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1971 Olivetti Lettera 32 Serial # 5782654 1971 Olivetti Lettera 32 typewriter, Serial # 5782654 Brian Decker's 1971 Olivetti Lettera 32 typewriter. 2025-12-30 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Brian Decker: 1971 Olivetti Lettera 32 Serial # 5782654 This Barcelona-made 1971 Olivetti Lettera 32 is the youngest manual typewriter in my collection; I do have an IBM Selectric I dating from 1972-3. I was given this Lettera 32 by a work colleague in 2006 or 2007. I had the platen and feed rollers resurfaced by Ames Supply Co. in December 2007, but beyond that, it has not been worked on beyond light, in situ cleaning. It probably needs the body-to-frame attachment rubber spacers replaced. It has 11-CPI Elite typeface. It types very well, with one issue that may be related to the spacers: The typebar catches on the way to the print point sometimes. This happens the majority of the time at the end of a line, when the margin release is used. It also happens sometimes after tabbing to the first paragraph indentation. A couple of heavier strikes on the key will release it. It seems to be a clearance issue, which makes me think of those rubber spacers.

This typewriter came with the standard form-fitting vinyl case with the zipper and black racing stripe. Amazingly, the zipper still works perfectly, although the handle has broken off a chunk of plastic. It also came with a laminated user guide, one sheet, two sides.

1971 Olivetti Lettera 32 #5782654

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)
Created: 12-30-2025 at 03:51PM
Last Edit: 12-30-2025 at 04:06PM

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Description:

This Barcelona-made 1971 Olivetti Lettera 32 is the youngest manual typewriter in my collection; I do have an IBM Selectric I dating from 1972-3. I was given this Lettera 32 by a work colleague in 2006 or 2007. I had the platen and feed rollers resurfaced by Ames Supply Co. in December 2007, but beyond that, it has not been worked on beyond light, in situ cleaning. It probably needs the body-to-frame attachment rubber spacers replaced. It has 11-CPI Elite typeface. It types very well, with one issue that may be related to the spacers: The typebar catches on the way to the print point sometimes. This happens the majority of the time at the end of a line, when the margin release is used. It also happens sometimes after tabbing to the first paragraph indentation. A couple of heavier strikes on the key will release it. It seems to be a clearance issue, which makes me think of those rubber spacers.

This typewriter came with the standard form-fitting vinyl case with the zipper and black racing stripe. Amazingly, the zipper still works perfectly, although the handle has broken off a chunk of plastic. It also came with a laminated user guide, one sheet, two sides.

Typeface Specimen:

Links:

Photos:

Front, with ribbon cover off.
Front, with ribbon cover off.

Serial number.
Serial number.

Right.
Right.

Back.
Back.

Underside.
Underside.

Left.
Left.

Typing sample.
Typing sample.

User guide side #1.
User guide side #1.

User guide side #2.
User guide side #2.

Factory badge.
Factory badge.

Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)

Brian Decker's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 920

My interest in typewriters started in 1997, when I was in graduate school at the University of Georgia. I purchased and read Darryl Rehr's book, joined ETC, and started reaching out to known collectors. I had several email interchanges with Richard Polt dating from that period. I also bought some of my first machines from Bob Aubert, and visited him at his home twice. After marriage and relocation to New England, I continued visiting antique shops and eBay, until other priorities put my typewriter hobby on hiatus around 2008. I still have my collection of around 57 machines, and now I have a renewed interest in getting some of them in good working and cosmetic order.


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.

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