me any information on this typewriter?

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    1. MarkApril 11, 2018 at 9:17 AM

      It sounds like it is probably German. I'd have to see a photo of the keyboard.

      Delete
  9. RichardJuly 17, 2021 at 1:47 PM

    Just got a Spanish one, year 1973 or 1974, it has the unlabelled Tab key. I also have an even later Yugoslavian one that has also the unlabelled key. It seems to vary either by year or may be by keyboard layout.

    Also, besides the screw top ribbon spools and the type with the brackets, my Yugoslavian example has 'normal' spools, without anything on top. Just relying on gravity....

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    1. MarkJuly 18, 2021 at 11:02 AM

      Interesting... I have not seen a spool like that on an Olivetti. I will have to look out for a Yugo one so I can form my own opinions about it!

      Delete
  10. El Auseva DigitalJanuary 16, 2022 at 7:20 AM

    Mi ollivetti Lettera 32 es algo diferente ya que en la parte posterior se puede "Hispano Olivetti/ fabricada en España". ¿Alguien me puede indicar cómo puedo averiguar el año de fabricación y dónde puedo consultar el número de serie?

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