Monday 30 September 2013

Olivetti diaspora


14 comments:

  1. A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to buy one of those locally. I passed. I just can't get past its hideous façade.

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    1. I know, compared to the Lexikon 80 they replaced (pretty to many eyes, including mine) it does look more hewn than extruded. But that's what beds are for, putting the ugly ones under :-)

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  2. I don't know if the typewriter is uniquely neat or uniquely odd. Between the face plate and the long platen I don't know that it would be one of my wish lists machines, but then if we all liked the same thing this Earth would be extremely boring.

    I have a similar problem with storage room. I have no display room and nearing 50 machines (again) I hear it from the Mrs. each time a big box arrives at the door or a suitcase looking item is in my hand on a return from being out on a Saturday morning.

    Oh, under the bed storage room? Mine is full with camping gear.

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  3. Aww, I feel your pain. so tempting at that price, yet where to put it? Just think of the lessened chance of back injury you have by not having to shuffle this wide-load machine around the house all the time. Enjoy your Graphika and let the Box-faced Diaspiron go. (:

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  4. I agree with you about the looks. This is the Edsel of typewriters.

    I did see a chrome-plated one for sale once, which looked better. The Logan's Run edition, I guess.

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    1. I like the Edsel... maybe I'll get one of these sometime.

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  5. Don't forget Mexico. Olivettis were also made here, and by the thousands.

    Maybe I'm strange, but I do like that design. Yes, it looks a tad boxier than the Lexikon, but it also looks sturdier and, to me, more at home in an office than the sleek Italian-looking design.

    18" is not *that* big... I have my Olympia SG3 on my desk right now, complete with its wide carriage, and there's still room enough to squeeze my laptop on my desk. Of course, if I were to type on the Olympia right now, the poor laptop would be thrown out of the table at the first carriage return...

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  6. Domestic bliss is a very relative term when typewriters are involved......

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  7. I get enough of them locally to irritate my spouse. That said, It's an interesting design, I wonder how it types?

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    1. I was thinking stepping stone to a Praxis...

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  8. Man, that's quite a temptation but I understand the space issue. Can't you let go of one of your more common machines to make room for this? The Diaspron is such a novelty, I'd consider keeping one for that price.

    And here's the chrome diaspron, I found itonebay Italia and posted about it in 2012:
    http://idreamlo-tech.blogspot.com/2012/07/holy-grail-teaser-new-standard.html

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  9. I can find not a twinge of interest in that Olivetti monster. But that typecast font is lovely. I would love to know what machine and the font name..

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  10. The keyboard feels very strange and stiff, at least on my Diaspron, but it's a very nice and well-made machine!

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    1. I wonder if it is an evolution of the Lexikon or whether they started with an all-new design under the skin also?

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