I liked. One a lot more after I fixed, tuned, and let it sit in the cupboard for about 4 months. I don't gate them, but it isn't in my top 5 most liked.
I can't bring myself to like them. They seem to be ridiculously overpriced here in Australia. If I could pick one up cheaply, I still wouldn't buy one because there a lots of others I DO like the look of. :)
This was one strange buy-it-now anomaly on eBay that I managed to take advantage of. :D They usually go for $150-$300 here which is definitely over value.
Sorry for the necro: I would guess the "anomaly" was a simple error on the part of the seller, probably meant the $15 as a starting price in an auction rather than a buy-it-now. Honestly, this doesn't look so good.
It just begs to be photographed from every angle…and I think it was designed to look really good with the carriage completely to the right because the Olivetti logo is centered in the empty space.
Nice one! I guess your $15 BuyItNow beats my £12.95 BuyItNow :D. And I'm sure you're now only a few shots away from covering the whole 360* - one photo per degree... ;)
What a bargain! I would accept an addition to my collection at that price, for sure.
My main experience with a Valentine is fixing one up for a WordPlay customer. The carriage return sounded terrible, but with adjustment it was smooth and silent. The overall quality seemed tenuous, but not more so than in other late, cheap Olivetti portables. Yours seems fine, and types beautifully with good alignment. Congrats!
It's surprising how good the cheap Olivettis actually are. They feel cheap compared to a Lettera 22, and of the two I've used, I consider my Escort 55 and Valentine almost as good.
Hmmm, there was a cheap non-working "for spares" Valentine floating on eBay UK recently - which would very likely have fixed-up OK. I reckon that if you wait long enough, the right one comes along eventually. I'm glad you are enjoying it and like you say, it is probably a good investment.
It's one of those typewriters that it's foolish to pass up a good deal on. Who cares if you don't like it, as long as it works you can make money. XD I wasn't even waiting for one, it hadn't really struck me to even look. I like this kind of surprise.
I liked. One a lot more after I fixed, tuned, and let it sit in the cupboard for about 4 months. I don't gate them, but it isn't in my top 5 most liked.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not in my top 5 either, but it's strangely captivating...
DeleteI can't bring myself to like them. They seem to be ridiculously overpriced here in Australia. If I could pick one up cheaply, I still wouldn't buy one because there a lots of others I DO like the look of. :)
ReplyDeleteThis was one strange buy-it-now anomaly on eBay that I managed to take advantage of. :D They usually go for $150-$300 here which is definitely over value.
DeleteSorry for the necro:
DeleteI would guess the "anomaly" was a simple error on the part of the seller, probably meant the $15 as a starting price in an auction rather than a buy-it-now. Honestly, this doesn't look so good.
Great photos, Nick, especially that last one with the carriage off-center. Very imaginative.
ReplyDeleteIt just begs to be photographed from every angle…and I think it was designed to look really good with the carriage completely to the right because the Olivetti logo is centered in the empty space.
DeleteNice one! I guess your $15 BuyItNow beats my £12.95 BuyItNow :D. And I'm sure you're now only a few shots away from covering the whole 360* - one photo per degree... ;)
ReplyDeleteThey both were brilliant finds, but I probably paid more in shipping than you, which means you still probably are in the lead. ;D
DeleteWhat a bargain! I would accept an addition to my collection at that price, for sure.
ReplyDeleteMy main experience with a Valentine is fixing one up for a WordPlay customer. The carriage return sounded terrible, but with adjustment it was smooth and silent. The overall quality seemed tenuous, but not more so than in other late, cheap Olivetti portables. Yours seems fine, and types beautifully with good alignment. Congrats!
It's surprising how good the cheap Olivettis actually are. They feel cheap compared to a Lettera 22, and of the two I've used, I consider my Escort 55 and Valentine almost as good.
DeleteFor a while there, I thought you were kidding about the serendipitous timing.
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine to us!
I don't mess with serendipity. I guess. :D
DeleteHmmm, there was a cheap non-working "for spares" Valentine floating on eBay UK recently - which would very likely have fixed-up OK. I reckon that if you wait long enough, the right one comes along eventually. I'm glad you are enjoying it and like you say, it is probably a good investment.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of those typewriters that it's foolish to pass up a good deal on. Who cares if you don't like it, as long as it works you can make money. XD I wasn't even waiting for one, it hadn't really struck me to even look. I like this kind of surprise.
Delete