Great video. 🙏 I have a Lettera 32. I also have Olympias and Hermes and various other machines. I am a writer. The Lettera 32 is unlike other machines imo because the keys are very flat. They have no personality. In comparison the Hermes Media 3 keys are soft and curved and feel akin to holding a fat warm baby’s hand. The Lettera 32 is sooo different. It seems to have been designed deliberately to feel neutral. It’s just flat hard plastic. When typing it feels like the typewriter has secrets and won’t divulge them easily. I totally get why Cormac McCarthy wrote all his novels on a 32. They are for mystery/thriller writers. Btw all typewriter enthusiasts should learn to touch type …proper 10 finger touch type… it transforms how typewriters feel when you are using good typewriting technique. Love your videos and all your online content. Thank you!

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

11 ай бұрын

Great to meet you, @sheireland3737. And we're agreed about many things, including the differences in feel between the Lettera 32 and the Hermes. I have a Hermes 3000 (which I think we can assume matches the Media 3 in touch). Love your note about thew arm baby's hand. Very true!

My lettera 32 is a beast. It's a work horse. I pound it daily.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Agreed, Don. Out of all the Olivettis, which were a particularly fine line, they got the Lettera 32 just right, if you ask me. Glad to hear yours is getting good use. Wishing you my best.

This was JUST the video I was looking for. Thank you so much! I’ll looking to exchange my Valentine in a Lettera 22 precisely because of that special typeface that looks like Times New Roman… so beautiful.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

6 ай бұрын

I’m so pleased if the video helped in any way, @marionsouza9224. You may find that the metal-bodied Lettera 22 is more durable than the plastic-bodied Valentine. In every event, wishing you good writing.

I've been known to call my Lettera 32 my little Italian sports car. It's my dream machine - one of the first I ever used (at 10 years old) and the only one I've always wanted. Finally bought one almost 2 years ago from Duane Jensen at J.C. Business Machines in Phoenix, AZ (highly recommended!). Fantastic machine.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Without question, Duane is the fa-shizzie. I think it’s safe to say he’s forgotten more about typewriters than I’ll ever know. Congrats on your Lettera 22, Jay. An excellent machine, no question about it.

Thanks for these videos. I inherited my grandpa's lettera32. Still had the manual but very nice to see the tab clearing demonstrated. It still runs wonderfully. I have a small issue with the housing. Slightly bent in at the back interfering with the carriage travel a little. but I wouldn't have known this was the issue without being certain about the tabs. Getting the dust out of it and I'll have it as cleaned out and lubed up right away. She's a beauty. I've always loved typing and I'm so happy to have this. I believe this was one of the typewriters he used in the Army, so this machine has been more places than me

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

I love that you’ve got a machine with family history attached to it, Branch Assassin. Can’t put a price on that. If that dent in the back keeps bothering you, these machines are easy to enough to take apart. Remove the bottom plate with a Philips head screwdriver then look for all posts securing the housing to the machine. Slide the carriage hard left without any margin settings to remove the frame. Bang out the dent. Replace all and you should be good to go. Wishing you all the best with this treasure. And thanks for watching.

I have a Lettera 32 and Studio 44. My Studio 44 was a gift for my 20th anniversary, and it is still my favorite manual I own. It’s so smooth, and it feels beefier than it is! The Lettera 32 is great for portability, but I wouldn’t want to do extended pieces on one, although Cormac McCarthy would argue me down on that point. Great video!

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

2 жыл бұрын

Elizabeth, I appreciate your thoughts and wisdom. I think I would also go with the Studio 44 for longer work. But as you say, McCarthy makes a compelling case for the Lettera 32. Ultimately, whatever works best for you is best. Thanks for watching and happy creating!

I started to collect typewriters a year ago and I really wanted a Olivetti typewriter. it's not the lettera series, but yesterday I got a Olivetti linea 98. it's a biggest and smoothest functioning machine I own now! Olivetti typewriters are simply the best.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

I’ve never tried the Linea 98, wjm. But if it’s an Olivetti, I’m sure it’s impressive. Congrats on your machine!

Always enjoy your videos! I was interested in this one to hear your thoughts and comparisons. I have had at least 2 of each of these at one point or another. Maybe I just had lemons...ended up selling them all ,as they are desirable. Machines fit us all differently and I think it's just a matter of...not the correct fit for me. But boy howdy are they beautiful 😍. Thanks again for taking time to make and edit these videos. Always looking forward to the next one!

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

2 жыл бұрын

You’re very welcome, Douglas. I appreciate your watching and commenting. You’re right. In the end, the choice of a writing machine is entirely personal. Only you will know what is right for you. Until then, happy creating!

Very interesting stuff. I am a collector myself. Mostly Smith-Corona. From the 40’s through the 60’s. 2 German made Olympia. 1 SM4, 1 SM9.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

4 ай бұрын

Excellent choices in my opinion, @johnlennon1049. I love SmithCoronas and Olympias as well. Both fine machines in their own ways.

