1045 Brands 3074 Models 19962 Galleries 12251 Typefaces 6273 Patents
Home » Olivetti » Lettera 32 » 1964 #2184564
1964 Olivetti Lettera 32 Serial # 2184564 1964 Olivetti Lettera 32 typewriter, Serial # 2184564 Geir Kihle Hanssen's 1964 Olivetti Lettera 32 typewriter. 2021-04-19 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Geir Kihle Hanssen: 1964 Olivetti Lettera 32 Serial # 2184564 This machine is a bit of a special case. It wasn't working in its state at the time of purchase. I bought it from a man who intended to fix it, but found he didn't have the time. I managed to fix most issues, but several key levers were bent to the point where it became very difficult to manage to correct them with conventional tools. Later some time I came across a second Lettera 32 from '79 with Quadrato Elite typeface. That machine too had problems with a very wobbly carriage that wasn't possible to fix. I ended up taking the typebars from the '79 model and replacing the typebars in the '68 model to make one well functioning machine. The problem of course was that the typeface on the '64 was Pica, and the '79 was Elite. The spacing on the letters now is then a bit wider than it was intended, but I think it works fine.

1964 Olivetti Lettera 32 #2184564

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Geir Kihle Hanssen (Teioch)
Created: 04-19-2021 at 08:25AM
Last Edit: 04-19-2021 at 08:25AM


Description:

This machine is a bit of a special case. It wasn't working in its state at the time of purchase. I bought it from a man who intended to fix it, but found he didn't have the time. I managed to fix most issues, but several key levers were bent to the point where it became very difficult to manage to correct them with conventional tools. Later some time I came across a second Lettera 32 from '79 with Quadrato Elite typeface. That machine too had problems with a very wobbly carriage that wasn't possible to fix. I ended up taking the typebars from the '79 model and replacing the typebars in the '68 model to make one well functioning machine. The problem of course was that the typeface on the '64 was Pica, and the '79 was Elite. The spacing on the letters now is then a bit wider than it was intended, but I think it works fine.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Norwegian keyboard layout. Sticker from either a retailer or a service center that has worked on the machine on the front.
Norwegian keyboard layout. Sticker from either a retailer or a service center that has worked on the machine on the front.

Early '64 logo on the carriage paper rest before the redesign that put the brand name above the keyboard.
Early '64 logo on the carriage paper rest before the redesign that put the brand name above the keyboard.




Made in Italy
Made in Italy

Olivetti Quadrato typeface
Olivetti Quadrato typeface


Hunter: Geir Kihle Hanssen (Teioch)

Geir Kihle Hanssen's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 1704

I am a Norwegian fellow who enjoys tinkering and fixing up typewriters. One day I decided I wanted a typewriter to write letters on. I bought one that turned out not to work. I got annoyed and decided I should be able to figure out what was wrong and fix it. I did it, but the rush of successfully mending such an intricate machine was like a drug. I wanted more. I decided I would try to buy non-functioning, but pretty machines, fix them and sell them before repeating the process. What I didn't expect was that I would fall in love with the machines I fix so now I suddenly find myself a bit of a collector.



RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Olivetti Lettera 32 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Olivetti Serial Number page and the Olivetti Lettera 32 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.