1972 Olivetti Lettera 32 #6336796
Status: Sightings
Hunter: Jerry Himes (JJH)
Created: 07-12-2024 at 08:49AM
Last Edit: 10-01-2024 at 05:37PM
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Description:
It's an ultra-portable and a workhorse typewriter at the same time.
This specimen has the Standard Pica typeface and the old Finnish Standard keyboard layout.
Pros:
+ Ultra-portable, so easier to lug around than most typewriters.
+ Stylish looks (subjective, but most people seem to agree).
+ Sturdy metal shell.
+ Comfortable type action.
+ The position of the line spacing lever is easy to see, so you don't have to double check if you are on the correct spacing by moving the lever back and forth. This is nice if you are working on a text which requires you to keep changing the spacing a lot. This has been a small problem with some typewriters I've used.
+ Touch control; all settings are comfortable though.
+ Fully adjustable tabulator, which is rare in ultra-portables.
+ Holding the margin release while returning the carriage stops it automatically at the usual ½ inch indentation point for a new paragraph. I love this feature.
+ Reliable.
+ Pretty quiet for an ultra-portable, so if you like to work at places with people around, like cafés, parks, beaches etc., you can probably use this without bothering anyone too much.
+ Has a variable line spacing plunger on the left platen knob.
Neutral
+/- The soft but still sturdy faux leather carrying case often has a broken zipper, luckily mine still works.
+/- No separate number 1 key, as is usual even for newer Olivettis. Not that big of a deal once you get used to it, but can be a slight annoyance if you also use typewriters which do feature it. At first I was worried that this might mess with OCR (optical character recognition), but it's really not a big deal.
Cons:
- The spacing and the shape of the keys takes some time getting used to. Not as easy to type really fast without missing the keys when compared to the Triumph Tippa 1 or the Consul 232, for example
Given away in October 2024.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Jerry Himes (JJH)
Jerry Himes's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 825
I have been looking for ways to spend less time on electronic devices, and because of this I started doing my writing and translation work with pens and pencils, and now on typewriters as well. I have noticed that adding typewriters to the process has been beneficial to the quality of the text, plus it's just more fun this way.
I have started selling and giving away some of my machines now that I have figured out which ones I want to keep. Some people have asked me for working typewriters, so I have been on the lookout for machines purely for that purpose as well. As fun and instructive as it has been, soon it is time to finish this collecting and tinkering and move back to my original intention: writing. I hope.
Machines sold/given away:
Triumph Gabriele 20
Hermes 3000 (French 3rd gen.)
Student (Brother) Portable
Optima (Zentronik) Mod. 42
Scheidegger (Olivetti) President
Olympia SG 3 N
Olivetti RITA
Adler Tippa S
Adler Contessa de Luxe
Olivetti Lettera 32 (1972, Barcelona)
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.