I have a lettera 22 but I was never able to repair it properly, it’s been badly serviced before and impossible to repair without major piece replacements. A shame since I enjoy its “spongy” feeling. Then I got a lettera 32 and it’s my favorite typewriter ever. I love it with all my heart and I write all my books reviews and letters with it. Absolutely genius machine. Thank you for this video, although you didn’t talk about the studio 45, that’s the one I’m planning to get next!

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Matias. Great to hear from you. I don't have a Studio 45 in my collection so I can't comment on it. The "spongy" feeling on your Lettera 22 might be corrected by having a professional repair person adjust the tensioning device, although the Lettera 22 is always "spongier" I find than the Lettera 32. I agree that the 32 is a fine machine. You're quite welcome for the video, I enjoy making them. Thanks for watching and best of luck with your Studio 45!

I have a Studio 44, I enjoyed your comments on that machine and the comparison with the other units. Thank you for your time making this video.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

2 жыл бұрын

You’re very welcome, Jacob. Thanks for watching!

I have the Studio 45 which is not as big as the 44 but a tad bigger I think than the 32. I have been told that the Studio 45, a classic design also, has all the mechanics of a 32 but with a more modern plastic shell. It has a good solid case and is easy to lug around. It has the in between font between Pica and Elite as well. IMO the outer plastic shell is a very high quality plastic that is superior to other plastic typers I have seen. I love this machine. Great video! If I get the chance I may go for the Lettera 22 someday.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

2 жыл бұрын

Very good comments, Daniel. And wishing you well with your Olivetti adventures. Thanks for watching!

Hi Damon. Enjoying your channel. Subscribed. Just want to say I used to have an Olivetti Studio 44. It was a tank! Great machine, but mine badly needed a service and there are/were no typewriter repairers nearby, so I reluctantly donated it. The typeface on mine was Pica and shaded. Very pretty. Never did find another Olivetti with such a pretty typeface. Looking online, it *might* have been called Victoria, but it didn't quite look the same. Maybe I'm misremembering. I'm going to enjoy working my way through your videos. Best wishes from the UK.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

9 ай бұрын

Hi @kernow9324. Pleased to meet you, and doubly pleased that we share the same view on the Studio 44. I'd use mine more often but I'm currently in a phase where I'm banging away on my Olympia SM3 and loving every second of it. No worries. The cycle always comes back around and my typewriters always go through some strange rotation as dictated by the needs of my unconscious self. As far as the font goes, I believe you're correct. Victoria font seems to have been the Olivetti go-to. Not quite pica and not quite elite, it looks to be about an 11 character per inch arrangement. For fun, here's a website that offers that font set on computer: www.dafont.com/zai-olivetti-lettera-22-typewriter.font. Warning! I haven't tried this yet myself so please download at your own peril. However, if it works, I bet we'll both be quite pleased. I appreciate you subscribing and look forward to speaking more with you. Best of luck in all your creative endeavors until then.

@kernow9324

9 ай бұрын

That was a lovely reply Damon. I'll definitely be in touch again. Bye for now. Andrew.@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

9 ай бұрын

😊👍@@kernow9324

Outstanding reportage and examples of the typing machines! I am in the market for a Lettera 22 or 32 with Spanish keyboard, so that puts me in Spain and paying in Euros plus their service and exported inflation. I currently own dad's SCM Corsair missing the right hand platten knob and a thorough service. Dad had this machine serviced to pristine condition and gave it as a present for a friend's daughter so that she would learn secretarial techniques at the beginning of the PC era. The machine was used and put to pasture years ago. I bought it back from his friend... It has a Spanish keyboard and our currency sign both of which were compulsory in all the machines sold in Costa Rica -where I live- to be sold legally. I have another SCM Corsair with English keys missing the paper guide or ruler but in pristine condition. That I bought as a parts donor. Albeit, it is in such a great state that I would rather repair it. I also own an SCM Sterling that my wife's grandfather used for his land and property appraisal business. As a tool that helped raise 2 sons and one daughter, put then through Medicine School and Teaching for my mother in law, the Sterling did a sterling job to withstand the toiling and long journeys in the trunk of "papapa's" Jeep. The machine shows the constant effort of Ing. Rodolfo Vicente! It's a breeze to use, it is so solid! It's got a service but the tech didn't fix the ribbon advance, another tech will try to fix this issue. I also use a Brother 1030 with international characters which is a breeze to use and I have a few daisy wheels that I have purchased for variety and a secondary Brother 1030 with English key layout. So the sound of the Lettera 22 and 32 has caught my attention! I am trying to source one locally in Costa Rica where I live -which is virtually impossible- all these mechanical tools seem to have a preferred place in people's libraries and in their memories and in Spain with the aforementioned costs and issues of bringing it to my country. Any ideas?

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

6 ай бұрын

Hi @rbruce63. Thanks for all this. Try Etsy. Once upon a time, that’s where I picked up my Spanish keyboard Lettera 32. Didn’t cost much at all, even with shipping, and the vendor was remarkably pleasant to deal with. He was also able to source an original case for the machine, in very good condition, which is nearly as rare as the typewriter itself. Wishing you best of luck and please let me know how it goes. Thanks for watching!

