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Here's the post that talks about the first Lettera that joined my typewriting fleet. It could be yours for the low, low price of telling me you want a Lettera, and could probably fix the ribbon advance thingymabob.
Oh, here's that Tippa.
Olivetti Lettera 22 warranty card and manual
Note: I know the text is hard to read. The manual is actually a tiny playing card-sized booklet and this was as big as it would scan.
PS-- We Made This also has a post about a Lettera instruction manual...
28 comments:
I would *so* have bought that Lettera. Nice find! My local pickings have been slim for a long, long time...I think the competition is pretty fierce down this way, and anything other than the occasional late-model Smith Corona gets snatched up long before I arrive. But then, I guess I've had my share of luck, haven't I? Just not recently.
I'm currently in the throes of Lettera cravings, just because a) half the typosphere seems to have at least one and b) I like the *idea* of a little but still full-featured portable that I could take out and about, though my chances of actually doing so are still kind of iffy.
If I wasn't mechanically inept, I'd step forward to adopt the Portland 22...but I'm afraid I am, in fact, mechanically inept. Drat.
Oh, and I meant to say...I like the kid art typecasts!
Word verif: scrumwom I have no idea what it means, but it's awful fun to say.
Oh lawdy lawdy. I'm wicked jealous of the Lettera manual. I'd get one and put it in my pocket and just take it out and marvel at it all the time. And people would look at me funny. Nice find, you are giving us all typer-envy.
I'd love the Lettera, but I do not know if I can fix the problem you mentioned; although, I would try.
And you didn't haggle for the Tippa? I would go back and offer them fifty dollars, and free advertising in a blog post.
As for the Lettera, could it be that one of the ribbon housings has been forced down under the cover and a gentle screw driver prying the metal bits apart a bit might help loosen it? Or on the right, where the ribbon direction changing lever sits in a recess according to the lever connected to the ribbon-guide-switches, it may have been forced UP and onto the plate which is supposed to be level with it and thus acting like a recess (imagine a reversed square root symbol sitting in a V shape). If that has happened, then when you move the ribbon guides that switch direction, the lever end will only move a little through the friction of the plate underneath, instead of clicking by virtue of sitting in the recess of the plate itself.
That probably makes no sense and is based on a lettera 32 anyway. I could email a diagram if you want. Picture - thousand words etc.
That Tippa is so wonderfully tiny. Argh, I hate it when secondhand shops know what they have, and price accordingly.
My new Royal Quiet De Luxe has ribbon issues as well, though they're obvious: Royal decided to make the little gear that turns the spools out of crumbly plastic that (shockingly) does not last 50 years. One gear was loose and more toothless than a cartoon witch. "Fits and spurts" best describes the ribbon advance.
Since I already have a script Lettera, I'm set. Loving the scanned op manual, though. It's beautiful.
Where'd you find this one? Fremont?
Strikethru I would take it off your hands and being mechanically inclined I can probably fix the issue. I was a bicycle mechanic for two years and an auto-mechanic. I now am in school for Heating ventilation and air-conditioning. And if I can"t fix it, the guy from Fresh Ribbons video has a shop right down the street. Its called Mobile Typewriter, great place by the way. Let me know!!
Also great find on the new Lettra 22! I have a thing with Olympias and Lettras, they are just so well made!
Curse you Watterson! You beat me to it! A fight to the death I say!
Oh well, there really isn't a place to put the lovely little machine in my room anyway.
Oh, the thought of having the Lettera... Its makes me tingle.
Shute, I did not think to haggle for the Tippa. (slaps forehead)
Elizabeth-- you're in line for one of these standard sized anvils I have to distribute.... but I'd have to just bring it down there, no way am I mailing one of those things.
Julia, it would make a fine 'zine.
Mpc... crumbly plastic causes me rage after my tangle with crappy hermes 3000 knobs (whoever thought crumbly plastic would be a good complement to the otherwise ageless mechanics of a typewriter?)
Monda, I have no idea why I am not remembering that you have a Lettera.
Ryan: where else? Deluxe Junk. They are awesome (and were not the folks overcharging for the tippa, incidentally. I am conflating two second hand stores in my typecast anecdote).
As for Watterson, redcat, rad, and photo, I trust any one of you would provide a good home to this one. Watterson, you make a pretty good case with this talk of mechanical prowess. Shall the spoils go to Watterson, or should this end with a duel?
*Flutters Eyes*
As for Watterson, redcat, rad, and photo, I trust any one of you would provide a good home to this one. Watterson, you make a pretty good case with this talk of mechanical prowess. Shall the spoils go to Watterson, or should this end with a duel?
