1992 Olivetti Studio 46 #1076413
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Joshua Beta (JoshBeta1)
Created: 02-05-2017 at 11:03AM
Last Edit: 01-28-2021 at 11:04PM
Description:
This is the Olivetti model that I have always wanted to get since the first time I saw it.
I got it in Morelia (capital and main city of the state named Michoacan in Mexico), after a tricky swap (2017).
I earned $400 MXN (about $20 USD) along with the device.
It's an Olivetti Studio 46, fourth (and last) generation, made after 1987. It was probably made after 1990, as the serial number confuses me a lot (it made me to date it between 1974 and 1975).
There are four generations of the Olivetti Studio 46:
1974-1980: Blue and metallic shell, silver and metallic lever, metallic ribbon spools with metallic screws over them.
1980-1984: Blue shell, either metallic or plastic; it's flatter and edgier on its front side. Black and plastic lever, black and plastic ribbon spools, without screws over them.
1984-1987: Metallic or plastic shell, soft and rounded on its front side again, either in blue or in white. Black and plastic lever, black and plastic ribbon spools. This was part of the last generation of typewriters made in Spain (I am not sure about the last generation of typewriters made in Italy).
1987 and beyond: Metallic shell, available in white and brown only (white at the top, brown at the bottom). Black and plastic lever, black and plastic ribbon spools, and black margin stops. Made in Mexico or in Brazil, which means the quality of the device is bad, indeed (like this one... Spaniard and Italian Olivetties are way much better).
It has the Mexican keyboard layout, tab keys, a special key for multiple spacing, a clutch for controlling the lines in a better way, a "bunny ears" paper holder, a graduated paper bail and the capacity for using letter-size sheets horizontally (large-size carriage). It's like mixing a portable with a standard writing machine.
Besides, the typeface of this model is the common, boring type style of any typewriter. :(
Anyways, I like it, but it can writer just 50 lines per letter-size sheet and an overly bold printing, unlike the Lettera 31 I had, which could write 57 lines per letter-size sheet (and has a not-so-bold printing). That's the worst disadvantage of Mexican Olivetties. :(
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Joshua Beta (JoshBeta1)
Joshua Beta's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 96
I still use typewriters as writing machines, not just for collecting them. :P
RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Olivetti Studio 46 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Olivetti Serial Number page and the Olivetti Studio 46 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.