@rbruce63

6 ай бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco Bought it yesterday over eBay. It will arrive in NYC at my niece’s apartment. Perhaps I’ll have it CLA’d at Gramercy Typewriters! It’s a 22!

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

6 ай бұрын

Congrats,@@rbruce63 ! You can't go wrong with Gramercy Typewriter. If your machine needs cleaning and adjusting, they'll do the job right. Wishing you many happy (carriage) returns with your typewriter.

@rbruce63

6 ай бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco Cheers from Costa Rica! I hope it arrives soon and that my niece will check it to ascertain if it needs Gramercy's expertise!

Mi hai convinto a prendere Olivetti studio 44🤩👍

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Eccellente! Congratulazioni! Spero che tu ne sia molto soddisfatto!

Thanks for a great video. I just purchased an Olivetti Studio 44. But why do you say that Studio 44 came in 1965? It came in 1952. It's designer was also Marcello Nizzoli.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Ville Elomas, your are correct. That was an oversight on my part. I seem prone to them these days. Much appreciate your catching it. And very much hoping your Studio 44 lives up to your expectations. With my highest hopes for that…

Thanks for the interesting video. I own a red Valentine, but am interested in some of the other Olivetti models. Very informative content. Thanks. Anthony

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

2 жыл бұрын

I’m pleased of it helps, mythicalireland. Thanks for watching!

I love the video. Are there really lots of people still using typewriters?

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

8 ай бұрын

@timor64: oh yeah. Sure are. I mean, “lots of people” is a relative term. But they’re out there. We’re out there, I should say. Ultimately, whatever helps the work should be embraced, yes? Great meeting you here. Thanks for watching and wishing you my best.

Thank you for this Video, Damon! I was looking for a 12 CPI typewriter with a german QWERTZ keyboard for some weeks. It is quite a challenge to find a typewriter with a german keyboard and an elite font. It seems that more than 95% of the typewriters with a german QWERTZ keyboard are equipped with a Pica font. I found some Olympia SM wit a 11 CPI font, but none with a 12 CPI. So I ended up buying a serviced Lettera 22 with the same Imperial Elite 12 CPI font online from a shop in Berlin. I want to use it for filling out logs while brewing my own beer. I used to do it by hand but my handwriting is awful. It is also more convenient than using a computer because I just have to write about 100 characters over a period of 8 hours of brewing. And with 12 CPI I get more text in the text boxes of the log than writing by hand or using a Pica machine.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Thomas this all sounds great and I’m so pleased you’re getting some value out of my videos. The real question on my mind, however, is …. How’s your craft brew? This past weekend, my father, my brother, and I polished off a few bottles of hand-crafted 22-year-old chocolate stout we found hiding in the back of an old refrigerator. Unbelievable how well it aged. Wishing you all my best and happy typing.

@thomash3003

Жыл бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco Thank you! Most like my beer, some love it. My Standard beer is an Ale called Wieß. Its flavor is in between a Kölsch and a Wheat Beer. It is made of about 3/4 of Pilsen malt and 1/4 of pale wheat malt and has only a mild bitterness and some flavor from the hops. It has about 4,2 % ABV, which is a bit lower that the german standard beer that have 4,5 - 5,5 % ABV. Another popular beer of mine is an IPA with a flavor of citrus fruits. It uses the Citra Hops from the USA, which are quite expensive here. You pay about 120 € / kg for it here in Germany. But it is worth every penny. Another specialty is a Belgian Abby Beer, a Trapist style Triple with 8,4 % ABV. Its a strong beer for the winter time and I think it might need some more time to age as it was brewn last summer. I also tried some chocolate stout (with vanilla and coconut flakes) but i do not think that it will survive 22 years as about half of it is consumed after 11 months.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

@@thomash3003 Your citrus IPA sounds especially appealing, Thomas. And I understand what your saying. A long time ago, I made a go of brewing my own beer. Oddly enough, my products never stuck around for more than a few weeks. 😉 I'm frankly amazed that we found those bottles and that they drank as well as they did. Wishing you every success in writing and brewing, my friend.

Thanks a lot, that's really helpful

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

You’re very welcome, Nikita. Thanks for watching!

Hey Damon, I have some info for you! The lettera 22's font type isn't found on Olivetti's only, but also on the Gossen Tippa ultra-portables before and after typewriter company god Adler took over. I don't know the particular history behind this type of font, however it's just gorgeous and allows the user to get an image on how his/her draft might look like when it's printed.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Excellent, D.M.V. Thanks so much for sharing this. I honestly thought the Olivettis were the only ones who had that font. At the moment, I don't have any Adlers in my collection but I've always wanted a Gossen Tippa. You just gave me a reason to want one more. Thanks so much for watching and sharing your experience. It's what makes this community so much fun to be a part of!

