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- heltonbiker
- New Member
Offline - Registered: 08-9-2015
- Posts: 13
Olivetti Studio 44 sometimes hits the paper without advancing
Hi, I am new to the forum.
I have recently got a nice Studio 44, which is working fine. The action is a bit stiff as some have pointed, but I have got quickly used to it.
The problem now is one quite annoying characteristic, which I would like to know if it's typical for that model or could be any misadjustment.
When I am typing away, somewhat twice per line some type, most often the letter "t", hits the paper, even making the hitting sound, but the carriage does not advance, thus being overwritten by the next keystroke.
I have just tested, and if I type any key in a crescendo, first stopping midway and then increasing the distance travelled by the type, it starts to hit the paper and print the character, without advancing the carriage. If I calibrate my force, I can find a sweet spot where I consistently hit the paper without advancing the carriage, and the t is by far the easier key to do that.
On the other hand, if I hammer the key with my finger, givin it one very short , percussive impulse and letting it finish its way without further finger action, then it snaps the paper very fast and always advances.
Is there any adjustment I can do? I had a Lettera 22 in the past and it NEVER had this behaviour.
By the way, this machine also has the annoying ability to do mistaken double advances, specially when you hit the spacebar, sometimes even running a lot of spaces at once, but it can also get an extra space after a regular key.
Thanks for any hint!
Last edited by heltonbiker (08-9-2015 20:33:52)
- Fleetwing
- Typewriter Talk Vet
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- From: Hartford, CT USA
- Registered: 30-6-2015
- Posts: 1,011
Re: Olivetti Studio 44 sometimes hits the paper without advancing
The first problem may be a function of a segment (the slots into which the typebars go when they swing up to strike the ribbon) in need of cleaning. Get some naphtha or methlylated spirits and brush it into the slots -- see if you find the action to be better. And of course pay special attention to the t typebar.
I can't help with the second issue -- it's seemingly a problem with the escapement, which a lot of the time can skip if your typing is too hard. I do not know how to work on the escapement of this machine. But, perhaps the stiff action you have found with the 44 is exacerbating the problem, because you are typing harder than you might otherwise. See if the action loosens up with the cleaning of the segment, and if that helps with the skipping.
- colrehogan
- Key Master
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- From: Granite City, IL
- Registered: 05-2-2015
- Posts: 612
Re: Olivetti Studio 44 sometimes hits the paper without advancing
I have noticed a similar issue with one of my machines. It wanted to hang up in one spot. I did lubricate the segment and used a constant speed when typing with it. That has helped.
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- TypewriterGuy
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- Registered: 24-4-2015
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Re: Olivetti Studio 44 sometimes hits the paper without advancing
Usually problems like these get solved on their own. It most likley just needs to be used more.
Back from a long break.
Starting fresh with my favorite typer. A Royal Futura!
- heltonbiker
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- Posts: 13
Re: Olivetti Studio 44 sometimes hits the paper without advancing
Hi folks, thank you very much for your quick response.
I forgot to say that I have just took the machine to an old guy with a shop (one of the last remaining typewriter shops in my area), and he got it cleaned and oiled. I was a bit surprised to see that the internals didn't get as meticulously clean as I was expecting, but oiling it had a lot, you can smell it 20 feet away. And the action (which was dry and a bit sandy) is now very very smooth.
Well, I had a problem with the diacritic ( ´ ) not returning, and this problem is solving itself with use, indeed. So I will keep using it and see what happens. Also, when I get inspired, I might get into it again and see if I can clean and/or lubricate some more.
Also, I have read around (even in this forum) that a lot of these issues are due to "improper typing technique". Although I believe engineers most probablly have tried to make the machines' working reliable enough not to depend on proper technique (whatever this might be), I can take that as a matter of fact, and maybe add the "technique" thing romantically as "part of the game" with this machine. Otherwise I might just get a laptop, isn't it? 
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Thread Starter- heltonbiker
- New Member
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- Registered: 08-9-2015
- Posts: 13
Re: Olivetti Studio 44 sometimes hits the paper without advancing
Wow, regarding "typing technique" and the exact same problems I am experiencing, some guys made a great - and fun - video HERE:
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Thread Starter- TypewriterGuy
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- Registered: 24-4-2015
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Re: Olivetti Studio 44 sometimes hits the paper without advancing
I hope that guy didnt oil the slugs...
Back from a long break.
Starting fresh with my favorite typer. A Royal Futura!
- heltonbiker
- New Member
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- Posts: 13
Re: Olivetti Studio 44 sometimes hits the paper without advancing
TypewriterGuy wrote:
I hope that guy didnt oil the slugs...
Well, apparently he is a quite knowledgeable guy, who worked for lots of local newspapers at the time, servicing their typewriters. So far, except for the questionable finishing of his cleaning (even the painting came back a bit oily to the touch), the machine feels mechanically awesome, parts move very smooth (not gritty as they were before I took the machine there), and the printing quality on the paper is fine considering the ribbon (too wet and thick for my taste, but maybe it will dry out and flatten a bit with use).
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Thread Starter- TypewriterGuy
- Typewriter Talk Vet
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Re: Olivetti Studio 44 sometimes hits the paper without advancing
Good. I was just hoping he wasnt one of those people tha just started reparing yesterday and oiling with WD40.
Back from a long break.
Starting fresh with my favorite typer. A Royal Futura!
- Uwe
- Moderator
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- Registered: 12-3-2013
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Re: Olivetti Studio 44 sometimes hits the paper without advancing
An oiled segment will type well too... for a little while. Personally, I'd question the professionalism of someone who gets oil on the paintwork as there's absolutly no need for that.
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
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