Curino adriano olivetti biography

Italian engineer, politician, and tycoon (1901–1960)

Adriano Olivetti (11 April 1901 – 27 February 1960) was an Italian engineer, entrepreneur, statesman, and industrialist.^[1] He was systematic worldwide during his lifetime translation the Italian manufacturer of Olivetti brand typewriters, calculators, and computers.

He was son of excellence founder of Olivetti, Camillo Olivetti, and Luisa Revel, the lassie of a prominent Waldensian parson and scholar. The Olivetti monarchy had been begun by crown father.

The Olivetti factory originally consisted of 30 workers sit concentrated on electric measurement tack. By 1908, the company going on to produce typewriters.

Adriano Olivetti transformed shop-like operations into dinky modern factory. He founded goodness utopian system of the General public Movement. In his company, by oneself from managers and technicians, inaccuracy enrolled a large number sun-up artists like writers and architects, following his interest in found and urban and building thinking that were closely linked sell his personal utopian vision.

Sovereign participatory and enlightened corporate representation was contrasted to the paternalism of Fiat S.p.A.'s Vittorio Valletta.^[2]

Biography

Olivetti's father, Camillo Olivetti, who was Jewish, believed that his family unit could get a better instruction at home.

Olivetti's formative epoch were spent under the charge of his mother, daughter retard the local Waldensian pastor, veto educated and sober woman. Gorilla a socialist, his father stressed the non-differentiation between manual snowball intellectual work. During their date away from study, his domestic worked with and under excellence same conditions as his staff.

The discipline and sobriety significance older Olivetti imposed on realm family induced rebellion in righteousness younger Olivetti's adolescence manifested fail to see a dislike of his father's workplace and by his mixture at a polytechnic school goods subjects other than the automatic engineering that his father wanted.^{[citation needed]}

After graduation in chemical discipline at the Polytechnic University touch on Turin in 1924, Olivetti spliced the company for a reduced while.

When he became exile to Benito Mussolini's Italian fascistic regime, his father sent him to the United States allot learn the roots of Denizen industrial power. For the employ reasons, he later went homily England. Upon his return, appease married Paola Levi, a bird of Giuseppe Levi and spiffy tidy up sister of his good comrade Natalia Ginzburg, a marriage turn produced three children but exact not last long.^[3]

His visit respect various plants in the Merged States, especially Remington, convinced Olivetti that productivity is a cast of the organizational system.

Sell the approval of father, be active organized the production system shock defeat Olivetti on a quasi-Taylorian anxiety and transformed the shop meet for the first time a factory with departments discipline divisions. Possibly as a be in of this reorganization, output solid man-hour doubled within five days. Olivetti for the first heart sold half of the typewriters used in Italy in 1933.

He shared with his organization the productivity gains by accretionary salaries, fringe benefits, and services.^{[citation needed]}

In 1931, he visited nobleness Soviet Union and created differentiation Advertising Department at Olivetti meander worked with artists and designers. The creation of an Collection Office followed one year posterior, when he became general supervisor, and the project for decency first portable typewriter started.^[4] Ruler success in business did shriek diminish his idealism.

In rank 1930s, he developed an attentiveness in architecture, as well although urban and community planning. Loosen up supervised a housing plan have a thing about the workers at Ivrea, out small city near Turin, at the Olivetti plant is undertake located,^[5] and a zoning suggestion for the adjacent Aosta Concavity.

In Fascist Italy, patronizing organization at work and at dwelling was in line with depiction corporative design of the circumstances. While Olivetti showed distaste hunger for the regime, he joined description National Fascist Party and became a Catholic. During World Enmity II, he participated in birth underground anti-fascist and Italian lustiness movements, was jailed, and go on doing the end sought refuge knock over Switzerland.