Excellent comparison between the three typewriters, I have the Lettera 32 and two Studio 44's but I think that I actually prefer the Lettera 32 as it (at least in comparison to my 44's) has a "softer" keyboard.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Much obliged for the comment, Nicolas. I agree about the 32's softer keyboard. Combining that with its full functionality and portability makes it a winner in my book. For a desktop model, however, something a bit more stable, the Studio 44 makes a fine choice, no? Great to have you as part of our community. Thanks for watching!

Thank you for your videos! They are much appreciated! I have one question: Do you know if I coul substitute a broken carriage release lever from a lettera 22 with one from a lettera 32? Thank you!

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Hi Michael. Thanks for your good words on the videos. To your question: I just checked my two machines. The carriage release levers appear to be identical. I haven't tried swapping them out but, if it were me, I would proceed with optimism.

It's been a year, I would like to request a profile on a Royal Aristocrat and/or a Smith Corona Galaxie Deluxe. I like your typewriter profile series, I hope you pick it up again. What you think about Olivetti Lettera 35i ? They look interesting. The 22 is hard to find and without breaking the bank, heard someone say because artists like Leonard Cohen had one so everyone wants one, I told him I highly doubt this generation even knows who he was lol. Like Kate Busch, who I hear and I say Im still running up that mountain lol. Thanks again.❤

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

5 ай бұрын

Hi @dadtype2339. I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus from videos as I finish a manuscript. Apologies for that. I might be able to do a video about the royal aristocrat, since I have one. However, I do not have a Smith corona galaxy deluxe, and therefore won’t be able to comment intelligently or honestly on that model. You ask, What do I know about the Olivetti Lettera 35i. Nothing really. I have only used the Lettera 32, Lettera 22, and studio 44. However, these three typewriters have established in me a firm respect for all Olivetti machines. It would therefore not surprise me in the least if the 35i is also an excellent machine. I’m not sure about the current market for the R 22. I bought my own machine about five years ago for $80, if memory serves, it needed a cleaning, and I could probably do with a new platen,. However, for all that, it has relayed my investment many times over. Yes, it’s true that Leonard Cohen used one. Considering how many Lettera 22s and letter a 32s were eventually produced, it wouldn’t surprise me if you find many of them in local flea markets, online, and just about everywhere you look, once you start to look for them. Advertisers call this the halo effect. Once something comes into our consciousness, we see it everywhere. I wish this for you, and in particular, I wish you a machine that is priced accordingly available to buy, and perfect for you.

@dadtype2339

5 ай бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco I have a bad disease that won't kill me and that's unfortunately the bad news, but I hurt all the time, and your channel and humor really helps me think or get a good giggle and distract me for a while I forget I'm stuck in bed for the 5th or 6th day in a row as it's just too painful to get up and walk thankfully I have an adjustable bed and a thermal typewriter to help continue my work. But I thank you for your channel and what you do, all the work you put in to your videos, and absolutely for the replies. I have CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) type 2 not sure if I've ever mentioned it before, if you look that up and read my words here, I really do thank you and wouldn't mind shaking your hand Sir, thank you for helping this firefighter not think of the pain and keeping the lights on. Yeah they are like the Ferrari or Lamborghini of the typewriter world as a friend called the Olivetti's. I've heard to buy only Olivetti not Olivetti+Underwood as the quality had slipped, I don't know,...there's one video on KZread on the 35i and it looks really cool but it's in Spanish and by a child so it's not a very good Video. Where I live in small town USA North Carolina, when I've been able, I've gone to flea markets and thrift stores and there are no typewriters, so I have to shop on FB marketplace or eBay, and I've had really good luck on eBay, I was able to buy the Galaxie Deluxe and it's in perfect condition, paid $64 and some change for it. Recently, thanks to Joe Van Cleave, lol, I picked up a brother EP-20 the original first battery portable thermal typewriter, lol looks like it belongs on the Nostromo in the film Alien, in fact that's what I named it, Nostromo. Got that for $9.00 and a brother EP-43 for $24.00, if you get one get the EP-43 it's a work horse. Better darker print and way more features, it is 43 machines later. Great machines for drafting, highly recommend it. Named it the Dark Night got a Daughter that loves Batman. Lol. But they're great for on the go or if you work in bed like I do, first night I worked on it I poured out 38 single spaced pages in one sitting. Cheaper distraction free writing tool that shows your work than that Freewriter thing that's half someone's rent lol good night those are so expensive. As a professional writer I can tell you I don't use that as they say it's what the pros use, lol no it isn't, just lines to make the wannabes buy it. Real writers are starving and wouldn't wast $500-$1,000 buckaroos on something like that when the Typewriter, thermal typewriter, or pen and pad exist. In fact I was able to go see my kid do softball and when the Tax deduction isn't doing anything, I was able to do some work. I've had the same batteries in my over a week now and I've been using it every day for 10+ pages a night so batteries really hold up. I look forward to seeing a Royal Aristocrat you got, I have one from 68 it's in excellent condition original metal ribbon spools probably had one owner. Very clean machine. I have found, with mine anyway, to be a good machine for shorts under 10 pages, or letters maybe, but you wouldn't want to write a 300 page novel on it, by page 7 my hands feel it even on light setting. Because it's Royal and an Aristocrat, I named mine The Right Honorable Blue Lady McBeth, lol (McBeth is misspelled on purpose) I tend to name all my machines. You name yours as a collector? Some do curious as to their names. I have a 1972 SCM Smith-Corona Electra 110, named Lakota which besides being a tribal People, also means Friend in the Lakota language. My Galaxie Deluxe is named Captain Picard lol or just Picard, but bing a ret. Frie Captain it's nice to have another Captain to type too ..talk to...hmm lol but so named as in Star Trek the Next Gen, Picard was the Captain of a Galaxy Class Starship. Nerded out right there... Looking forward to the video should you do it and again, didn't mean to bug you, just glad you are well. After I get my channel going (I have some legal issues at the moment so I can't) I'll definitely do a shout out and recommend your channel, which I do when I talk to folks, I jot it down for them on some paper 📜🗞️ and try to help your channel grow and Like EVERYTHING 👍. Thanks again ❤️ thought I'd give ya a heart too. Be safe and be well my friend! Cheers!

