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Old 10th Sep 2014, 5:06 pm   #1
threeseven
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Default Olivetti mains connector?

I've just acquired an Olivetti electro mechanical adding machine, without the mains lead. Can anyone identify this connector so that I can go and find one?
Apologies for the image quality, blame my camera phone! The pins are equally spaced despite how it appears in the image, the centre pin is slightly below the centre line, as it would be drawn through the centre of the outer pins, and protrudes slightly more than the outer pins.
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Old 10th Sep 2014, 8:32 pm   #2
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Default Re: Olivetti mains connector?

Can you measure the distance between centres of the outer pins, please?

It looks like the connector used on HP test gear of a certain era (mention in one of the forums here) but my guess is that it is smaller.

I think I have one that belongs to another adding machine (Addistra?) so I probably don't want to split them.
Graham
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Old 10th Sep 2014, 9:13 pm   #3
threeseven
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Default Re: Olivetti mains connector?

Just discovered the battery has gone on my vernier so it's not quite precise, I would say 18 to 18.5mm centre to centre on the outer pins.
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Old 10th Sep 2014, 10:55 pm   #4
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Default Re: Olivetti mains connector?

That looks familiar. I may have one somewhere. If I can find it I'll measure it and if it's suitable it's yours for the postage.

Keith
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Old 11th Sep 2014, 3:58 pm   #5
threeseven
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Default Re: Olivetti mains connector?

Thanks Keith, fingers crossed!
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Old 11th Sep 2014, 9:09 pm   #6
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Default Re: Olivetti mains connector?

I have seen a plug and socket pair that looks like this.
It was used on an old electric lawnmower cable.

When I looked in the tlc-direct.co.uk catalogue I found it under order code BG452.
Other suppliers to the trade will have them.
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Old 11th Sep 2014, 9:26 pm   #7
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Default Re: Olivetti mains connector?

I think that one on tlc-direct will probably be too big and square - the connectors like the Olivetti one I've seen are smaller than lawnmower connectors. It does look similar to the HP ones from the 1960s, but after quarter of a century of half-heartedly looking for a mains lead for my HP 5245L counter I finally gave up the other day and modified it to take an IEC socket...

Chris
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Old 11th Sep 2014, 10:23 pm   #8
threeseven
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Default Re: Olivetti mains connector?

Yes, I know of the type of which silicon speaks, I have one on my old B&D strimmer, it is a much bigger connector.
I REALLY want to avoid modifying this machine to take an IEC type, my fingers are crossed to the point of cramp!
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Old 11th Sep 2014, 10:38 pm   #9
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Default Re: Olivetti mains connector?

Found the cable and plug. From memory it came from an adding machine which got scrapped about 40 years ago. Comes with about 8ft of cable

If it looks OK PM me your address and I'll post it at the weekend or Monday.

Keith
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Old 11th Sep 2014, 10:52 pm   #10
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Default Re: Olivetti mains connector?

Oh my days, that looks like EXACTLY the correct type! I am eternally grateful! If anything validates retention of potentially useful stuff indefinitely this does!
I wonder what the type designation is?
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Old 11th Sep 2014, 11:02 pm   #11
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Default Re: Olivetti mains connector?

I suspect it was an Olivetti adding machine. Came from the office my mother worked in.

Keith
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Old 11th Sep 2014, 11:58 pm   #12
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Default Re: Olivetti mains connector?

Hi,

When I worked at R. White Soft Drinks we had an Olivetti
electric adding machine in the office. It was the electric version
of the Summa Prima SP20 model, and was called the Summa Quanta
(SQ20).
The multiplying mechanism on this machine was so unreliable that
we used to call Olivetti out to it at least once a week. As it was on contract
they left a big old loan machine with us which never gave a moment's trouble.
Their loan machines were marked LDR for Loan during Repair in massive letters.

I think the only machine we had which was even less reliable was a Sumlock
Anita 1011 LSI !

Kind regards

Dave
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Old 12th Sep 2014, 12:09 am   #13
threeseven
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Default Re: Olivetti mains connector?

This one is a Multi Summa 20, in really good condition, hopefully it will work ok.
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