Trouble shooting question: on my Olivetti Lettera 32 the right knob won't come off, even with the right size Allen wrench. i've tried drilling through the little screw but it won't budge. The machine is missing a lot of pieces so I don't mind loosing a few more, but I can't get past that one little bit holding the knob in place. Any suggestions?
Not a problem. I twisted the wrong end of a princess platen a few months back and it ruined the platen variable. There wasn’t any info out there. I should make a video on that platen removal too for posterity’s sake.
Where can I find a screw for the carriage release bracket I have the right side but not the left one. I’m glad I have the right one to compare and see what screw I need? Do I need to buy a whole other typewriter and use one as a “parts” machine?
Great video! I just picked one up. Says it's "Olivetti Underwood Lettera 32" on the mini user guide post card thing that came w it. Original case blue n black stripe that closes w a zipper, and dark plastic fabric type cover that goes over the machine. Feels nice to carry this thing from it's handle. Do you happen to have a specific instructional video on how you clean these old machines? Like how to remove the gunk and with what tools, how to relubricate and with what.
Thanks for the great and helpful video. When you say you chemically clean it do you mean you douse it in something? If so what do you do about the keys? Do you protect them in some way? Thanks for all your videos. I watch them all.
I use a simple green solution mixed with a little water. I spray the entire machine with the cleaner then hose it off either outside if it’s warm enough or inside with the shower nozzle in winter. I then use a hair dryer to get all the moisture out in under a minute. I wouldn’t recommend spraying cleaner directly on the key tops as they will loose their gloss if the chemicals are too harsh. Watered down simple green is pretty safe and I will spray the key tops then brush them with a toothbrush and rinse them off right after that. If they were glass keys then you’ll have to wrap the key bed with plastic wrap so they stay dry.
just got one today, all stoked, put it on the desk, opened the carriage lock and voila: the carriage is jumping all the way to the left. now i dont get to write, but at least i get to learn how to repair it right away (wooho) any tips?
At 14:54 you mention tab issues. Would you go into how to repair that on a Lettera 32? I'm having an issue on mine where the tab will go a few spaces or to the end of the set margin when pressed. And it recently started to have the space bar acting similarly to the bad behavior of the tab, sending the carriage to the end of the set margin that will not go back until the carriage moving tabs that are on the carriage are pressed. Before this issue started to happen, the spacebar used to just double space randomly in the middle of words. Now it is Russian roulette between a double space in the middle of a word or being flown across the page. Any help is greatly appreciated.
thanks very much for the great video. I was able to follow through every step and reassemble. I am having trouble finding adequate rubber bushings to reattach the case though. Any way you could link to something that might serve that purpose?
Thanks for this! Two questions: 1. The body of my 22 seems to be bent, because I can't lift it up sideways to get it off. The body contacting the carriage lock, and can't come off. How can I remove the carriage lock lever? 2. When the machine is assembled, carriage engages when you push it manually, but only about one space or so in either direction (space bar doesn't engage). With the bottom plate off you can push the carriage all the way, from below, but it's still very stiff. Does this sound like a carriage removal situation?
so... what did i do wrong, hotrod? i'm working on a lettera 35l. took platen out as shown, cleaned everything and put it back. now it will not reverse and the line selector is, let us say.... inaccurate. any advice, man? thank you!
i did, @@JenniferBehrens-y6h. can't remember exactly now but i think it was partially finding a vid on phoenix typewriter and an email or three with richard polt.
@@dharmapocalypticThanks for your reply. There isn’t much out there about the 35l that I can’t find. Guts don’t seem to exactly match the 22s or the 32s.
i dig the 35's jet style profile and easy disassembly with only three body parts with a full metal floor, not half as is found on the 32. the differences are found especially around the platen (knobs, switches, paper bail, rollers...) and on later 35s, if i recall, the ribbon spooling system (check that). yet i've been told one can install a 32 machine into a 35, @JenniferBehrens-y6h. the 35 is also far heavier so it stabilizes on the desk nicely if the rubber feet are still soft, which they usually are. another 32-based machine is the underwood 319. far lighter (quality plastic body) but same 3-piece construction in the shape of a nifty 1970s retro-futuristic machine that looks like it was created by the prop designer for woody allen's "sleeper." ultimately, any 32 vid ought to parallel the 35 enough to help you, as well as any other 32-based machines but, as with the 35, info seems bereft online. maybe as they get older and the vintage 1950-1970 machines get harder and more expensive to find, we'll see more helpful vids and discussions regarding their repair. peace out!
Incredible video man - thank you so much! What is the body on the Leterra 32 made of? Aluminium? Do you think it would be possible to strip the paint off with a chemical agent and be left with a kind of bare-metal look to the body? Would it need some kind of sealant to prevent corrosion? Let me know your thoughts - thanks again for sharing your knowledge through these videos!
I have a , what looks to be a lightly used, 32 which types well but has a loose carriage. If you grab the platen knobs you can rock it back and forth. My other 32 is tight in comparison. I do not see anything that is adjustable. I should probably just let it be but it bugs me. Suggestions?
Wow very good. Thanks for taking the time to demonstrate.
Thanks! Just come across one of these. Excited to get it cleaned up.
Trouble shooting question: on my Olivetti Lettera 32 the right knob won't come off, even with the right size Allen wrench. i've tried drilling through the little screw but it won't budge. The machine is missing a lot of pieces so I don't mind loosing a few more, but I can't get past that one little bit holding the knob in place. Any suggestions?
thanks mate! working on a 32 tonight, had a brain fart on pulling the platen...you saved my bacon :)
Not a problem. I twisted the wrong end of a princess platen a few months back and it ruined the platen variable. There wasn’t any info out there. I should make a video on that platen removal too for posterity’s sake.