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

4 ай бұрын

@@dadtype2339 Very pleased you found good machines. And pleased that you're writing. And pleased by your support. Go to it, man. Go to it.

I am an IL - Letterate - very sleek machines - I own Smith Corona so clunky haha - to me it looks like an MGB or Alpha Romeo

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

9 ай бұрын

I think that's an apt comparison. And let's not dismiss Smith Coronas. They're some of my favorite machines. Wishing you well.

Hi Damon! I just got a really nice turquoise 1973 Studio 45, and absolutely love using it. The key action is extremely satisfying! There is just one thing which worries me about this machine and the other Olivettis: As they lack the actual key for number 1, I am wondering if this will cause lots of extra work if I use these machines to do my manuscripts? I haven't tried this yet, but once I scan the pages and send them to Google Docs, I assume that the OCR recognizes every number 1 in my text as the lowercase letter L, forcing me to manually change each of them later to an actual number 1. Perhaps this isn't a huge problem, but it is something I have been thinking about. Could you share your experience with this? I do have other solid typewriters which do have the number 1, but none of these really match the Studio 45 on how comfortable it is to type with. Despite these hesitations, I also have both the Lettera 22 and 32 on the way. Was supposed to buy just one of them, but I thought that the seller of the 32 got offended of my offer of 50 € for his very good condition 32 (he was selling it for 80 €, discounted from 90 €). I got impatient as he had seen the message but had not answered, so I went and bought the 22 for 40 €. Then of course the guy selling the 32 answered and accepted my offer, and I didn't have the heart to back down anymore... Oh well, the more the merrier, I guess...

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Ай бұрын

Hi @3AMJH. OCR (optical character recognition) technology can be a mixed bag in general. For typewriter, haven’t found a typescript yet that scans perfectly so there’s always some work involved … though not nearly so much work as retyping a whole manuscript, to say nothing of many times as whole sections get edited. We’re it me, I’d accept this small problem as just another part of the process. Personally I feel that any chance to reread a manuscript offers possibilities to enrich it. Making sure that your 1s aren’t lowercase Ls and vice versa… just handle it and keep reading for flow, style, tone, scansion, and so on. Believe me, I get the urge to buy more than one machine. I currently have … ahem. Many. Just remember (if I may be so bold) that the tool is not the craft. The craft is the work, which must be done no matter how we prefer to do it, or whether or not we even want to. Write well, my friend.

@3AMJH

Ай бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco Thank you for the answer, Damon. I do translation work (from English to Finnish, mostly) and I like to do the initial version on paper with a mechanical pencil, and recently I have brought mechanical typewriters into the process. I have started using them for going through the handwritten manuscript, after which the intention is to scan them and do more editing and then submit the work for proof-reading. I now have my first typewritten manuscript waiting to be scanned, uploaded and edited. I noticed quickly that this work is way more fun with typewriters involved, and somehow I concentrate better on the text itself as well; especially after I become comfortable with the machine; its operation, its particular quirks etc. I appreciate the comment about the tool not being the craft. I have acquired about 15 machines in a short time, and now that I am starting to figure out which ones are the best for doing actual work with at home, outdoors or while traveling, I will start getting rid of the extras. The Corona Four, for example, is really fun to use and very pretty to look at, but not very practical for my work for various reasons. My wide-carriage Hermes 3000 has a cute sans serif typeface called Epoca, but I prefer serifs for work. I also find that its mushy type action starts to feel heavy after a while (it sounds really cool though), so it will probably have to go as well. Getting rid of some might also convince my dear wife that I don't have a typewriter problem after all. :)

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Ай бұрын

@@3AMJH Sounds to me like you have a problem ... but it can be managed, as most problems can. I love the idea of doing translation work via typewriter. Good on you for that. And I agree about the Corona Four. I have one. Lovely machine. Very steampunk. Exquisite to look at. Not really the best machine for sustained work. Well met and keep going, @3AMJH. Write on!

