Fondazione Natale Capellaro
Museum | Ivrea | Piemonte | Italy
The "Fondazione Natale Capellaro" in Ivrea, Italy, is a cultural institution dedicated to the life and work of Natale Capellaro, a significant engineer and designer at Olivetti. Capellaro played a crucial role in the development of the company's mechanical calculators and contributed significantly to Olivetti's success.
The foundation manages the "Laboratorio-Museo Tecnologicamente," a museum and laboratory documenting the industrial history of Italy, particularly the developments at Olivetti. The collection includes a variety of typewriters, mechanical and electronic calculators, and early personal computers reflecting the technological evolution of the company.
The museum is divided into different areas:
Typewriters: This section showcases an impressive collection of 45 different typewriter models, from the early mechanical devices to fully electronic models like the Lettera 22 and Lettera 32.
Mechanical calculators: 28 models of calculators produced between 1905 and 1967 are on display here, including the Divisumma 14 and Olivetti Logos 27, the company's last mechanical calculator.
Electronic calculators: This area presents 11 electronic calculators, all from Olivetti, such as the Logos 328 and Divisumma 18.
Personal computers: A collection of 36 personal computers, including the Olivetti P203 and the first iMac, showcases the development of computer technology.
Programma 101: A special section is dedicated to the Programma 101, the world's first desktop computer developed by Olivetti in 1965.
Elea 9003: Another area is dedicated to the Elea 9003, one of the first commercial computers introduced by Olivetti in 1959.
In addition to the exhibitions, the Laboratorio-Museo Tecnologicamente also offers workshops and educational programs aimed at schools and the general public. These activities aim to promote interest in technology and history, and to convey the values of innovation and creativity that shaped Olivetti.
The "Fondazione Natale Capellaro" and the "Laboratorio-Museo Tecnologicamente" play an important role in preserving and transmitting Olivetti's technical heritage, while also honoring the legacy of Natale Capellaro and his contributions to the history of technology.
