I have an Olivetti Model 21 (basically a Studio 44) that I have de-gunked and cleaned, but have yet to oil. The problem is, I don’t know where to apply oil. I have cleaned up a few machines, but have hesitated to oil them in fear of putting too much, or in the wrong places. I’ve heard from more than one person to never oil the segment (the semi circle where all the type bars are attached), but I have no idea about anything else.
The Oli has a heavy action, and I’m wondering if it’s because I have never oiled the machine. Anybody out there done this before?
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May 30, 2011 at 2:40 pm
I did this a couple months ago and haven’t had problems since.
Oil the carriage rails, and the places where the key-lever segments connect to each other, I think in 2 of the places. Look up ‘He dunks typewriters in the kitchen sink’ which has a guide to oiling that’s better than I could describe here! It from an old Popular Mechanics magazine I think–on Google books.
May 30, 2011 at 8:13 pm
I too gave my Olivetti a bath today, as inspired by one Mr. Clemens. It was still pretty traumatizing, dipping a huge hunk of antique metal into a tub of water, but the dodgy ribbon-reversal already seems better. Now to Wally World to pick up some gun oil…