Hello thanks for this video. This is my first time using a typewriter: when I type, the ribbons do not seem to turn while typing… so the ink on the page is quite faint. Do you have any advice on how to fix this please? Have a nice day

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

2 ай бұрын

Hi @manonbaelen1554. This is a fairly common problem on machines that have fallen into disrepair. Or it might be that (I assume) you’re using one of the Olivettis mentioned in this video. Consider: Without conducting an examination of the specific machine in question, I could speculate that the linkage between your escapement and the gears that turn the ribbon spools has disconnected or otherwise been impeded. Or: If you’re using one of the Olivettis mentioned in this video, make sure that you’re using a Group 4 rather than a universally spooled ribbon. Olivetti typewriters were built to work with Group 4 spools. Therefore if you’re using a universal spool, the ribbon likely won’t advance since the ribbon spools don’t fit the machine’s sprockets snugly enough. I hope this helps. Does it? Please let me know. Thanks for watching and checking in.

Oh gosh! Finally 1k subscribers! I Actaully subscribed with three of my family account, and somehow persuaded a friend of my to subscribe again.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

2 жыл бұрын

Finally, Infinity Miracle. Finally! Now all we have to do is get watch hours up and the channel will start producing revenue. This is important because it’s the only way I can continue to devote time to creating the kind of content you’ve been watching. Thank you for all your support and please keep up the good work. I’m excited to think that my content is being appreciated by such a smart and eager community!

@infinitymiracle772

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco great great great! Do you by any chance have a email address I can contact you by? I have met a bit of a problem on the way of fixing my Olivetti Lettera 32 typewriter. Thanks!

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

2 жыл бұрын

@@infinitymiracle772 Yes, you’ve asked this question before, IM. My response is the same. Please send your message to mail (at) Damondimarco.com. Wishing you best of luck with your machine!

Hi, are Olivetti spools cross compatible? Would a spool for the Lettera 32 work with the Studio 44?

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

6 ай бұрын

Hi @bogdanbogdanovich140. Yes. Both those machines use the Group 4 spool. Sometimes referred to as the Olivetti spool. You should be able to swap them back and forth between those two machines.

Great video as always. Question: do ALL Lettera 22s have that typeface? And can you do a video someday about traveling with a typewriter? e.g. going through airport, toting supplies, etc.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Archelle. The short answer is no. For instance, I've personally seen a Lettera 22 with a cursive typeface. And most vintage manual typewriters came available in a least a pica or elite variation. However, I can say with confidence that the 11.5 Victoria Elite typeface featured in this video is by far the most prevalent and therefore the most iconic typeface you're liable to to run into on the Lettera 22. You would probably have to look hard to find something different on this model. Your idea about traveling with a typewriter is brilliant! I've just put into my production queue. Look for it September sometime. And thanks for watching!

Great video.! I currently have two Olivetti 32's. One from Italy and one from Spain. I've read the same rumor about Italian machines being superior, but I actually like my Spanish one a little better. My Olivettis are the smoothest typers in my 20+ machine collection. Just two days ago I bought a lettera 22 on eBay, and it's from England and made in great Britain. I'm excited ! I'll be getting it around the middle of September, but I have a question for you:. If it was manufactured in great Britain, does that mean it was made in Glasgow Scotland? Was that their only manufacturing plant in great Britain? I've tried to look this question up online, but I can't seem to find anything. I'm hoping it was made in Scotland, because that's even cooler.... Italian design... and built in Scotland.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Michael, it’s good to hear from you. Thanks for writing in. As far as I know, Olivetti only had a GB factory in Scotland. I could be wrong. It’s funny you mention it because my machine that was made in Spain does have a crisper, snappier action than the ones I have that were made in Ivrea, Italy. Check out the ASMR video I made of the Lettera 32 typing for nearly two hours to get an idea. Is it the factory they were made in or the machine model that makes them different? Is it the way they were used by the people who had them before us or the way the machines were kept up, or not? There’s so many factors to consider. Ultimately, I say get your hands on the machine. Work with it. See if it pleases you. Go from there. Please write back when your 22 arrives and tell me how it is. Meantime, thanks for watching and for being a member of our community.

Would love to hear your thoughts on the Lettera 35! Personally love mine, though it is hefty.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Lester, I haven’t had the pleasure of trying the Lettera 35 yet. I’ve heard other people talk about theirs. I’m curious (and this seems most important): why do you like yours?

@bluegarland9707

Жыл бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco Great question! I’d say a few things: design (I personally love that 70s Italian industrial design and even the beige color against the white keys), action (it types reliably and firmly without much effort and those deep keys are a joy to type with), and build (it’s a robust tank of a machine). I wouldn’t discount that I’ve got affection for it too since it was my first machine.

Here in Mexico we have A LOT of Letteras (21,25, 30, 32) and Sutdios 44,45,46 at such great prices. Like 20 bucks. It's insane.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Great to hear it! Probably not insane, Olivetti opened a factory in Mexico during the 60s (I think it was). They also had factories in Scotland, Spain, and (if memory serves) the former Yugoslavia. Doesn't matter. For whatever reason, you've got yourself a bumper crop of Olivettis. Enjoy!

