Typewriter Talk / Touch up paint for Olivetti?

**Posted by ESC4P3** 07-3-2024 19:05:43

Does anyone know of a good color match for the classic turquoise or blue/green paint color for an Olivetti Lettera 32? Mine is a smooth paint finish, not the crinkle, but I believe they were the same color anyway. I just got a tiny little chip on the front of the ribbon cover I just noticed.

**Posted by Paul1986** 28-2-2025 16:20:36

Hello ESC4P3. I once asked this very same question to my trusted repairman, a guy with over 40 years of experience. He told me there used to be repair guys who specialized in reproducing the original painting of various typewriters, Olivetti, IBM, etc. I don't know if that is the case with 32's, but I have two Studio 44 and the paint is very different, my Italian model has a smoother paint, more similar to a car's paint, whereas the Brazlian one is that 'semi-hammered' paint of latter Olivettis. He advised me to either let it be or repaint it altogether, but knowing it will never look remotely similar. I hope this has helped.

**Posted by Pete E.** 01-3-2025 09:54:03

ESC4P3,

I go to my local Hobby Lobby and pick up some small containers of their Deco-Art Americana acrylic paints...2-3-4 colours to custom blend to get a match right.

I will apply a test spot on the underside of a body cowling to make sure I get the customx just right. I use a small artist paint brush and cut the bristles very shortshort and then use a dabbing technique to apply the touch up paint. I try to use 2-3 very light coats/applications so I do not end up with a raised section where the touch up paint was applied. I will even dry out the paint on the brush on some paper towels...so the paint I add is very thin with each application.
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