Jump to content

Typewriters ... Any Interest?

Dickkooty2

By Dickkooty2
in It Writes, But It Is Not A Fountain Pen ....

 Share

Recommended Posts

Dickkooty2 Vintage

Dickkooty2

Posted
  • Author
Posted

What a nice a Lettera 22 with a family history!

 

I hope you have the case in tact. If you do, please notice that the lining may be surprising:

fpn_1519591480__screen_shot_2018-02-25_a

 

In the 60s, Olivetti produced its machines at a facility in Glasgow.

 

My case has suffered from zipper separation. I would like to find another, but as the writer says " ‘has about as much chance as a one-armed blind man in a dark room trying to shove a pound of melted butter into a wild-cat’s ear with a red-hot needle.’.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 62
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Dickkooty2

    21

  • shamwari

    5

  • Inky_paws

    4

  • ac12

    3

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Posted Images

shamwari Mint

shamwari

Posted
Posted

Wow, I like the inside of that case!

 

I had forgotten that there was an Olivetti factory in Glasgow. I came to Scotland in 1978 and looking at the web I see that the factory was still going then, having been opened in 1949. It was sold to Smith Corona in 1981 to make daisywheel typewriters, closed in 1983 and was demolished in 1989.

 

My case lining is very sober compared to yours, as can be seen in the pic below.

 

post-141727-0-58674800-1519682323_thumb.jpg

"If you want to succeed in the world, you don't have to be much cleverer than other people. You just have to be one day earlier." -- Leo Szilard

Link to comment
Share on other sites
shamwari Mint

shamwari

Posted
Posted

I also have the original plastic dust cover but it is now getting a bit hard with age and also seems to have shrunk slightly. I wonder if I can get some plastic restorer for it?

 

post-141727-0-56792000-1519682617_thumb.jpg

"If you want to succeed in the world, you don't have to be much cleverer than other people. You just have to be one day earlier." -- Leo Szilard

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Dickkooty2 Vintage

Dickkooty2

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for the follow-up on the fate of the SCM nee Olivetti factory. It is miraculous that a typewriter made in Glasgow and purchased many years ago second-hand in Rhodesia should return to the west coast of Scotland.

 

My case is not the glorious tartan of the Glasgow-produced, but rather the tan-lined case of the made-in-Italy model.

 

fpn_1519690413__fpn_1513301699__screen_sSince this picture was taken, two snap restraining flaps similar to the factory top strap have been installed.

 

As the NYT used to say "in separate but related stories ..."

 

 

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/308502-taking-an-art-class-at-age-81-34/?p=39669

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/308502-taking-an-art-class-at-age-81-34/?p=3980923

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Retro-user Rare

Retro-user

Posted
Posted (edited)

For those who favor typewriters, what is the ideal desk height in terms of ergonomics? I always use for a computer keyboard a pull-out shelf, but the angled keyboard of a typewriter is a different animal. I see the old metal typewriter tables were mostly 26 inches in height, or thereabouts. What arrangements work best with modern furniture?

Edited by Retro-user
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Inky_paws Mint

Inky_paws

Posted
Posted

For those who favor typewriters, what is the ideal desk height in terms of ergonomics? I always use for a computer keyboard a pull-out shelf, but the angled keyboard of a typewriter is a different animal. I see the old metal typewriter tables were mostly 26 inches in height, or thereabouts. What arrangements work best with modern furniture?

 

Let's not get into ergonomics. I've been 'advised' by the 'experts' a number of times over the years and every one of them has caused injuries to me. Fiddle and find what's comfortable for you methinks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
shamwari Mint

shamwari

Posted
Posted

Thanks Dick, it's a testament to the manufacturing quality of that era that my Lettera is still fully functional despite being out to Africa and back and suffering my ham-fistedness as a kid and all with minimal maintenance.

 

I enjoyed looking at you other thread, I wish I could draw like you, there are some wonderful drawings. It's a pity some have been lost to Photobucket's greed. I hadn't realised that the dogs in the background of the Groma Kalinri picture in this thread were your work either. You have a good eye.

"If you want to succeed in the world, you don't have to be much cleverer than other people. You just have to be one day earlier." -- Leo Szilard

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
Janeiac Near Mint

Janeiac

Posted
Posted

I am accumulating mid-century portables whose design I like or that have an external history.

