The Design
This typewriter was designed by Ettore Sottsass who also designed the Olivetti Valentine typewriter (three years earlier). This electric model has a spring-tensioned, pivoting service cover and cylindrical keys. The cover is black plastic. The remaining top housing (2 pieces) is cast metal and painted off-white. The bottom housing is made from a single piece of injection-molded plastic. The feet are large, circular, and made of elastomer. When you pick this machine up, it has a solid feel with plenty of heft.
What makes it special?
I enjoy this model's styling, metal housing, and pivoting service door. But what I love most is the feel of its keys. They are very small with plenty of space between them, yet they are unusually easy to type on and feel fantastic. Why? Because they have concave top surfaces, and the designer/engineers located them precisely. As a result, the keys feel like they've been tailored to your fingertips, and the increased spacing helps you avoid unintended key strikes.
You can type quickly—until you can't
These keys feel so nice—even when your fingers are resting to either side of the G and H—that you'll be tempted to type very quickly. And you can—up to a point.
The problem is, if you type too swiftly, the Lettera 36 jams. But, unlike many typewriters, you won't see two or three hammers knotted together at the top of their strokes. No, this jam happens somewhere unseen below the decks.
The "KEYBD REL" key
Fortunately, there's a built-in failsafe. Just hit the key labeled "KEYBD REL" and the jam instantly untangles, leaving you good to go.
To be clear, you can type quickly on this machine, provided you leave an instant between your keystrokes. Maybe I'll time myself someday and see how many words per minute this electric Lettera can actually handle.
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