Where can I find a screw for the carriage release bracket I have the right side but not the left one. I’m glad I have the right one to compare and see what screw I need?
Do I need to buy a whole other typewriter and use one as a “parts” machine?
Great video!
I just picked one up.
Says it's "Olivetti Underwood Lettera 32" on the mini user guide post card thing that came w it. Original case blue n black stripe that closes w a zipper, and dark plastic fabric type cover that goes over the machine.
Feels nice to carry this thing from it's handle.
Do you happen to have a specific instructional video on how you clean these old machines? Like how to remove the gunk and with what tools, how to relubricate and with what.
Thanks for the great and helpful video. When you say you chemically clean it do you mean you douse it in something? If so what do you do about the keys? Do you protect them in some way? Thanks for all your videos. I watch them all.
I use a simple green solution mixed with a little water. I spray the entire machine with the cleaner then hose it off either outside if it’s warm enough or inside with the shower nozzle in winter. I then use a hair dryer to get all the moisture out in under a minute. I wouldn’t recommend spraying cleaner directly on the key tops as they will loose their gloss if the chemicals are too harsh. Watered down simple green is pretty safe and I will spray the key tops then brush them with a toothbrush and rinse them off right after that. If they were glass keys then you’ll have to wrap the key bed with plastic wrap so they stay dry.
You do a beautiful work with those typewriters. Do you have any videos like this for a Lettera 82?
just got one today, all stoked, put it on the desk, opened the carriage lock and voila: the carriage is jumping all the way to the left. now i dont get to write, but at least i get to learn how to repair it right away (wooho) any tips?
Can you help disasemle my Olivetti Lettera 32?
At 14:54 you mention tab issues. Would you go into how to repair that on a Lettera 32?
I'm having an issue on mine where the tab will go a few spaces or to the end of the set margin when pressed. And it recently started to have the space bar acting similarly to the bad behavior of the tab, sending the carriage to the end of the set margin that will not go back until the carriage moving tabs that are on the carriage are pressed.
Before this issue started to happen, the spacebar used to just double space randomly in the middle of words. Now it is Russian roulette between a double space in the middle of a word or being flown across the page.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
It needs to be fully cleaned
which "chemical cleaners" do you use on it when you said you'd go outside?
I use simple green as well. With an anti rust agent.
What is an anti rust agent? Haha I could use something like a product name :)
thanks very much for the great video. I was able to follow through every step and reassemble. I am having trouble finding adequate rubber bushings to reattach the case though. Any way you could link to something that might serve that purpose?
Could you show how to get the carriage out? I need to see the escapement because of a problem... but dont really know how to take awaybthe carriage
I need to get better at removing the bottom without bending it.
where can we see it all painted and finished?
People don't usually repaint them they just polish them. Because the original paint is so nice generally.
Thanks for this! Two questions:
1. The body of my 22 seems to be bent, because I can't lift it up sideways to get it off. The body contacting the carriage lock, and can't come off. How can I remove the carriage lock lever?
2. When the machine is assembled, carriage engages when you push it manually, but only about one space or so in either direction (space bar doesn't engage). With the bottom plate off you can push the carriage all the way, from below, but it's still very stiff. Does this sound like a carriage removal situation?
so... what did i do wrong, hotrod? i'm working on a lettera 35l. took platen out as shown, cleaned everything and put it back. now it will not reverse and the line selector is, let us say.... inaccurate. any advice, man? thank you!
I haven’t worked on the 35. I would take it out and reinstall it as there is something out of place
Late reply but I just started on a 35L. Did you get yours sorted out?
i did, @@JenniferBehrens-y6h. can't remember exactly now but i think it was partially finding a vid on phoenix typewriter and an email or three with richard polt.
@@dharmapocalypticThanks for your reply. There isn’t much out there about the 35l that I can’t find. Guts don’t seem to exactly match the 22s or the 32s.
i dig the 35's jet style profile and easy disassembly with only three body parts with a full metal floor, not half as is found on the 32. the differences are found especially around the platen (knobs, switches, paper bail, rollers...) and on later 35s, if i recall, the ribbon spooling system (check that). yet i've been told one can install a 32 machine into a 35, @JenniferBehrens-y6h. the 35 is also far heavier so it stabilizes on the desk nicely if the rubber feet are still soft, which they usually are. another 32-based machine is the underwood 319. far lighter (quality plastic body) but same 3-piece construction in the shape of a nifty 1970s retro-futuristic machine that looks like it was created by the prop designer for woody allen's "sleeper."
ultimately, any 32 vid ought to parallel the 35 enough to help you, as well as any other 32-based machines but, as with the 35, info seems bereft online. maybe as they get older and the vintage 1950-1970 machines get harder and more expensive to find, we'll see more helpful vids and discussions regarding their repair. peace out!
Incredible video man - thank you so much! What is the body on the Leterra 32 made of? Aluminium? Do you think it would be possible to strip the paint off with a chemical agent and be left with a kind of bare-metal look to the body? Would it need some kind of sealant to prevent corrosion? Let me know your thoughts - thanks again for sharing your knowledge through these videos!
What did you find out in the meanwhile?
I have a , what looks to be a lightly used, 32 which types well but has a loose carriage. If you grab the platen knobs you can rock it back and forth. My other 32 is tight in comparison. I do not see anything that is adjustable. I should probably just let it be but it bugs me. Suggestions?
How do you paint it? With what materials? Is there a video you did on that process?
Very useful. I was about to give away my Lettera but will take a shot at cleaning it. Great advice on the compartment boxes.
Awesome video! Is there a way to send you pictures where I can show you my problem?
You can find me on Facebook and direct message me Gerren HotRod TypewriterCo
✌️❤️