Buy Old Fashioned Typewriter

Unsurprisingly, the earliest period of typewriters - from their invention in the late 1870s to the early 1910s - is the most eagerly sought-after and therefore often the most valuable category of the machine. Recent specimens on eBay have sold for between 200 and 800, depending on the other factors listed below. Specimens from the pre-WWII period (prior to the 1940s) have also been known to fetch up to 400, while those from after the war are generally far less popular among collectors. On occasion, they can reach a price tag of 200, though that is only reserved for incredibly rare items. More recent products have sold online for as little as 0.99.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly of all, the value of antique typewriters is heavily dependent on the condition of the machine itself. This includes both its mechanical aspects (i.e. how well it functions) and its cosmetic ones (how attractive and undamaged it appears), since many collectors purchase typewriters for ornamental purposes rather than working ones. As with any other antique commodity, the worth of the item will vary depending on how much work is required to restore it to a pristine (or at least presentable condition). Therefore, it might be worth investing the time, money and effort into cleaning or repairing your typewriter prior to selling it in order to achieve a higher price. Having said that, you should be careful not to damage the typewriter in this process, since this will obviously have the opposite of the intended effect upon its valuation! It should go without saying that none of these factors is exclusively responsible for determining vintage typewriter value. Instead, the specific worth of each individual item will be based on a unique combination of all of them, alongside other considerations such as whether the typewriter is desktop or portable (portable are generally more desirable), whether it comes with accompanying accessories such as a hood or carry case, its country of origin, and particular market trends at the time of selling.

Although pre-war typewriters are old, many are still perfectly usable. As long as they're cared for properly they are incredibly robust and will keep on going for a very long time. The good news too is that repairing pre-war machines is actually fairly easy as there are still quite a few around, so parts are not too difficult to find.

Some machines manufactured after the second world war have glass keys which are similar to their pre-war equivalents, but these are rare. By the time the early 1950s came round, the overwhelming majority of typewriters were designed using plastic keys so they're quite easy to tell apart. More designs, colours and styles became available too.

Typewriter manufacturers saw a boom in business after the war, and many typewriters from the mid part of the last century like the Olympia typewriters and Hermes machines are still thought of as the most elegant manual typewriters ever built.

Mignon typewriters were among the world's very first electric typewriters. They used an 84-character index map, complete with an electric indicator needle. This would then 'instruct' the typewriter about the positioning of the type cylinder and the command was executed using a print key. The Mignon 4 from 1923 is very popular with collectors and is considered the most attractive of the six models made.

Consider swapping a standard-issue guest book for a refurbished vintage typewriter. In an official, annexed guest house, set an antique typewriter up in the entry on a credenza or console with a note (typed, of course) that encourages guests to record a ledger of their stay.

Rig up a table with an antique typewriter and a placard that encourages guests to dispel a bit of marriage wisdom to the newlyweds. Not only will a vintage typewriter lend an interactive element to a reception, but it will leave couples with a stack of sentiments that feel perfectly time-worn from the get-go.

Hung above an antique manual typewriter, a bulletin board is a spot-on place to affix your family's dispatches. To keep family members on the same page, consider keeping multiple paper colors on hand and designating them for grocery lists, appointments, urgent messages and more.

A great retro piece for use or display, this 1960s Smith Corona Sterling typewriter comes with its original case. According to the seller, the typewriter is in excellent working condition, and has been well-cared for.

If you want to bring a vintage feel to your electronics, this gaming keyboard is a great choice for lovers of the Victorian-esque design. The typewriter style vintage keyboard has retro round keycap shapes like a classical typewriter, with white LED adjustable lighting and double-shot injection molded keycaps for crystal clear backlighting. The keyboard is also equipped with a convenient rotary knob to switch the lighting effects, and the brightness of the board.

This ultra-portable Hermes Baby is perfect for traveling. The lightweight typewriter has been refurbished, professionally serviced, and cleaned. The machine is in perfect vintage condition, apart from tiny imperfections due to age and use.

This typewriter has enough quirks and misfunctions that the seller is listing it as a display place, with the caveat that it is technically functional but needs some help. The overall condition is excellent, with minimal surface wear except a scrape across the top of the shell.

On the older side of the spectrum, this Remington model is an early portable typewriter. It is in good condition: there is understandably some surface wear and the ink printing fades down the letters, but it is in overall operable condition!

A Mid-Century Moderne design in a sleek blue and black color scheme makes this typewriter a stylish accessory for any writing purpose. This typewriter is in functional condition and comes in its original case. Both case and machine have minimal wear and are in excellent vintage condition!

Designed by Carl Malmsten and made in Sweden, this is a nontypical typewriter brand. The keyboard features Swedish additions to the usual Latin alphabet. The machine is fully functional, in good cosmetic condition.

Compact design, happy coloring, and an unusual keyboard featuring Hungarian letters all set this Royal portable typewriter apart. The machine is fully functional and specialist-checked, in good cosmetic condition.

All of these are reasonable concerns, especially if your old typewriter is still in excellent condition. To help answer these questions, this article examines the value of vintage and old typewriters, as well as the best collectible brands.

Simply go to the Typewriter Database website to get started. Select the brand of your typewriter from the menu. When you do so, a new page will load. This page contains the most recently modified typewriter gallery listings.

The next step is to scroll down the page, where you will find information about typewriters. Typically, the information on typewriters is organized into categories: standard machines, electrics, and portables.

If you have an antique typewriter lying around, you may be missing out on a opportunity to make some extra money! This is because not all antique typewriters are valued equally, if at all, especially most modern typewriters. Some old typewriters, however, are worth their weight in gold.

The Oliver typewriter has two type bar towers that strike down onto the steel plate, keeping the text visible at all times. The Oliver typewriter became known as The Standard Visible Writer because of this unique typewriting feature.

The Royal typewriter company also introduced the portable typewriter in 1926, and in 1930, the company produced the Quiet De Luxe model, a compact design that sold for about $50. This design was popular from the 1930s to the 1950s.

A large number of typewriters were produced by the Royal Typewriter Company, making it relatively easy to come by. A Royal typewriter vintage can be purchased or sold for $103 or $1,065. This is determined by the model you have.

The Underwood Typewriter was the first widely successful modern typewriter, and it was by far the better-engineered machine. The typewriter had three main design elements: a four-row straight keyboard, a single shift key, and front striking bars, which made operation easier.

The Smith Corona typewriter company no longer manufactures typewriters, but a vintage Smith Corona 3 typewriter, which was the most popular typewriter produced from 1912 to 1941, can be purchased on auction sites such as Etsy for between $120 and $1,146.

Because there are so many typewriter manufacturers and models, collectors are likely to find a number of older examples with unusual keyboards or organized cases, brass plated casings, or even fancy inlay work.

The Royal Typewriter Company, for example, produced a large number of typewriters, making them easy to find almost anywhere. This factor would prevent Royal typewriters from being sold for the high price they could have been if they were limited in quantity.

Some collectors prefer to stick to certain brands. This factor is entirely subjective. Some collectors believe that an Underwood typewriter is more valuable than a Corona typewriter, while others may disagree.

Odds are not necessarily rare. For example, the Oliver typewriter has strange-looking groups of arms on each side that look like wings. But more than a million of these were produced at selling prices of under $300.

If you are ready to sell your old typewriter but have no idea how much it is worth, this section is for you. This section will assist you in determining the value of an antique typewriter before you place a price on your own.

Before you put a price on your typewriter, consult with a vintage collection expert who understands how to professionally evaluate the worth of a typewriter. This is another excellent option, and it may even be the best.

Abraham Schweitzer founded the Gramercy Typewrite