Hispano-Olivetti M40 Typewriter. Spanish Keyboard. 1930's

Antique Hispano-Olivetti M40 typewriter made in Spain in the 1930s, in good condition and perfect working order. The typewriter mounts Spanish keyboard with the Ñ key and works really fine. It is a real pleasure to use it to type documents as it works in a soft and fluid way. The typewriters design is a real classic and turns it into a very decorative piece. The body is made of black-enameled cast iron and shows rear and side openings that make it lighter and make it possible to look into the complex inner mechanism. The black enamel is in amazing condition and looks shiny and even. Over the typewriters carriage we can see the manufacturing companys name, Hispano-Olivetti, printed in white lettering. The inscription is somewhat worn but it is almost complete and remains perfectly legible. At the front of the machine there are two identical white decals with the brand initials HO, symmetrically disposed over the keyboard. The one to the right is almost gone, but the left one remains in good condition. The keyboard is composed of circular keys with black background and light-colored symbols. Some symbols have got darker with the trace of time, but otherwise all the keys work fine. They mount chromed-metal reinforcement rings that create a fine contrast with the predominant black color of the design. This antique Hispano-Olivetti M40 typewriter is a real collectors piece for its good condition and superb working order.Olivetti Typewriters History The famous Olivetti typewriter was born when Camillo Olivetti founded the Ing. C. Olivetti & C.S.p.A. in Ivrea, Italy, in 1908. The factory occupied a space of 500 square meters and employed a sum of 15 workers, and was able to produce an average of 20 typewriters a week. The first model launched was the M1 which was introduced in the Universal Exposition that took place in Torino in 1911. From then on the company grew rapidly and started to diversify its offer, opening branches in different places all around the world. In the following years Olivetti also manufactured calculators, printers, computers, etc., as well as office furniture and equipment. The company settled in Barcelona, Spain in 1929 under the name Hispano Olivetti.