Mario Bellini - Olivetti, Lettera 35 - Letter 35i - Typewriter - 1970-1980

The Olivetti Lettera 35i (variant of the classic Lettera 35) is a portable mechanical typewriter produced starting from 1972. It was designed to offer the performance of a professional office machine within a compact, rugged, and easily portable body.

Design and Structure

The design was crafted by the renowned Italian architect and designer Mario Bellini. Unlike the more sinuous shapes of earlier models (such as the Lettera 32), the Lettera 35 features more square, sturdy, and geometric lines, typical of the 1970s aesthetic.
• Body: Made of rigid plastic and metal, in a beige/light gray color.
• Weight and Dimensions: While portable, it is noticeably heavier and bulkier than the Lettera 22 or 32, a choice made to ensure greater stability during fast typing.
• Case: It was sold with a rigid or faux-leather bag equipped with a carrying handle.
Mechanical and Keyboard

The internal mechanics adopt the proven and extremely reliable architecture of the Olivetti Lettera 32, regarded as a benchmark in the category.
• Keyboard: QWERTY layout with square-shaped keys arranged on four rows.
• Writing features: It has the ribbon color selector (black, red, or stencil for hectography) located to the right of the keyboard, the line return lever, and the margin settings on the platen.

Historical Importance

This model represents the final evolution of Olivetti portable mechanical typewriters before the mass transition to electronic models and the first personal computers. It is renowned for its robustness and typing precision, which continue to be highly valued today by collectors and lovers of analog writing.