Duel? Well, when it comes to "fight or flight"...pretty much you will always find wings on my shoes. Thanks for considering me, at least.
Thanks for posting this. the Manual is beautiful and I am doubly thankful as I have a second hand lettera!
The typewriter manual is truly a classic (I personally love the inks). I also love the warranty card, being a big fan of the old BRM's and "blow-ins". They were truly a challenge for graphic design (getting all the necessary info on a small printed card like that -- and still have design to it).
I, too, have yet another manual typewriter arriving today via UPS (its out and on the truck for delivery as I type this). I have no idea what is in the box. It is simply a "surprise". It's nice to have day like today every once in a while!
Nice manual. It's funny, I didn't realize how similar the 22 was to the 23 mechanics-wise, but I have a hard time discerning the difference. Helpful stuff.
As far as ribbon-reversal goes, my Lettera 32 is a little squirrely as well. I can't figure out if the works are a bit gummed up or that maybe a spring is sprung, but when the ribbon runs down I have to give a mechanism seated deep inside the right side of the machine a little nudge.
Oh, and much respect to all the others, but I think you should send the machine to James. After he ninja'd that bushing issue, I have full faith in his mechanical abilities.
Elizabeth-- you're in line for one of these standard sized anvils I have to distribute....
Woo-hoo!
Of course, if I acquire many more standards, I will shortly have to start replacing things like...oh...the dryer with typewriter desks instead.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
By the way, I've been watching Letteras on eBay for the last few weeks, and the 22s and 32s rarely go for less than sixty bucks or so not counting shipping...so you got a deal. I'm beginning to think I should give up on the idea of getting one unless I can get one from Ace or something. For that amount, I'm not buying anything I'm not sure of. Eek!
Let me know what you think Strikethru, I would be happy to cover shipping and what not. Email me and let me know whatcha think, no pressure though.
Now, to other interested parties, you are on the short list for any other Letteras I come across (I plan to soon re-stalk the Seattle thrift store where I found mine the other day). For this round, my spare goes to Watterson, just because we all need to see if this guy can repair a typewriter like he claims (the pressure is on).
I'll send it off in a week or two. I think I have your addr. from the silent type mailings. We'll see how much the shipping is, don't worry about that yet.
Someone should start a list of wanted typers so we can all keep our eyes out for each other... esp. for the teeny tiny travel typers.
Letteras seem to be popular. When I was out the other day, I also saw a Olympia Traveller De Luxe (the black and white variety). I rarely see Letteras either which is why I had to pounce on the one I saw last Saturday.
Ooh...a Traveler Deluxe eh? Speculator does go on about how nice his is. Maybe you could find out about the price of that one...?
Poor Strikethru...she is going to end up the entire typosphere's thrifter by proxy.
That really is the most ridiculously awesome typewriter manual I've ever seen. Most of mine are crinkled up and stained paper.
Every time I go to my local thrift I silently chant either "Alpina. Alpina. Alpina." or "Torpedo. Torpedo. Torpedo." while I drive. Hasn't worked yet, but someday It's got to.
Actually haven't seen anything of not in the past few months at Ohio Thrift, where I've found some pretty darn good machines in the past (Adler Tippa, Cole Steel, Sears Achiever and Challenger).
Thats one that I have been looking out for as well. I have to say I love my German engineering!
Fav Car: Old VW Beetle
Fav DE Razor: Mekur (German)
Fav Typewriter: SG 1 or should I say Olympias and Letteras (Olivettis because I am Italian! Can't fight fate and because I can't take the SG with me)
I do have a mint cond. SC Skyriter but eh, I know Mike C likes it but it is just so tinny feeling.
Thank you Strikethru Thank You
Muchos Gracias Seniora Strikethru Muchos Gracias
Is Ohio Thrift home of the depressed mannequin?
I was tempted by the traveller de luxe.
James, you're welcome.
Frank, what did you get?
Frank, what did you get?
Thanks for asking. '46 Quiet DeLuxe. Nice snap to these machines. Been using a '53 Ambassador (royal). Just located an Olympia SG1 (!), which I owned for many years, long ago. I'm waiting to hear if someone already got to it. If so, I wish them well (through clenched teeth). If not, it's about a 3 hour drive each way, so I'm keeping the car warmed up. ;-)
Ambassador? My first senior moment. Strike that and make it a '53 Aristocrat. I don't want anyone wondering what the heck a Royal Ambassador is.
I have a Gossen Tippa, but the slimist portable I have and have seen is a Rooy portable, even slimmer than the first series Hermes baby. I'll post a photo on my wall on facebook. Shane Slater.
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