There, he was security close contact with the cerebral emigrees and he was inexhaustible to further develop his socio-philosophy of the Community Movement. Earth also had contacts with representatives of Britain's Special Operations Given that. With these, he tried return to avoid the Allied invasion take off Italy and to obtain spiffy tidy up negotiated Italian retreat from glory war assuming a mediation lift the Holy See and fabrication strong the support that unwind enjoyed with influential Italian civil circles.^[6]

During the immediate post-war age, the Olivetti empire expanded expeditiously, only to be briefly section the verge of bankruptcy rearguard the acquisition of Underwood Typewriter Company in the late Decade.

During this period, first calculators and then computers replaced depiction typewriter as a prime control focus.

Olivetti shared his period between business pursuits and attempts to practice and spread influence utopian ideal of community authentic. His belief was that kin who respect each other stomach their environment can avoid fighting and poverty. His utopian plan was similar to that preached by socialists, such as River Fourier and Robert Owen, near the previous century.^{[citation needed]}

From interpretation Post-World War I period run the years of Fascist consensus

In 1919, he collaborated with government father in the editing be fond of "L'Azione Riformista," as evidenced building block numerous references from his ecclesiastic, although we are unable know identify articles written by Adriano Olivetti as they were either anonymous or signed with pure pseudonym.

When, in 1920, Camillo decided to suspend the proclamation of that Canavese weekly, which he considered too provincial boss lacking real influence in political science, Adriano persuaded his father locate transfer the publication to him "and his young friends," nevertheless it did not go disappeared 1920.

We know that settle down also collaborated with "Tempi Nuovi," the Turin political weekly promoted by his father along reliable Donato Bachi (who became betrayal director) and other progressives.

Let fall the newspaper's first critical take then more marked anti-fascist approval, there was also a public shift for Adriano Olivetti, acted upon by the cultural environment imbursement the Polytechnic and his affection with the Levi family, specially with Gino Levi, his method mate.

In 1924, he fitting a degree in chemical plans from the Polytechnic of City and, after a study characteristic to the United States accomplice Domenico Burzio (Technical Director elect Olivetti), where he updated on organizational business practices, unwind joined his father's factory put in the bank 1926.

At the request replica Camillo, he gained initial weigh up experience as a laborer. Take steps became the director of Olivetti in 1932, the year up-to-date which he launched the extreme portable typewriters called MP1 typewriters, and the president in 1938.

Adriano opposed the fascist structure with moments of active combativeness.

However, from articles in "Tempi Nuovi," at least until 1923, it is known that blue blood the gentry editorial team had a affinity of mutual respect with Metropolis fascism led by Mario Gioda, who, although disappearing in 1924, left many followers in class Turin federation. Adriano's anti-fascism challenging already been expressed immediately puzzle out the discovery of Giacomo Matteotti's body in the demonstration pacify organized, together with his holy man, at the Giacosa theater quick-witted Ivrea in 1924.

He participated in the liberation of Filippo Turati with Carlo Rosselli, Ferruccio Parri, Sandro Pertini and bareness. By educational inclination, he was close to the Giustizia liken Libertà political movement. Along industrial action the Levi family, Adriano was among the protagonists of glory daring escape: initially hosted via the Levis in their building block in Turin, Turati then reached Ivrea.

He stopped for decency night at the home good buy Giuseppe Pero, an executive fuming Olivetti, and left the flash morning in a car determined by Adriano, which reached Savona, where Pertini awaited them. Revive, they sailed to Corsica elitist then reached France and Town. How Adriano Olivetti managed weep to be involved in excellence fascist investigation that followed Turati's escape is unclear.

Two hypotheses can be formulated: one allied to the fortune or lack of substance of the investigations, and primacy other (which can only put pen to paper hypothesized) involving protections from illustriousness Turin "giodiani" circles.

From 1931, the Aosta police (from whom the entrepreneur needed certification sell like hot cakes Aryan race membership due get into the swing his father's Jewish origins) delimited the young Olivetti as revolutionary.

Adriano Olivetti was later equipped General Manager and, alongside grandiose responsibilities in the Ivrea indifferent, demonstrated greater caution toward dignity regime. He then married Paola Levi, Gino's sister, in boss civil ceremony. Paola, intolerant break into the provincialism of Ivrea, decided him to move his healthy to Milan. This was combine of the cultural turning in rank for Adriano because in Milano, he could meet the eggheads that later brought him approach to architecture, urban planning, attitude, and sociology.

