1976 Andina Especial 90 #76968
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Javier Vazquez del Olmo (Javi)
Created: 08-06-2015 at 08:51AM
Last Edit: 08-06-2015 at 08:58AM
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Description:
I said I was going to try. Well, I tried and I got this Andina Especial 90. Thanks to Richard Polt for the advice on where to look for it, althought it was another friend who found it for me.
The Especial 90 is the last follower of the Regia. It´s come after the excellent Andina Grafos, and it´s clearly a more modern typewriter. The design screams 70´s loudly, and shows a more functional attitude. The machinery is an evolution of the Talbos / Grafos, and it´s quite good. In fact, this "portable" can be used as a heavy duty typewriter. But sadly, in spite of being a great typewriter, this was the end of the line for Talleres Alonso.
This specimen is in pretty good shape. I have to oil it and then it will be ready to some serious typing. Following the same dating method, this should be a later model, and the "modelo 90" sticker behind the platen is different from Mr. Polt´s: mine is definitely uglier, and his looks like the gorgeous one in the Grafos.
If I had to choose, I prefer the Grafos because it has a slightly better touch. But anyway, even if the Andina logo is a reversed Alpina logo, the quality is not the reverse of it. This typewriter could show a couple of things to many other typewriters from the 70´s (for example the Olivetti Studio 46)
And next target: Junior 58.
Big Bonus Feature: If you look to the upper right corner of the 2nd photo you´ll see two little kids. They´re my sister an me, when we were just 1 and 2 years old.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
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.
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Andina Especial 90 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Andina Serial Number page and the Andina Especial 90 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
