I was clickity clack clack clacking away on my Olivetti 32 writing greetings to new neighbors this afternoon and I remembered how satisfying, how fun this is. I also totally forgot how the workflow went, but figuring that out again was enjoyable. My handwriting is kinda shit and a computer printout lacks soul so I find the typewriter is a happy medium for personal correspondence. I aught to do this more. My personal machine is from '63 and I’m thinking she needs some work done to the platen because its hard as a rock and the paper keeps sliding around in imperceptibly small amounts that add up over time. Thinking of doing the “bike tire shrink wrap” trick but that makes me nervous. Removing the platen on a machine like mine is a very involved process as well, rather intimidating.
Anyone else enjoy working with typewriters?
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I have an IBM Selectric 2 from the early-mid 1970s I think, that I got from a grandparent who passed away some years back. He was an author who wrote a fair bit of stuff, both published and non, and it’s what he used for his writing. I have a couple of different heads for it to change the font but there are some foam and rubber bits that have degraded to the point where it won’t strike consistently, and some of the mechanical linkages are in need of adjustment.
I used it quite a bit when I was going through school in the 90s for HS and college. I intended at one point to find a service manual, and some vids on YT possibly to help take it to bits but I’ve just never gotten around to it. I don’t really think it’s too hard to do I think I’m just too lazy. So in my closet it sits still.
I like the look and feel of a typewritten page on good paper. I enjoy feeling the indentations from the letters and I think typewritten is classier than printed paper. It’s like because it took some time to get the paper loaded correctly, get everything set up just so. I also think it tended to be more thoughtful too. Or maybe more intentional. Typewriter can be corrected of course but you only get one shot at putting your words down right so to speak, where with a PC you just hit backspace and do it again. Not that you can’t be thoughtful while using a PC.
I learned to type on a Selectric 2, at a time when all of my in-earnest typing was already on a personal computer, and not long before my high school got rid of the typewriter lab. Certainly shaped my preference for a heavy keyboard spring.
I keep seeing old olivetti typewriters in 2nd hand markets around where I live, and they’re such beautiful objects! Plus, typewriting makes me nostalgic for the one or two times I used one to write a report for school because we didn’t have a printer.
Any recs or things to look out for? One of the things that scare me the most is to buy a model you can’t find ribbon or other things easily for.
Ribbon is super easy to source actually. Most models use a standard width for the ribbon itself and someone invented a universal spool that will work in about 95% of them. Unless its really old (pre 1920s ish) youre going to be able to find someone who sells ribbons that fit the other 5%. You can even find ribbons with fun color combonations. I was just typing on a green and brown one to go with my hedgehog notecards. Worst comes to worst you can transplant ribbons onto other spools, its pretty easy, but a little messy, I reccomend wearing disposable gloves.
Regarding the machines themselves…
Olivetti Lettera 32’s have an excellent reputation for holding up to the test of time and suiting modern users needs. Same goes for Lettera 22s. I’m totally not biased at all.
Larger machines will be more comfortable to type on and may have some extra nifty features, but most people seem to prefer compact models for the convenience. Only the super deluxe models are going to have a key for 1s and !s. On all others the ! is going to be a combonation of an apostrophe and a period, the letter l doubles as a 1 as well.
Before buying you should type a little on it to see if the keys and functions work properly. Also check ebay for price references but not etsy, for some reason the prices for machines are severely inflated on etsy. Most vintage typewriters are fairly well made and will still function well unless they got the shit beat out of them or were exposed to the elements for an extended period. These things also require very little lubrication, if any.
Rubber parts are definitely going to be significantly degraded, however.
visual references spoilered for reasons.
The biggest victims of rubber degredation are the platen and the rollers, this is what feeds the paper through the machine. Unless replaced/restored a vintage platen is going to be rock hard by now. Thats not so big of a deal. The quick fix there is to have one or two extra sheets of paper “backing” the one youre writing on. This will “soften” the typing surface, helping with print quality and noise concerns. The rollers however, could be fucked up. If kept in the locked position for decades they can warp and develop divots that will harm their ability to feed paper properly. Everything will work… kinda? and youll have some issues with things like feeding or spacing, but its nothing that cant be worked around.
There still exist typewriter repair shops if youre willing to shell out the cash for service and shipping, or you can try your hand at repairs (this is fun, really). There are guys on the internet (ebay and etsy are good bets) that 3D print replacements for now-desintegrated rubber parts, especially the feet. Guides on home-made fixes for hard platens and warped rollers are out there too and they’re really not that bad as long as you dont lose parts and screws. Youtube is your friend, and if you have an Olivetti you will have an abundance of resources.
I also reccomend finding a box or bag or case or something to cover/store it in when not in use. These things dont like dust. Vintage cases can cost more than the machines themselves, a reasonably close fitting cardboard box will do. Finding some sort of pad to put under the machine while in use is a pretty good idea too. This makes operating it a bit quieter and may prevent it from shifting around on a table. There are some very nice cork/felt ones out there but theyre just nice to have, not critical.
Also liquid white-out that comes in the bottles with the brushes? Like a dollar each and indespensable for typewriting.
Pardon the endless word vomit. I like typewriters.
click click click click, click click click, click
(the joke is that my head is literally a typewriter so I cannot speak)
