1 - theoldman
- Platen Punisher
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- From: WINDSOR Ontario Canada
- Registered: 12-8-2015
- Posts: 85
Part needed for Olivetti Lettera 32
I have an Olivetti Lettera 32 Portable typewriter. I am missing the ribbon spool hold down nuts.
I know that it's a long shot but I was wondering if anyone has a spare pair in your collection of parts?
- malole
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- From: East Anglia, UK
- Registered: 02-6-2014
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Re: Part needed for Olivetti Lettera 32
- theoldman
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- From: WINDSOR Ontario Canada
- Registered: 12-8-2015
- Posts: 85
Re: Part needed for Olivetti Lettera 32
Thanks. I saw his post on eBay. Regrettably it comes down to $15.00 Canadian a nut. I was hoping to find it a little cheaper. To put it in perspective - I paid $2. for the typewriter.
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Thread Starter- Uwe
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- From: Toronto, Canada
- Registered: 12-3-2013
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Re: Part needed for Olivetti Lettera 32
I'd contact him directly as his website quotes them as being 10 pounds for a pair including UK postage. Postage to Canada wouldn't cost much extra given the size/weight of the nuts. Coversely, you could maybe use a regular metric-size nut (you can buy them at Home Depot), but I'd have to check a Lettera 32 to confirm that.
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
- theoldman
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Re: Part needed for Olivetti Lettera 32
Thanks Uwe
I am using a standard nut now and it's working out just fine. It simply doesn't look proper.
I was simply hoping to find a pair a little cheaper.
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Thread Starter- Uwe
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Re: Part needed for Olivetti Lettera 32
theoldman wrote:
It simply doesn't look proper.
That's what ribbon covers are for! 
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
- KatLondon
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- Registered: 11-10-2014
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Re: Part needed for Olivetti Lettera 32
I always think if the typewriter was cheap as chips it balances out things like spool nuts. But then again, the time I bought that Hermes 2000 for £3 and then took it to the Typewriter Man, he had to practically rebuild the thing! Still - worth it ;)
- theoldman
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Re: Part needed for Olivetti Lettera 32
Typewriter Man sounds like a talented artist. I wish that I had someone like Typewriter man to fall back on. I am in a town where there are no repairman. (believe me I have tried looking for one) and I am at such a lost.
I am too new at this. I find that if the machine is working properly that I can clean it until it looks like a piece of art. Beyond that I'm euchred.
I have a stunning Olympia SM-9 with a carriage problem. My belief is that it is a repairable item but sadly beyond my capabilities at this point. It's totally frustrating because I really want to use this machine.
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Thread Starter- KatLondon
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Re: Part needed for Olivetti Lettera 32
I think we all started out where you're at, theoldman. And many, many problems with these old machines are solved by more and more cleaning. I've had things that I thought had had it, and it turned out to be some part gunged stiff, or a bit of dust. I was going crazy over a beautiful smith-Corona Silent-Super with carriage problem, and it just turned out that I needed to unscrew the back off it and apply Q tips and solvents to the escapement until it was freed up. That principle can apply to any part not working. After that, there is this forum, and there are lots of resources on the web. Lots of people post repair issues on YouTube so if I'm REALLY stuck I usually try a YouTube search.
One thing is for sure - me and typewriters could never have got where we are today if it weren't for the internet.
- Valiant
- Touch Typist
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- From: Toronto
- Registered: 12-3-2013
- Posts: 153
Re: Part needed for Olivetti Lettera 32
I have a stunning Olympia SM-9 with a carriage problem. My belief is that it is a repairable item but sadly beyond my capabilities at this point. It's totally frustrating because I really want to use this machine.
Sometimes I think the carriage might be the 'Achilles Heel' of the Olympias. If you describe the problem there may be someone here who can offer good advice on repair. One issue I've come across a few times looks like a relatively easy fix, as described in this clickthing blog post:
Don't know if this might apply to your SM-9.
"Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the typewriter."
