Customer Reviews

Olivetti MS 25 Plus Typewriter

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

After about 5 minutes of frustration trying to figure out how to release the carriage I was off to the races typing away! This product from AceDepot (I highly recccomened this vendor, I had a problem with my delivery and a unit, they took care of both professionally and fast) it is a good value considering it is impossible to find a new Olivetti anymore -- anywhere. In comparision to buying a used manual typewriter I prefer this simple inexpensive new one. Although it falls short of the quality Olivetti is known for, it measures up as a non-electric go-anywhere machine for simple, spontaneous writing. I enjoy the feel and look of typing and the finished printed product. Overall I have not had any problems with the machine aside from the poorly documented instructions that come with it and some minor quirks with the keyboard -- maybe it is due to my electronic keyboard typing habits. The Olivetti MS 25 Plus is a good value for what it does if what you are looking for is a typing machine that will travel with you that doesn't require electricity, cables or a printer at a decent weight. I think it is great for the aspiring or accomplished writer in all of us. I give it 4 out of 5 stars for functionality and convenience and a 2 for traditional typewriter quality.

This typewriter was a good deal, considering typewriters are almost obsolete now. When I purchased this product, the price was $95, so I have no idea why the price changes (supply and demand I suppose?). Anyway, the overall quality of the typewriter did not meet my high expectations, but what can I say? Who really makes a good typewriter anymore? I was fortunate to even find a new one. By the way, the product I recieved looks nothing like the pictures on this page. Apparently amazon.com has listings for several different versions of the typewriter. (Mine was black, while the pictures showed a white one.)

But on to the review...I am satisfied with the overall package. After opening the thing, it took me several minutes to figure out the workings of the typewriter. (I am not from the dinosaur days of typewriter use, so...) Once I got used to the machine, I loved it!

So, would I recommend this product? Two answers: Yes, if you are a nostalgiac person who wants to type a little on an old "friend." And No, if you plan on using the typewriter as a substitute for a computer word processor (but seriously, who on earth would do that in the computer age?) If I had to grade this typewriter, it would recieve a B-.

I recently ordered this Olivetti MS25 manual typewriter online. When I received it, I found it to be a piece of junk. It is made in China, and it is HORRIBLE! It just doesn't work. The keys don't work right, the space bar was bent and sticks, the carriage didn't work right, the color selector typed letters black with red smears. The instructions are horrible. It arrived in pieces and I had to "fix it" to get it to type anything. The best thing to do with this typewriter if you order one, is to take it from the delivery man and throw it in the garbage. Typical Chinese made junk. Don't waste your money.

Olivetti MS 25 Premier Plus Portable Manual Typewriter

parts to a manual typewriter: [...]

where do i start?

everything that could break on this machine, did in fact. i bought this machine to take to south america so i could leave my old 1950's royal in a safe place back in the states. that was the first mistake. i read all of the reviews, but still wasn't thoroughly convinced that it couldn't last a few months. i was completely wrong.

the first to go was all of the decals/stickers on the machine. every single one started to peel off as soon as i set it up. secondly, the typeguide (which holds the ribbon in place) started to shift around. intimately connected was the ribbon vibrator, which broke, rendering it useless when it came to using the optional red ink. next up was the platen knob (the wheel that spins the paper around to type on). the one on the right side stopped working. i had to buy a mini screwdriver set to fix it. next, the type lever (to form caps) got stuck. also, the backspace button stopped working, so i would have to hit it a few times just to get it back to the correct spot. next up: the carriage return lever got stuck.

add to this, the fact that amazon sold me a replacement ribbon (which they recommend at the time of checkout) that is not the right size. it's too big. so it left the machine completely useless, down here in buenos aires. i took this machine to an old antique machine dealer, and he actually started laughing. seriously, but so did i. perhaps this situation alone, made the machine worth buying.

basically, this machine will last a couple of weeks, if your lucky. it's very sad that someone actually takes the time to partially make/assemble these machines in a foreign country, while someone pays for it to be shipped across the world, for it to ultimately end up in the garbage. a very sad product indeed. my advice is not to waste your money on this little waste of a contraption. instead, buy a used machine (royals are the workhorses) online. at the very least, you'll spare the environment the expense of manufacturing a machine that has an average life expectancy of one week. or you can buy it and spend the next month deciding on the best way to describe this typewriters nonfunctional ability. it's your call. i inadvertently chose the latter.

lastly, the fact that the olivetti name was sacrificed here for corporate identity/branding is another tragedy.

I realize that manual typewriters are a thing of the past, but I got this new for my elderly mother who likes to type letters. It was a huge mistake! I tried it also, and the action is mushy, the keys uneven in the touch they require, the left margin didn't work and the replacement ribbons come only in black/red and are very short. I don't know what circumstances might make this the ideal machine, but as is, it's an exercise in disappointment and frustration.

I will give you a review from a teenage perspective. I thought these were so cool at the local antique shop that I decided to buy one myself. Mine is beige with black keys, with a beige bottom. For a typewriter, this one works just fine. I too had issues with figuring out how to release the carriage (right side, near bottom), but honestly, it's pretty reliable. I too had issues with the black letters coming out with red bottoms, so I just bought an all-black ribbon. ANY RIBBON OF EQUAL WIDTH WILL WORK! It's OK, just buy an all-black ribbon and re-use the spools you have if you must. I have typed perhaps a hundred pages on my Olivetti MS25, and have had no issues. My spacebar was slightly crooked, but it didn't affect anything. The feel is pretty good, no keys/labels/parts have ever fallen off. As far as I know this is the only new manual typewriter even produced, so just go for it. It'll do exactly what you expect. Just buy some white-out too. You'll need it.

I payed for a typewriter and after months no typewriter. I have made many attempts to have my money given back and RefurbExpress has not done so. They seem to be trying to dodge their legal responsibilities. If you are reading this review I say beware of trusting RefurbExpress. Their actions have demonstrated their dishonest business practices. As for RefurbExpress, If my purchase amount is returned I will add another review stating that you have done so. Until then I will continue to pursue reconciliation of theft.

This "typewriter" comes ready for the scrap heap new out of the box! The keys must be pounded for them to strike the paper and then they usually don't lay back down. The ribbon bunches up and the return arm flops around. The carriage moves sluggishly in a jerky fashion as the keys strike the platen. It cannot type in a straight line and it is noisy and smells like used "3 in 1 oil".