The ribbon is found under a cover that swings up and forward.
The top part of the plastic shell is a bit tricky to get off.
The way the mechanism works is less than obvious.
A couple of months ago I bought this Lexikon 82 on eBay and was frustrated to discover that several characters just wouldn't print. I have no idea what to do about that, except clean the mechanism (which did nothing). So this is now a parts machine.
The Lexikon 82 is simpler than the Vantage in a few ways: the Vantage includes two plastic paper guides, a swinging cover for the ribbon (shown above), and a half-spacer.
When I was a kid, I got a book of Milton Glaser posters, and I was fascinated by his posters for this machine, which celebrate the sheer coolness of the interchangeable typing ball.
And yes, I still think it's cool!
Let's take a look:
Too quick for you? OK, let's slow it down:
You've got to admit it's pretty neat.
PS: Love this ad for the Lexikon 82, featuring journalist and novelist Jimmy Breslin writing a letter to "Dear Norman [Mailer]." Thanks to The Philosophy Teacher for the tip on the video!
Richard, was the Olivetti 82 cartridges hard to find?
ReplyDeleteYes. The best way to find one is to buy an Olivetti 82 and see if one is installed!
DeleteFirst thing I noticed was the Olivetti key tops (I had a Praxis 48). Nice looking typewriter. I see the balls in thrift shops at times. I've never seen one of the typewriters.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that Smith-Corona purchased the Glasgow plant from Olivetti and somehow also got the rights to the design to produce the Vantage at the end of the 70's. Part of the ol' typewriter manufacturer shuffle, when SCM was feeling left behind with no ball element machines in their lineup. (:
ReplyDeleteAh, interesting, thanks. I haven't found many ads for the Vantage, but I did see one from 1980, which fits what you say.
DeleteParts & Service manuals are dated 1979 as well, so right around then.
Deletehttps://twdb.sellfy.store/p/mehm/
I have one if these as well. Awaiting attention. I want to compare it to the Brother Correctoball
ReplyDeleteMan did I want one of these at one time. Looked hard for a source of ribbons but they just don't exist. And Jimmy Breslin used one!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFGB0rNaU28&ab_channel=ArchivioNazionaleCinemad%27Impresa
Three years late to the party. I wish I found this article before I purchased my Lexikon 83DL - I was drawn to that late 70s shape. The ink is very light and I did something to the typeball when using one of the repeatable characters. https://typewriterdatabase.com/197x-olivetti-lexikon-83-dl.22362.typewriter - Best I can hope for is to find it a good home for someone who can make it work.
ReplyDeleteThey seem to be fussy machines. Live and learn!
DeleteThe reason for the differences between machines is actually because your Smith Crorona Vantage lines up with the Lexikon 83 D.L. production. The Smith Crona equivalent of the Lexikon 82 was actually the S.C. Intrepid.
ReplyDeleteSmith Corona Intrepid = Lexikon 82
Smith Corona Vantage = Lexikon 83 D.L.
Thank you! I was oblivious to the Intrepid.
DeleteAbsolutely. I love my Lexikon 83 but the service manual circulating online is in Italian so I've used the Smith Corona Vantage service manual in English to do adjustments. The Vantage would have been more appealing if it had a shell that didn't scream "wood paneled-walls, burnt-orange carpet, amber-glass ashtrays and fluorescent lighting". Alas, they are forever brown and yellowed-cream machines. And the Intrepid, well, there was no hope for that design to make any impact. It fits right in with the Atari 400.
Delete