Typewriter Talk / Olivetti - Praxis 48....

**Posted by Pete E.** 26-7-2024 12:52:28

Had a chance to snag a nice-condition Olivetti Praxis 48 here in the USA.

Its travels to my home have begun.

I was aware the Praxis 48 was made in Spain and even in Canada. But my in-coming was made in the USA...apparently at an Underwood facility in PA State.

More info. and photos after it arrives and goes through my typewriter spa-day regimen.
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**Posted by Pete E.** 26-7-2024 13:27:59

Sorry...mistake in my posting above.

Meant to type "Italy" and not "Spain".
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**Posted by Shamwari** 26-7-2024 14:49:40

Nice! Interesting design and a lot older than I expected, seems to be mid 60s to early 70s from what I can see on the web.

**Posted by Pete E.** 26-7-2024 17:05:31

Yes....1969 to 1975 from the Typewriter Database :
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**Posted by Pete E.** 26-7-2024 17:07:23

I think it will be about the same size as my manual Olivetti Linea 98, but just heavier since the Praxis 48 is fully electric. I will do some side-by-side photos in a week or so.
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**Posted by Shamwari** 27-7-2024 04:20:19

=18.9pxIt may be even earlier than 1969, Alan Seaver of Machines of Loving Grace says that the Praxis 48 was introduced in 1964 and there is a seller on Ebay offering a magazine ad for the Praxis 48 which is stated to have been taken out of Time magazine for 12/2/1966

**Posted by Pete E.** 27-7-2024 07:47:18

Yes...interesting.

USA Patent 205,971 was issued 11-11-1966 and reference of earlier dates in the text of the granted patent.
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**Posted by Pete E.** 27-7-2024 08:50:08

The Olivetti-Underwood factory was (is) located at 2800 Valley Road, Harrisburg, PA.

It opened in 1970.

Still standing today and most recently was a Comcast service center that is indicated as now closed.
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**Posted by Shamwari** 30-7-2024 14:49:48

Thanks for the pictures. The Pennsylvania factory has fared better than the Glasgow one.
It looks like quite an unusual design. Wikipedia has some more information.

**Posted by Pete E.** 31-7-2024 08:46:16

In the early 1980's, designer Ettore Sottsass designed this home in Woodside, CA for David Kelly...who was the designer of the early computer mouse for Apple Computer.

I would like to think there might have been a Praxis 48 typewriter in that home as well. Any maybe even an Olivetti Valentine typewriter.
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