Associazione Spille d'Oro
The Associazione Spille d'Oro (Gold Pins Association) brings together former employees of Olivetti and was founded in Ivrea in December 1946, on the initiative of a group of senior employees of the company, with the aim of maintaining and strengthening the bonds of fellowship among former employees of the company founded by Camillo Olivetti and brought to international success by his son Adriano Olivetti.[1]
Origins, from 1913
Although the association officially turns 80, the history of the Spille d'Oro began in 1913, when, on the occasion of the production of the thousandth M1 typewriter, Camillo Olivetti had a pin minted for employees and gave a gold one to his wife Luisa Revel. In 1933, 25 years after the founding of the first Italian typewriter factory, Camillo gave employees with 25 years of service pins identical to the one given to his wife; on the eve of the Second World War there were 35 of them. The presentations resumed in 1948, when Adriano Olivetti awarded the badge to 116 senior employees.[1][2]
The association today
Since then the association has grown, now counting more than ten thousand members among workers, clerical staff and managers.[1] Since 2024 its chairman has been Matteo Olivetti, a descendant of the founding family, an architect and promoter of Olivetti culture.[2]
Celebrations for the 80th anniversary (October 2026)
On the initiative of the association and under the patronage of the Piedmont Region, the Metropolitan City of Turin and the Municipality of Ivrea, on 10 October 2026 the multimedia exhibition "Una Comunità Speciale" (A Special Community) opens in the Sala Santa Marta in Ivrea, produced with the contribution of the City of Ivrea and in collaboration with the Olivetti Historical Archive and the National Archive of Industrial Cinema; it can be visited until 31 October on weekends.[1] The exhibition is accompanied by three public events: on 10 October an interview with Marco Revelli, former professor of Political Science and chairman of the Piero Gobetti Study Centre, with researchers Cristina Accornero and Dora Marucco; on 17 October a debate on "Ivrea and Canavese, yesterday and today" with mayor Matteo Chiantore; on 24 October a conference devoted to the impact of the Olivetti commercial system on consumer society.[1][2]
Related articles: 80th anniversary of the Associazione Spille d'Oro of Ivrea (2026)