Platen removal on Olivetti Lettera 35
I had once such machine, with Norwegian keyboard and Pica-size typeface. I picked it because of her very interesting form. Industrial design at its best.
I liked typing on her but was always on watch for another one, with Swedish layout and possibly in Elite-size.
And there she popped-up!
I got her from the first owner who kept her covered for most of the time and never needed service the machine. All was working apart from ribbon reverse function. Some dust and dirt from normal usage only.
Removing body shell is quite easy, just 6 screws on top side. The machine has to be wiggled a bit to free the top cover from the carriage but nothing too difficult.
On platen removal I got surprised by a hybrid construction: left platen knob is unscrewed from the platen, standard right-hand thread.
One would expect that the right knob will work the same: there are no holding screws visible around it.
Well, wrong! Look under the machine - there is an inspection window where holding screws are visible and can be accessed.
There are two of them holding the shaft. Strangely enough they are spaced 60 degrees apart but the shaft is flat on opposite faces only.
Why did they do it this way is beyond me.
To lift the platen one needs to unscrew a small latch, to free extending platen axis on the right side. Remove the covering panel first.
And voila!
Line advance mechanism looks sturdy and no-nonsense on this machine. The only catch with it is that upon assembly one must align the platen inside the carriage (horizontally) so that left knob’s ratchet aligns with the mechanism. Which means that the platen is “floating” a few mm inside the carriage and after alignment is held in place with right knob and its massive two screws.
Would it not be easier to make the right knob with integral, threaded axle?
Dusting off the mechanism with brushes and compressed air. No excess oil or grease, no butchered screw heads. Pristine specimen!
Ribbon reverse mechanism needs rivets on the ribbon ends. Under the right spool resides the core of this mechanism and on my machine it was not disengaging properly upon reversing.
It turned out that the small spring holding a shaped metal piece which rides inside the V-shaped plate was too tired. I replaced it with stronger spring, oiled lightly the plate edges and the mechanism was working again.
It was sunny today so I took the machine out for a photo session.
I very much like all about her: color combination, typing feel and most of all: the design.
These toothpaste-white keys demand that you wash your hands before typing!
The dullness of back edge is broken by horizontal line (where panels meet) and bottom rectangular shape.
The machine is very much suited for lap typing - no part of the mechanism is exposed.
Contrasting sunlight exposes crinkled paint and smooth, streamlined shapes of this beauty.