Olivetti Lexicon 80 thumbnail 1
Olivetti Lexicon 80 thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Olivetti Lexicon 80

Typewriter
1942-1968 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Nizzoli took over on a consultancy basis the design of all Olivetti's products in 1936. He was concerned especially with the appearance of the products rather than with how they worked. With this typewriter Olivetti became the first manufacturer to make the standard office typewriter into an object of style. Its mechanical components are hidden in an elegant grey casing. Its production ceased in 1968.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleOlivetti Lexicon 80 (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Pressed steel, chromed steel and plastic
Brief description
Typewriter, pressed steel and plastic. Made by British Olivetti Ltd, designed by Marcello Nizzoli
Physical description
Upright typewriter with the standard qwerty keyboard; the keys of circular black plastic with white numerals with the exception of the back space key in the top right hand corner which is picked out in burnt orange. The grey steel envelope has straight sides and back with curved edges. The front hood which is domed is completely detachable for access to the mechanism has softly rounded edges and a curved front. Its lower edge dips down in a broad arc. The central window to allow the keys to strike the platen is a continuously curved lozenge. The carriage, when moved into its central position, fits precisely into the side profiles of the stationary back bar. The chromed levers and handles grouped at either end of the carriage are subordinated to the strong sculptural character of the body. The back of the carriage is relieved by a series of closely aligned, parallel channels.
Dimensions
  • Height: 23cm
  • Maximum width: 56cm
  • Depth: 37.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • olivetti / Made in Great Britain (Adjacent to the right hand knurled knob of the carriage)
  • Lexicon 80 (In the centre of the hood, within a rectangular panel.)
  • British Olivetti Ltd. Glasgow / Made in Great Britain (On the back, centre near the lower edge in a two tone black and silver panel)
Gallery label
TYPEWRITER: OLIVETTI LEXICON 80 Designed by Marcello Nizzoli (Italian, 1910-1977) [sic - 1887-1969] Made by British Olivetti Ltd., Italy, from 1942 Pressed steel, chromed steel and plastic Nizzoli took over on a consultancy basis the design of all Olivetti's products in 1936. He was concerned especially with the appearance of the products rather than with how they worked. With this typewriter Olivetti became the first manufacturer to make the standard office typewriter into an object of style. Its mechanical components are hidden in an elegant grey casing. Its production ceased in 1968.(1992-2008)
Object history
This object was selected by the Core Committee of the Twentieth Century Gallery Project. Found in PDP.
Summary
Nizzoli took over on a consultancy basis the design of all Olivetti's products in 1936. He was concerned especially with the appearance of the products rather than with how they worked. With this typewriter Olivetti became the first manufacturer to make the standard office typewriter into an object of style. Its mechanical components are hidden in an elegant grey casing. Its production ceased in 1968.
Bibliographic references
  • Objects of Desire, Design and Society 1750-1980, Adrian Forty, London, 1986, pp.152-3
  • An introduction to Design and Culture in the Twentieth Century, Penny Sparke, London, 1986, p.183
  • Olivetti: Design in Industry, Museum of Modern Art Bulletin, New York, 1952
  • Design Process Olivetti 1908-1978, Los Angeles: University of California, Frederick S. Wright Gallery, 1979
Collection
Accession number
M.27-1993

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 22, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest