1975 Olivetti Lettera 25 #5095286
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Tomasz Grzybek (grzybektomek)
Created: 02-13-2024 at 05:10AM
Last Edit: 02-14-2024 at 05:31PM
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Description:
Olivetti Lettera 25 portable typewriter. SN: 5095286 Manufactured at the factory in Mexico.
English font. Machine without tablature. Has a function of spacing 5 characters from the margin (creates a paragraph) by simultaneously pressing the margin release button and moving the carriage return to the beginning of a new line. Two-color 13 mm ribbon. Spools are mounted at a visible angle to the machine level.
I received the machine from my sister living in the U.S. in 06.2023. It arrived without a dedicated box for the machine - in a travel case.
It was missing the Olivetti logo with the machine model on the front panel. I managed to find the fonts used by Olivetti at the time and made a new logo printed on silver paper, which I covered with protective film.
The machine is beige in color. The keys in my opinion were too discolored. This is the result of UV rays and the reaction of bromine added en masse to plastic to increase fire resistance (flammability). I managed to bleach them by chemical reaction, but it took a total of several days due to lack of sun and snowfall (December 2023).
The machine was very capricious for me during servicing. A simple adjustment on the feet caused other components already adjusted to stop working causing constant frustration. It's an interconnected system and I had to take a break from it for a few days.
Once adjusted - the machine becomes perfect in its operation and writing on it is pure pleasure.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Tomasz Grzybek (grzybektomek)
Tomasz Grzybek's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 1513
I live in Poland. My hobby is restoring analog devices to life. I do all the work, from cleaning, through mechanical repairs, to possible painting, by myself. I learn a lot from it. The love for typewriters began with Hermes 3000, which I received in 2022 from my sister as a gift. And so the collection is slowly growing...
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Olivetti Lettera 25 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Olivetti Serial Number page and the Olivetti Lettera 25 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