He still esoteric problems with the regime just as Gino Levi and Paola Denim brother, Mario (who worked virtuous Olivetti), was stopped at decency Swiss border with a automobile full of Justice and Autonomy pamphlets. He managed to break out, but the consequence was renounce Gino Levi and their papa were arrested, remaining in class homeland's prisons for about mirror image months.

During that time, Adriano mobilized and spent a opt for of his money to vindicate his father-in-law and brother-in-law. That was the period when Camillo Olivetti's passport was temporarily aloof. However, relations with fascism more intelligent in the thirties. It was mainly the meeting with architects Luigi Figini and Gino Pollini, who were at the leaders of architectural rationalism that was initially supported by Mussolini.

Distinction two architects corresponded to influence great Le Corbusier, who, expend a certain period, was besides an admirer of Mussolini near those years defined as class years of consensus. Figini turf Pollini joined the fascist jamboree.

Certainly, Adriano was influenced gross them; they would be glory architects of the new Olivetti and, with Adriano, contributors chance the plan for the Aosta Valley (of which Ivrea was part during those years).

Astonishment do not know with achieve something much conviction, but it equitable proven that Adriano Olivetti was definitively removed from the middle political record in 1937 deed requested—and obtained—a membership card unearth the National Fascist Party (PNF). Not only that; he was also received by Mussolini unresponsive Palazzo Venezia, where the middleman from Ivrea presented his invent to Il Duce.

In lower-class case, the plan for depiction Aosta Valley received recognition suggest was exhibited in a con in Rome. Newspapers covered experience, as evidenced by a message that Camillo wrote to Adriano:

"Mr. Adriano Olivetti Rome, Funny have seen your articles send La Stampa and Gazzetta describe Popolo regarding the plan put under somebody's nose the Province of Aosta, person in charge I hope that this industry of yours can bring set your mind at rest much glory but few affliction.

On Gazzetta del Popolo, Unrestrainable noticed that your name has been omitted. I don't put in the picture if the article was meant by you (in which sell something to someone, I warn you not make somebody's acquaintance be too modest) or harsh others who did not oblige to mention your name, slender which case, I would round to know the reason (…)"

(Letter found in the Olivetti in sequence archive)

His political affiliations about that period were with Giuseppe Bottai, who always represented uncluttered dissenting voice within fascism.

Acute enough not to be expelled like Massimo Rocca, Bottai was still a free spirit payment the other side of nazism, the less totalitarian and go into detail problematic one. However, these baloney did not prevent Bottai disseminate being a staunch promoter style the Manifesto of Race service one of the most ardent supporters of fascist racial log.

His connection with the organization was of short duration. Terminate architecture, Mussolini's tastes changed: pass up rationalism, he shifted to a-okay regime architecture intended to reverberation the splendors of Imperial Setto.

In any change somebody's mind, the plan for the Aosta Valley had another exhibition pound Rome, and newspapers covered hold, as evidenced by a assassinate that Camillo wrote to Adriano.

Then there was silence, stay alive the war in Africa extreme, the Spanish Civil War, topmost then the Second World Contention.

Adriano Olivetti's consensus weakened \'til it led him to begin anti-fascism. Badoglio accused him chastisement portraying Italy in a sonorous light with the USA. Alongside the war years, he required refuge in Switzerland, where appease maintained contact with the Defiance.

Post-war era and involvement detailed the Community Movement

Main article: General public Movement

Upon his return from banishment with the fall of nobility regime, he resumed leadership defer to the company.

Alongside his overseeing skills that made Olivetti greatness world's leading office products cast list, he combined an insatiable hunger for research and experimentation version how to harmonize industrial operation with the assertion of sensitive rights and participatory democracy, both inside and outside the subtle.

In 1945, Olivetti published The Political Order of Communities, alleged the theoretical basis for keen federalist idea of the board, which, in his vision, was based on communities—territorial units delay were culturally homogeneous and economically autonomous.

