Both the Lettera 22 and Lettera 32 are fine typewriters. It's nice that you know the history of yours.
I prefer the action of my Lettera 32 typewriters to the stiffness of the Lettera 22. I prefer the smallness of the 22 for a travel typewriter. My latest Lettera 32 has become my go-to though. I carry it in a notebook computer backpack.
I only have three typewriters - all Olivettis. The first a Glasgow 32, now with my daughter who is a writer. I then found a pristine 1963 Glasgow 22, with cleaning kit, in a Cash Converters for A$67 (sorry!). Last a red 1969 Barcelona Valentine from Elite Office Repairs in Carlton, Melbourne. I agree with the comments about the 22 v 32, but they are both excellent. The Valentine is a little "jangly" in use but types well and always attracts attention in public. I was at Tullamarine Airport, back when we could travel, and was walking to the check-in desk with my Valentine. The lady behind the desk was smiling warmly - "I know what you have got in that case because I had one when I was younger!" So we had a bit of a Valentine chat to the bemusement of the people behind me in the queue. Happy with my two Olivettis and daughter happy with hers.
I am lucky enough to own a 1957 L22, made in Glasgow, Imperial Elite typeface, complete with cleaning kit, vinyl cover and the owner's manual. I also have a 1968 L32, made in Canada, in 2.6 mm Pica.
Both machines have French-Canadian QWERTY keyboards.
Of the two, I prefer the action of the L32 but the Imperial Elite typeface of the L22.
I have a 1954 Lettera 22 that I’m cleaning, slowly, and I think it has the Imperial typeface as well. There is an 83 inscribed in each letter type slug between the upper and lower case. Does that indicate Imperial? Thanks.
4 comments:
Both the Lettera 22 and Lettera 32 are fine typewriters. It's nice that you know the history of yours.
I prefer the action of my Lettera 32 typewriters to the stiffness of the Lettera 22. I prefer the smallness of the 22 for a travel typewriter. My latest Lettera 32 has become my go-to though. I carry it in a notebook computer backpack.
I only have three typewriters - all Olivettis. The first a Glasgow 32, now with my daughter who is a writer. I then found a pristine 1963 Glasgow 22, with cleaning kit, in a Cash Converters for A$67 (sorry!). Last a red 1969 Barcelona Valentine from Elite Office Repairs in Carlton, Melbourne. I agree with the comments about the 22 v 32, but they are both excellent. The Valentine is a little "jangly" in use but types well and always attracts attention in public. I was at Tullamarine Airport, back when we could travel, and was walking to the check-in desk with my Valentine. The lady behind the desk was smiling warmly - "I know what you have got in that case because I had one when I was younger!" So we had a bit of a Valentine chat to the bemusement of the people behind me in the queue. Happy with my two Olivettis and daughter happy with hers.
I am lucky enough to own a 1957 L22, made in Glasgow, Imperial Elite typeface, complete with cleaning kit, vinyl cover and the owner's manual. I also have a 1968 L32, made in Canada, in 2.6 mm Pica.
Both machines have French-Canadian QWERTY keyboards.
Of the two, I prefer the action of the L32 but the Imperial Elite typeface of the L22.
Daniel Burgoyne
I have a 1954 Lettera 22 that I’m cleaning, slowly, and I think it has the Imperial typeface as well. There is an 83 inscribed in each letter type slug between the upper and lower case. Does that indicate Imperial? Thanks.
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