@user-hl2bj7xn6i

8 ай бұрын

HEY BUDDY....CAN WE HAVE A WORD IN PRIVATE REGARDING THESE TYPEWRITERS AS I'VE WANTED TO BUY ONE OF THESE FOR SO LONG

I have the Olivetti Underwood 21, Olivetti 22, Olivetti 32 and Olivetti Underwood Studio 44. The 21 is very similar to the 44 from the mechanism point of view. The body moulding and some of the features differ. They are all beautiful typewriters, BUT the spool nuts arrangement is a pain in the butt! These nuts have to be tightened/tensioned exactly right (?) for the ribbon to run correctly from spool to spool. How many times have one or both nuts come loose to drop into the typewriter’s innards?! None of my machines have the original spools! Previous owners have fallen for the ‘universal spool’ nonsense (as referred to in a previous CreateX3 video). The only way round this is to either purchase original spools (expensive for one, let alone four sets!) or ‘sleeve’ the spool spindles with plastic tubing so that the spools fit snug. The holes in the original spools are smaller, so non original replacements ‘float’ loosely and do not work correctly.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

2 жыл бұрын

LANCSKID, I know this sleeve technique you’re speaking of. I tried it once for a couple of days and ultimately raged against it. Its a band-aid at best and not conducive to good work. I agree with your assessment: do it right or don’t do it at all. That said, I still find Olivettis to be excellent machines and wish you all good things with what sounds like your growing collection. Thanks for watching. More coming soon. And happy creating!

I would like to buy an olivetti typewriter for my son who is a

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

6 ай бұрын

Seems your message got cut off, @stuartthompson3837. But I can assure you of two things. First, Olivetti typewriters are excellent machines. Second, I’m all ears for however you want to finish your entry. Thanks for watching.

Nice video, thank you! I have never had a typewriter, and I am pretty undecided about which one to buy. Which typewriter would you advice to me as a first machine? Excuse me for my english, it is so bad :')

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Hi Vincenzo. Good to meet you. Thanks for watching. Check out this video first. I hope it will help you refine your options. Then please check back with me and I’ll be happy to recommend some machines based on your stated preferences. Before You Buy a Typewriter … Six Top Things You Need to Know kzread.info/dash/bejne/c6atu8ynmNDKhps.html

@vincenzonespeca4160

Жыл бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco thank younso much! I have just watched this video. I am reallu undecided between lettera 22 and lettera 32, so I would like to know which one do you prefer :)

Would it be possible to profile your Olivetti Studio 44 typewriter at some point?

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

8 ай бұрын

It’s possible, @BradFonseca. It’ll be a little while though. I’m working on a novel and filling in back orders. Probably early next year. Appreciate you requesting it.

@BradFonseca

8 ай бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco Perfect! I look forward to seeing it.

is the type feel on the 32 very different from the 22?

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

2 ай бұрын

Hi @vitzbig. In my experience, yes. I have a 1952 Lettera 22 made in Ivrea, Italy. Its touch is a bit mushier (though not unpleasantly so) than the distinctive snap of my Spanish-made Lettera 32 from the mid-1960s. I like them both in their own right, just to be clear.

@vitzbig

2 ай бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco i used to have a 22 and one thing i didn't like was the fact you couldn't push the keys all the way down because it could jump a space. This snap you talk about, does it mean its a bit stiffer and that you can push it all the way down? I really like ramming the keys down hehe. Btw, thanks for the response!

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

2 ай бұрын

@@vitzbig​​⁠My 32 has a distinctive snap to the action of the keys. My Studio 44 sort of regresses to the aforementioned “mushy” key action of the 22, though I’m fairly certain that was a byproduct of the merger with Underwood and the overall size of the machine. The best way to check this @vitzblg is to get your hands on a 32 and see for yourself!

Would you be able to do some comparison between some Hermes typewriters?

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Hi, TJ. Short answer: not at the moment. I don't have enough Hermes in my collection to do an accurate comparison. But it's a fine idea and the moment this changes, I'll put it into the queue!

@parlamedia

Жыл бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco I really appreciate it. Do you happen to own an Olivetti Dora and how do you think that compares to Letteras? You have an awesome channel and something I look forward to watching.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

@@parlamedia I don’t have a Dora but I’ve read plenty of complimentary things about them. A lot of people praise the Dora as well as other Olivetti models like the Letter 25, 31, and 35. Personally I’m wary of most typewriters made after a certain period. To me, the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s were sort of a golden age for these machines. But by all means, see what you think for yourself. No opinions should ever matter more than your own, to say nothing of your productivity as a creative. Let me know how it goes if you try the Dora, and thanks for watching, TJ!

