1969 Olivetti Valentine #to follow
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Ton Sison (TonS)
Created: 07-22-2014 at 05:46PM
Last Edit: 07-22-2014 at 06:53PM
Description:
The iconic Olivetti Valentine by Ettore Sottsass. It's unfair to compare it with the metal Letteras or Studios, it's just not in the same playing field. The most reasonable comparative examples would be the early 70s plastic Olivettis such as the bright yellow Montgomery Ward Escort 55, or the Jetsonian Lettera 25. Both of these have a more stable feel, especially the former since hidden within its stylish mod body is a Lettera 32. "Tocco Olivetti," the signature Olivetti touch is still palpable in Valentine, but it has a lighter, less solid feel to it than the two previously mentioned. To its credit, Valentine is not rattly and inelegant like the feel of a plastic Remington Ten Forty. So I'll say that in the context of its intended use- "to keep amateur poets company on quiet Sundays" -the typing action of Olivetti Valentine is not bad at all.
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Links:
Photos:
Hunter: Ton Sison (TonS)
Ton Sison's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 358
In a parallel universe, I was once the Senior Vice-President of Design (Typewriter Division) at Ing. C. Olivetti & C.,S.p.A., Ivrea, Italy. In the real universe, I'm a Chicago-based casual collector and hunter of Olivetti typewriters, and related ephemera, publications, and film sightings.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Olivetti Valentine on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Olivetti Serial Number page and the Olivetti Valentine By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.