1967 Olivetti-Underwood 21 #724446
Status: Sightings
Hunter: Kenneth Kruschka (KenKruschka)
Created: 06-30-2021 at 03:15PM
Last Edit: 02-12-2022 at 12:21PM
Description:
This 1967 Olivetti-Underwood 21 typewriter was a key choppers waste, dumped at Goodwill! It needed a few maintenance things (new ribbon, free up stuck ribbon feed pawl, cleaning, etc.), but the biggest thing was re-keying her. I used a parts Lettera 32's keyset, opening the shift keys application space (used a small Dremel tool w/ diamond bit) enough to allow them fitment onto the fatter shift key levers. Puling key caps and transferring them over to another Olivetti is very intricate, so as not to crack the plastic--thank God for epoxies if you do--and will kill your fingers removing them by slowly wiggling, as it's all about "feeling" the keys as you remove them safely. The thing is: IT'S SO MUCH COOLER LOOKING NOW TOO WITH THE SQUARED STYLE KEYS--probably the only one in existence (vs the missing original type ones this machine would've had, in my opinion). Update 2/12/22 I sold this typewriter to a guy from the 708-area code. He bought two typewriters from me, the other one was an electric Smith-Corona, for his dad who's a 6th grade teacher. You know the guy has teaching the kids about the old ways in mind!
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Kenneth Kruschka (KenKruschka)
Kenneth Kruschka's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 1416
After finding a Smith-Corona Coronet 12 at a curb-side (in Winter while walking the dog) I carried it home; after it thawed out and started coming back to life I was hooked. My interest in this hobby lead to taking two parts typewriters to create one good unit. This typewriter aliment is (pretty much) in-curable!
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Olivetti-Underwood 21 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Olivetti-Underwood Serial Number page and the Olivetti-Underwood 21 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.