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1929 Hispano-Olivetti M20 Serial # 59375 1929 Hispano-Olivetti M20 typewriter, Serial # 59375 Javier Vazquez del Olmo's 1929 Hispano-Olivetti M20 typewriter. 2017-12-21 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Javier Vazquez del Olmo: 1929 Hispano-Olivetti M20 Serial # 59375 This is my 2017 birthday present! It was back in September, but it doesn´t matter.

The M20 is a rara avis. It´s the very first model produced in the Barcelona plant, and thus the first Olivetti produced out of Italy. It preserves the unnerving complexity and weirdness of the M1 and looks way older than other coetaneous machines. It´s not nearly as frequent as the M40, but for sure it´s equally as interesting but for othr reasons.

It has many mechanical quirks, such as the weird placement of the bell on the front panel, the metallic drawband, the ribbon reverse system, the unnecesarily complex key levers... Many things to keep you engrossed (or desperate).

This specimen has an extra wide carriage. If the M20 is elusive, these beasts are unheard of. maybe the metallic drawband is only used in these larger models, I don´t know for sure.

Now, the bad part: pretty badly beaten up. Rusty and several glass keys have been crushed. Surprisingly, shipping was smooth as silk, the damage was done before. I hope I can have this behemoth repaired even if it´s not the most useful typewriter of the world. For sure I don´t need a 1 m (3 ft) long carriage and for sure it gives me a headache to think where to put it, but for sure typing with it must be great.

And now a mystery: If its serial number follows those of Ivrea, then this is a 1927 typewriter, but the Barcelona plant was opened in 1929. I assume they used different numbres from the very beginning, then...

1929 Hispano-Olivetti M20 #59375

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Javier Vazquez del Olmo (Javi)
Created: 12-21-2017 at 07:49AM
Last Edit: 12-21-2017 at 07:53AM

Description Hunter 19 Photos 2 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

This is my 2017 birthday present! It was back in September, but it doesn´t matter.

The M20 is a rara avis. It´s the very first model produced in the Barcelona plant, and thus the first Olivetti produced out of Italy. It preserves the unnerving complexity and weirdness of the M1 and looks way older than other coetaneous machines. It´s not nearly as frequent as the M40, but for sure it´s equally as interesting but for othr reasons.

It has many mechanical quirks, such as the weird placement of the bell on the front panel, the metallic drawband, the ribbon reverse system, the unnecesarily complex key levers... Many things to keep you engrossed (or desperate).

This specimen has an extra wide carriage. If the M20 is elusive, these beasts are unheard of. maybe the metallic drawband is only used in these larger models, I don´t know for sure.

Now, the bad part: pretty badly beaten up. Rusty and several glass keys have been crushed. Surprisingly, shipping was smooth as silk, the damage was done before. I hope I can have this behemoth repaired even if it´s not the most useful typewriter of the world. For sure I don´t need a 1 m (3 ft) long carriage and for sure it gives me a headache to think where to put it, but for sure typing with it must be great.

And now a mystery: If its serial number follows those of Ivrea, then this is a 1927 typewriter, but the Barcelona plant was opened in 1929. I assume they used different numbres from the very beginning, then...

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:



The things at the bottom center are the tab stops.
The things at the bottom center are the tab stops.


This device allows you to prevent the typeslugs reaching the platen. I´ve seen it in the Remington Vertical Adder 21, but here I can´t figure it´s purpose.
This device allows you to prevent the typeslugs reaching the platen. I´ve seen it in the Remington Vertical Adder 21, but here I can´t figure it´s purpose.

Several crushed keys... Nice battle scars.
Several crushed keys... Nice battle scars.

The bell is behind the front panel. Not very usual!
The bell is behind the front panel. Not very usual!


The confusing s/n. It can´t be 1927...
The confusing s/n. It can´t be 1927...



The metallic drawband. Is this because of the hevay carriage?
The metallic drawband. Is this because of the hevay carriage?








Hunter: Javier Vazquez del Olmo (Javi)

Javier Vazquez del Olmo's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 6476

The first typewriter I saw was my grandpa´s Olivetti Linea 98 at the office. It was just a curio for me. Then I was given a Nakajima, which I didn´t use and my grandfather took it from me because it was easier to handle than the bulky Linea 98. Now I own that typewriter, and I started a little collection in Valladolid, Spain. The Nakajima, which is "my" typewriter only returned home in 2017, almost 20 years later, when he wanted a better typewriter.

A collection that started small grew into something bigger, a nuisace for my family and a great source of satisfaction for me.


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