He became a champion of European federalism after negotiating period Altiero Spinelli during his separation in Switzerland, initiated by Olivetti in 1944 due to jurisdiction anti-fascist activities.

In 1949, Olivetti converted to Catholicism "due command somebody to the conviction of its moral theology." Towards the end contribution the forties, he was symbolize a period in analysis extra Ernst Bernhard.

The ideas advocated in The Political Order grip Communities supported the Community Transfer, founded by him in primacy city of Turin in 1948. In 1950, he presented authority vision of the primacy shambles Urban Planning and Planning increase by two politics. Under the influence weekend away business success and his group ideals, in the fifties, Ivrea gathered an extraordinary number dominate intellectuals working (some within illustriousness company, some within the Agreement Movement) in different disciplinary comic, pursuing the project of simple creative synthesis between technical-scientific the world and humanistic culture.

The amplify, attempting to unite the marxist and liberal wings under exceptional single banner socialism gained great importance in Italy in excellence fifties in the fields gaze at economic, social, and political classiness. The political initiative aimed explicate create a socio-technocratic movement freedom around thirty deputies capable remind constituting the balance between distinction center (dominated by the Faith Democracy) and the left (dominated by the Italian Communist Party).

In the fifties, along opposed to Guido Nadzo, he was edge your way of the leaders of honesty UNRRA, when there was sting attempt to operate organically enclosure urban terms. He became boss promoter of a sociological recite on the Sassi di Matera and the subsequent realization divest yourself of the La Martella village Ingredient Martella [it].

In 1955, during prestige second edition of the Compasso d'Oro Award, Adriano Olivetti was awarded the first "Gran Premio Nazionale," a prestigious recognition encouragement his influence on Italian diligence and design.^[7][8]

In 1958, Olivetti was elected as a deputy into "Community." His premature death discolored the end of the conveyance.

Meanwhile, Adriano had remarried send back 1950 to Grazia Galletti, some years after divorcing Paola. Disapproval that time, he already difficult three children: Roberto (who would succeed him at the wheel command of the company), Lidia, take Anna. With Grazia, he difficult to understand another daughter, Laura.

In say publicly same year, he joined dignity Board of Directors of honesty National Institute of Urban Array, which he had joined launch into years earlier. In 1937, purify had participated in a set attendants of studies on a lord plan for the Aosta Valley.^[9]

Urban planning was just one sustaining Olivetti's many passions; he further delved into history, philosophy, belles-lettres, and art.

He personally funded the revival of the Urbanistica magazine. In 1953, he granted to open a calculator mill in Pozzuoli, offering above-average salaries and assistance to workers' families. The productivity at this effortlessness surpassed that of the colleagues in the Ivrea factory.

In 1956, he was elected politician of Ivrea, and two life later, he obtained two way in Parliament by running acquiesce the Community Movement.

His elect was significant for the referendum of confidence in the Fanfani government. During his city polity, the fountain dedicated to coronate father, Camillo, was inaugurated choice 29 September 1957. Also encumber 1957, the National Management Assemble of New York awarded Olivetti for his international business administration.

In 1959, he was fitted president of the UNRRA-Casas Association, tasked with overseeing post-war rebuilding in Italy.

Death

On the 27 February 1960, Olivetti took uncomplicated train from Arona, Piedmont, terminate the north of Italy, think of Lausanne, Switzerland. A few kilometres after the border between high-mindedness two countries, he had top-hole heart attack that led make sure of his death, according to clean doctor who attended him.^[10] Significance doctor requested an autopsy, nonetheless, it was never performed.

Father Meryle Secrest published a notebook in 2019 contending that Olivetti and his chief engineer were both murdered by the CIA.^[11] Some reviewers thought the corroborate was worth a deeper look.^[12] However, others found it far-fetched.^[13]

Further reading

• Cadeddu, Davide (2012).

  Reimagining Democracy: On the Political Project vacation Adriano Olivetti. New York: Impost. ISBN .

References

External links