1957 Olivetti Lexikon 80 #1802915
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Liam O Sullivan (liamo)
Created: 03-08-2016 at 06:29PM
Last Edit: 03-08-2016 at 06:48PM
Description:
Here's a pickle for you.
I thought this was most likely going to present with strong evidence of a re-paint job, but now that this sweet thing is in my hands, I am not so sure I can rule out that it is actually a Franken-maschine.
Italian Wikipedia says that the Lexikon 80 comes in two colours: beige or blue. An internet image-search of this model will corroborate this Wiki-claim. And though the "camera" on my Galaxy S5 will occasionally make this look as though it was painted in a pseudo-neon rave green, I can vouch that, in the flesh, this typewriter is a dull pistachio green. Like the Graphika.
And I am not ruling out that it is a paint job. Underneath the cover, I shot an image showing that the screws have been painted (is this normal?).
But hear this: the paint job was done impeccably and with meticulous care -- every badge and decal must have been removed without damage and replaced; in the few places where the paint is scratched (ie. next to the serial -- see attached image), only raw metal appears to be revealed underneath the pistachio.
Additionally, the serial number is typical of a Graphika, according to TWDB. Using the index, were I to interpret this serial as belonging to a Lexikon 80, it should be an early (1948) model with glass keys -- suspiciously absent. So I catalogued it with the Graphika date. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Either way I will treasure this typewriter as my first desk model.
Some unfortunate transport damage: a dent in the front right and warping of the cover (I don't know what it is called: the thing that covers the slugs and ribbon from sight).
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Liam O Sullivan (liamo)
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Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 188
Fell in love with a Quiet Deluxe won at auction. Now I am a neophyte typewriter enthusiast.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Olivetti Lexikon 80 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Olivetti Serial Number page and the Olivetti Lexikon 80 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.