Typewriter Talk / Incoming: Scheidegger President

**Posted by JJH** 29-5-2024 14:41:44

I thought I have all the typewriters I need to keep me busy, but since I'll probably give away my tabless Triumph Tippa and could use a couple more ultra-portables with a tabulator, I went browsing the local marketplace for something interesting. I put a nice looking Triumph Gabriele 20 on my watch list, but then this rather cute and inexpensive Scheidegger President immediately drew my attention:

Besides the tabulator and the cute shape, I also liked that it has the modern, final version of the Finnish/Swedish QWERTY keyboard layout, which none of my other typewriters have.

After some quick research, I was surprised to learn that this is basically an Olivetti Lettera 32 disguised in plastic. That sealed the deal for me.

I saw that the same model was also sold as Underwood 378 (the original branding for the model?), which had a blue lid and bottom plate instead of maroon like on the Scheidegger. Apparently it was sold under other names as well.

**Posted by robmck** 29-5-2024 17:19:57

Scheidegger's are a great way to get nice machines for reasonable prices (if you don't mind their color scheme). E.g. a Scheidegger Princess-matic is just a Princess 300 in beige.

**Posted by Pete E.** 29-5-2024 17:20:53

Hi Jere,

Neat little machine !

Could be be more, directly related to the Olivetti Lettera 35 ?

https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/Lettera35.pdf

**Posted by JJH** 30-5-2024 00:05:20

robmck wrote:
Scheidegger's are a great way to get nice machines for reasonable prices (if you don't mind their color scheme). E.g. a Scheidegger Princess-matic is just a Princess 300 in beige.

Yes, I've been reading about Willy Scheidegger and his Swiss Typewriting School. Interesting history there, and I definitely wouldn't mind adding a Princess 300 / Princess-matic to the collection.

Pete E. wrote:
Hi Jere,

Neat little machine !

Could be be more, directly related to the Olivetti Lettera 35 ?

https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/Lettera35.pdf

Interesting, I can definitely see the similarity in the design, despite the 35 apparently being all metal.

I noticed that the President looks exactly like the Olivetti Lettera 92, which according to its Italian Wikipedia page was released in 1988 and conceived as heir to the Lettera 35. Perhaps this is the original branding for this model then? Would explain why the President has the modern Finnish QWERTY layout.

But then I saw that the Lettera 92 was also sold as the Underwood 319, and this in turn begs the question: what's the difference between the Underwood 319 and the Underwood 378? Besides the color scheme, they look identical to me; externally, at least.

Then there is also this nice yellow and black Privileg 350 T, which looks very similar externally as well, with the exception that the tab and return keys are positioned slightly different:

**Posted by AndrewP** 30-5-2024 04:32:11

Yes, this machine was produced by Olivetti.

I own the Privileg version without tabulator (Privileg 350) in grey color.

It's a nice little typewriter, I really like it because it's so pleasant to type on. My fingers get much less tired than with some other typewriters.

**Posted by skywatcher** 30-5-2024 23:32:11

The only difference between the Underwood 319 and the 378 is the color of the base and lid. The 319 was grey or beige and the 378 was blue. From what I understand, after Olivetti took over Underwood, it was common practice to brand a machine as both Olivetti and Underwood but give them different numbers. Hence Olivetti Lettera 92 and the Underwood 319 and 378. I love the color of the Scheidegger President. All the best,

Sky

**Posted by JJH** 03-6-2024 16:12:09

Thanks for the info. I would not had guessed that they gave a different model number just because of the different color schemes.

Picked it up today:

It needs a good cleaning as expected and the ribbon was completely dry, but everything seems to be in working order and none of the keys stick. Luckily the yellowish stains on the plastic shell and ribbon cover don't seem to be permanent discoloration.

While it's not heavy, and slightly lighter than my Tippa S, I'm not sure if it technically counts as an ultra-portable, as it's actually quite chunky in size and quite a bit longer and taller than the Tippa S. I assume that the Lettera 35 was about the same size but heavier. All in all yet another interesting machine. Will see how I like the touch after getting it cleaned up.