@parlamedia

Жыл бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco I'm in the same opinionboat as you. It seems that after 60's more and more metal parts were being replaced with plastic and that can't be a good thing for general durability. I mainly own stuff from 30's and 50's.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

@@parlamedia Bingo. Yes, the 70s (to my mind) marked a general shift toward the planned obsolescence we now see running rampant throughout the consumer goods industry. Hence the phrase, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to.” And why the older machines routinely display what I’d call an impressive degree of durability. Curious: of the machines you have, which are your most admired in this regard?

studio 44. no contest. it is (arguably) the apex of olivetti design. the typing action is only rivaled by the studio 45/underwood 450. the keys, also only rivaled by the 45/450. folks say the sm9 or the hermes. hermes is for posers that have 600 bucks (or often a lot more). i know you love your h3k but a working 44 can be found for 100 bucks and sometimes less. why? the hermes has more buttons that do things i've managed to never need. they're the precursor to the self-parking sedan. but i have skill! i can parallel park myself! watch me not give a (CENSORED) about (CENSORED CENSORED) tabs! do you think kerouac used those buttons on his? something tells me no. for some reason. anyway, the studio 44 . . . . they're freaking awesome, their action isn't mushy, it's crisp, they're spectacular to look at and their platen knobs don't frequently disintegrate. the authors who used it? william s. burroughs, raymond chandler, ralph ellison, federico fellini, haruki murakami, irwin shaw, tom robbins, kurt vonnegut, and tennessee williams, who so loved his that he wrote numerous friends declaring his complete and abiding adoration for the machine. get outta here! could be interesting to see a vid of you comparing the two.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

It’s a great idea for a video, TW. I’ll put it in the queue and get to it right after I use my machines to keep the customers satisfied. (At the moment, that’s more than a full time job.) Wishing you my best. I appreciate the good words. Thanks for watching.

Hi, Damon. Nicolás here... I want to buy a typewriter so I can write screenplays with it. Currently I have no money so I can't afford Final Draft or anything professional... So Word is the only option I have. The thing is: I found this “The Hollywood Standard” book by Christopher Riley and he wrote about the traditional screenplay margins. So I tried to put those margins in Word in order to have the 57 line per page using Courier New 12 pt. But nope... I can only reach 52 lines. And it's the same page length (8.5'' x 11''). Anyways... I was thinking... It would be amazing if you can compare current writing softwares versus a typewriter (Maybe Final Draft, Word and a typewriter) using the same text (Maybe a screenplay page). It could be nice to also see how time is spend in each one and how do you feel while writing in them. It's just an idea. Maybe it sounds good - Just maybe... Anyways, I'm going to write in Courier New 10,5 pt... I guess it's the only way I can fit 57 lines per page. Have a nice day/night. Saludos desde Santiago de Chile.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

Nicolas, this is a fine idea though I have a couple of workarounds you should be able to use immediately. For instance, some enterprising soul wrote a screenplay template for Microsoft Word. Try this one: templates.office.com/en-us/write-a-screenplay-tm89618973. Disclaimer: I haven’t used this myself but I know for a fact that people write specialty Word templates all the time. If you don’t like this one, just search up another and give it a whirl. Another idea: get Scrivener, which is an excellent writing program all around and priced very affordable. Scrivener let’s you use the program for thirty days free (I think it is). As I recall, that’s not thirty days from download and install but thirty days using the program, which is generous. Scrivener’s screenplay template is great, and the fact that the program is so versatile makes it shoe-in purchase. Also, your license, if you purchase directly from the software makers, Literature and Latte, applies to several machines in your household. I use Scrivener a lot and recommend it highly to other writers. There is also this article (below) which details ten alternatives to Final Draft. Again, I haven’t tried these programs although a friend once raved about Celtx. Some of these alternatives are free. If you try them and have any feedback, please share it with the community. industrialscripts.com/final-draft/ I hope this gets you up and running fast. Meanwhile, I’ll look into your suggestion about screenplays on typewriters. Personally, I do the rough work on typewriters, which are amenable to this. I let Final Draft handle the formatting once I switch to the finishing stage. Bottom line: don’t let anything stop you from writing. The story doesn’t care how it looks, so just get it down. That’s most important. Format comes later, when we share our work with others. It’s very important but not so important as our responsibility to do the writing. I’ll let you know what I find. Meanwhile, wishing you luck with your work. Thanks for being part of our community, and for watching.

@THE.N1KO

Жыл бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco Hello there, I just want to thank you for taking your time reading, researching and also sharing your knowledge. I'll try with each one of your suggestions so I can find my favorite. I'll write. No matter what. Then I'll organize it properly. The idea of the screenplay written in a typewriter also came to me because I couldn't find any video on KZread about it... Maybe there's more than one but I couldn't find them. I'll try again. I send you my regards. I wish you the best, Damon. Thanks again.

@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco

Жыл бұрын

@@THE.N1KO It's a fine idea, Nicolas, and I've added it to my production queue. Look for it sometime in early October. Very much appreciate your thoughts and your positivity. Keep watching. More coming!

@THE.N1KO

Жыл бұрын

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco I'll be there, Damon. Keep it up!