Fwiw, at the moment I feel inclined to go ahead with it, but would love some guidance. What I don't want is another of these massive pointless headaches. 

Hmm. Well I'm still in love with my SM8 to be honest! To say nothing of the half-restored SG3 the SM3, and my Splendid 33. But I got the Lettera 32 out the other day just to refresh my memory, and that old feeling came back. That old eBay feeling. I've also now got a very cheap 22 with my name on it sitting down in Brighton - I'm going to go get it on Monday and meet a great friend for lunch at the same time, so that's an exciting day all round! 

I guess I did have the mad attack to get the Studio 44, just in an 'Olivetti state of mind' - if it's likely not to be a dead loss I should go ahead with it. I'm curious, anyway, and as you say, it's not a fortune.

The Studio 44 is a typewriter that people either love or hate, there seems to be no middle ground. I have an Underwood 21 which is mechanically identical, and I love the touch. I think it is very smooth, but it is a little heavy. Studio 44s print extremely well if properly adjusted, so even if I didn't like the touch I would keep my 21 around for those times I want a really nice, clean looking typewritten page.

Also, the one you are bidding on is the less common tan color. Not rare by any means, but less common.

Right! I'm in the Caffe Nero with my new machine. Nice young guy, I liked him. Serious.

So upon inspection I've established that:
1. It's pica (yay!)
2. It's missing the decal off the back where presumably it should say where it was made
3.Its serial number suggests that it was made in 1953
4.Some of the keys are stiff, but I love the feel of them and they have a beautiful soft clackiness
5. The carriage lock is not working
6. The bell is not working
7.The case is trashed but I have a bag, and
8. There is a Westlife cd in the case with it. I might not take that home
9. I like it!

Now, all I have to do is rid it of the appalling buildup of filth and oil, and adjust whatever it is that's out of alignment!

Last edited by KatLondon (14-2-2015 14:49:42)

Hi, thanks for this! Well, there is a sad end to this story. I have tried everything. I've spent hours and hours on this machine. But I deduce from various clues, including the condition of the back of the case, that the machine was  dropped at some point, and that is why it isn't working. The carriage is just f****d. I actually think the guy who sold it to me was disingenuous, because I discovered that he has a website where  he sells reconditioned machines for stupid money. So if he couldn't get this going again he must have known. I got it cheap, but not quite cheap enough for that. 

I thought I was nearly there at one point - & then the carriage started getting stuck halfway, and then it seemed to almost feel a bit LOOSE... this coincides with my having a lodger come for three months and having to clear out the 'typing room' for him. So the flat is full of typewriters and something needs to happen. I really don't have space for a machine that's never going to work.

I'm afraid I put it out on the pavement. I wrote a sign  and taped it to the box saying what it was, which made my oldest kid die laughing - 'some hipster will have it' - and they have. I need to be spending my time writing. Or, you know, getting more work. Or fixing up the machines that are actually repairable.

I know this is a shocking story. But despite all that, I'm glad someone's taken it and it hasn't gone into landfill. It's a pretty thing and I had cleaned it up really beautifully.