What I've Found After Two Days with My Olivetti

Well, now that I have had time to give my new Olivetti the twice over, I can report back what I have found out about it. First of all, after a search on the Typewriter Database, I can now confirm that it was made in 1957. Prior to checking that I was only sure it was a pre-1960 model since 1960 is they started using rounded square keys on the Lettera 22 instead of round ones. 

In addition, after much typing, experimenting, and all around inspecting of the machine, I noticed/discovered the following issues:

1. The feet on the bottom of the machine are pretty worn out. There was not much left of what was there, and one of the four of them was missing the screw which holds the foot to the bottom of the machine, and that bottom to the frame. 
2. The main case is loose. I can slide the case back and form on the frame, though not off.
3. The bell does not ring when the carriage approaches the end margin.
4. The margin release does not release the right margin.
5. The ribbon does not seem to move consistently when moving from right to left.

The feet on the bottom of the machine are no big issue, as these can purchased online quite easily, and even if they were not (or if I chose not to buy them), then some other substitute can be easily found at the hardware store. The screw might prove tougher to find since it is a semi threaded metric machine screw with a slightly wider upper portion. If nothing else, tack-on bumpers could be attached on the bottom to keep the feet on, while the bottom plate is sufficiently held in place with just 3 screws should an appropriate screw be unavailable. Still, I'll see if I can do better than stick-ons.  At any rate, when typing, the worn out feet have no effect thus far, so they are not must-do-immediately item. 

The feet on the bottom of the machine have hardened, cracked, and flattened out.

As for problem Number 2, he loose case, it seems, is a common problem on old machines. Rubber decays through time, and this machine being almost 75 years old is dues some decayed rubber. So, what does that have to do with my machine? Well, between the four screws that hold the case/cover to the frame goes a small rubber grommet that holds everything tightly together, preventing the dispersal of vibration to the case. Once the grommets are gone due to decay, there is in their place. . . well, nothing, and thus in that nothingness if born the play that I mentioned. Some of the people who posted fixes online recommended some grommets available on Amazon that do the job very nicely, so I have ordered a pack of those - $5 for 20 pieces, though I only need but 4.  Perhaps the old idiom about one having a screw loose was originally, or should have been, "You must have a grommet lose. Hmm. 

Notice the empty space between the washer and screw head - the source of case looseness.

These are the grommets I just ordered from Amazon to fix the loose-case problem 

I am hoping that once these grommets are in place and the loose case issue has been corrected, problems number 3 and 4 will be eliminated as well. My reason for hoping this is because I discovered in the course of my continued examination and toying around that if I pull the case towards me while keeping it pressed down (thus raising the back of the case), the bell will sound and the margin release will work if I type or space my way to that point. It seems that the problem might just be that the parts that do those two jobs get blocked by the case's being out of proper positioning, and thus if the grommets are installed, all will be back as it should position wise, and thus mechanically. Fingers crossed on that! I will update you all on that. It will be few days before the grommets arrive though. 

As for the final item on the list of problems, the ribbon spool movement issue, this is something I am currently searching for a remedy to. I see it listed a problem on many an older machine, so I expect I will find some of fix as well and whether that fix is something I feel comfortable tackling. At any rate, come what may, next time we are in Albuquerque, we will bring the Olivetti up to typewriter repair and sales shop there, John Lewis' Mechanical Antiques, which I've been quite curious about since discovering it exists up there. A report on that visit (and the Olivetti) will follow, though that might be at least a couple weeks away, maybe more. Stay tuned.