 

I can't seem to find a low-profile US-made and marketed portable. I have the Royal Safari but it loses by comparison with the others in my list (below), even the Olivetti Valentine. From my design POV at any rate.

 

I welcome suggestions for other models I should have, particularly the US. Typewriter design in the US seems to me to follow auto design of that time: bigger is better for the US buyer.

 

<snip>

 

 

I look forward to amy questions and/or suggestions.

 

Dick

<snip>

 

What about a Smith Corona Skyriter? It was meant to be able to be used on an airplane and is sized like a laptop. http://typewriterdatabase.com/mobile/U21pdGggQ29yb25h.U2t5cml0ZXI=.86.bmys

Link to comment
Share on other sites
escribo Vintage

escribo

Posted
Posted

Dick,

 

What's the story behind the swap of the z and y keys on the typewriter in post #17?

I may not have been much help, but I DID bump your thread up to the top.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Dickkooty2 Vintage

Dickkooty2

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Dick,

 

What's the story behind the swap of the z and y keys on the typewriter in post #17?

The US/English keyboard is 'qwerty'. Other languages may use 'qwertz' to allow for additional umlauts, accents, and special language symbols.

 

Actually, there are an amazing number of other keyboards in a great number of unexpected languages.

 

Here is the keyboard entry for your amusement ...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout

Link to comment
Share on other sites
GaryUK NOS (New Old Stock)

GaryUK

Posted
Posted

I have Schiffer's book "Office Collectibles" by Thomas Russo which covers some great vintage equipment including typewriters.

 

Gary

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BillZ Vintage

BillZ

Posted
Posted

Dromgoole's Fine Writing Instruments &Stationery in Houston started out as a typewriter sales and repair store in 1961. They still have some come through the store occasionally. They don't do in house repairs anymore but do have a source for repairs I believe.

Pat Barnes a.k.a. billz

Link to comment
Share on other sites
shamwari Mint

shamwari

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the post about the Williams English course using typewriters, very interesting, and nice that the students got to keep the typewriter they were using at the end of the course.

"If you want to succeed in the world, you don't have to be much cleverer than other people. You just have to be one day earlier." -- Leo Szilard

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Dickkooty2 Vintage

Dickkooty2

Posted
  • Author
Posted

What about a Smith Corona Skyriter? It was meant to be able to be used on an airplane and is sized like a laptop. http://typewriterdatabase.com/mobile/U21pdGggQ29yb25h.U2t5cml0ZXI=.86.bmys

Thanks, Janelac!

 

I have just received the Skywriter and dropped it off for a clean up/fix up.

 

I now have 23 typewriters and want to stop at 25.

 

I have two brands in some depth more than onesy-twosys: Hermes and Olivetti. I am thinking of the Lettera 32 designed by Marcello Nizzoli as well as the Lettera 22, and the Studio 45 designed by Ettore Sottsass who also designed the Valentine. With my Lettera 22 and the Valentine, I would have the key typewriters in the Olivetti "Museum" ad.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
MKB Mint

MKB

Posted
Posted

I just lucked into this 1938 beauty for my first typewriter since a Brother electric I had back in the eighties.

 

post-121667-0-55075400-1522568638_thumb.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MilanKov Mint

MilanKov

Posted
Posted

Well I have this undefined Underwood typewriter no idea what model it is. It looks like a no. 5, but I am not sure as there was no plaque with model number. Sad thing is I have found it in a pile of a metal for scrapping in metal scrap yard four years back cost me like two bucks. After dismantling and cleaning the thing writes fine though finding carbon tape for it is a pain.

post-141182-0-21644400-1522760685_thumb.jpg

If you win over your own stupidity then are you winner or loser? In any case it means something good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Dickkooty2 Vintage

Dickkooty2

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I just lucked into this 1938 beauty for my first typewriter since a Brother electric I had back in the eighties.

 

attachicon.gif D57A7680-98A0-4873-AC7E-CC1C783E2146.jpeg

 

What a beauty ... a Holy Grail. Congratulations!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LJef6yIILM

 

OOPS. But this classic design deserves the double accolade.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33558
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26730
    5. jar
      jar
      26101

  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      Links to web pages or articles about Chinese typesetting, signwriting, etc.

      By Shanghai Knife Dude · Posted

      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By adamselene · Posted

      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By A Smug Dill · Posted

      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      Skeleton of a primer for a budding hobbyist

      By adamselene · Posted

      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o

  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More

  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...