Old Typewriter Value Guide: What's Your Vintage Machine Worth?

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Condition

Condition is perhaps the most critical factor in determining a typewriter’s value. Even rare models will see their value significantly diminished if they’re in poor condition.

Historical Significance

Typewriters with unique historical connections often command significant premiums. Machines owned by famous authors, celebrities, or historical figures can sell for tens of thousands above their typical market value.

For example, a typewriter owned by Ernest Hemingway sold at auction for over $65,000, while Jack Kerouac’s last typewriter fetched nearly $25,000.

Early “Antique” Models (Pre-1920)

These early machines represent typewriter technology in its formative years and often feature unique mechanisms and designs that were later standardized:

• Index Typewriters: Early machines where the typist would select characters using a pointer or dial rather than keys. Examples include the Mignon and Columbia.
• Visible Writers: Early models where the typing became visible immediately (unlike earlier “blind writers”). The Underwood No. 1 (1897) revolutionized this category.
• Hammond Typewriters: Featuring interchangeable typewheels that could produce different fonts and languages.
• Oliver Typewriters: Distinctive “down-strike” visible typewriters with their U-shaped typebars.

Collectible Portable Models (1920s-1950s)

Portable typewriters from the Art Deco and mid-century periods have seen increasing collector interest:

• Corona Folding Portable: Introduced in 1912, this innovative folding design remained popular through the 1930s.
• Hermes 3000: Swiss-made typewriter renowned for its quality and smooth typing experience.
• Smith Corona Silent: Popular portable models, especially those in uncommon colors like burgundy, green, or two-tone designs.
• Royal Quiet De Luxe: Famous for being used by many writers, including Ernest Hemingway.

Unusual and Rare Features

Certain features can significantly increase a typewriter’s value:

• Uncommon colors: Typewriters in colors other than black (especially pastels, reds, and greens)
• Special keyboards: Foreign language keyboards, special character sets, or scientific notations
• Military issue typewriters: Especially those with documented wartime use
• Limited edition models: Special production runs or commemorative editions

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The most valuable sales typically involve either extremely rare early models or typewriters with documented connections to famous writers and historical figures. However, even standard models in exceptional condition or unusual colors regularly sell for several hundred dollars.

Research Your Model

Before seeking professional appraisal, do some initial research:

1. Identify the make and model: Look for brand names, model numbers, and serial numbers (often found on the back or bottom of the machine)
2. Determine its age: Serial number databases can help date many common typewriters
3. Research comparable sales: Check completed listings on eBay, specialist auction sites, and typewriter collector forums

Professional Appraisal Options

For potentially valuable typewriters, consider these professional appraisal options:

• Antique dealers specializing in office equipment: Many have experience with typewriters and can provide informal valuations
• Auction houses: For potentially valuable machines, major auction houses can provide appraisals
• Typewriter repair specialists: While not appraisers, they can assess mechanical condition and authenticity
• Online typewriter collector communities: These can provide valuable insight into rarity and current market demand

DIY Valuation Resources

Several online resources can help determine a typewriter’s potential value:

• Typewriter Serial Number Database: The Typewriter Database offers serial number information to help date machines
• Price guides and auction records: Sites like Carters.com.au track typewriter auction results
• The Classic Typewriter Page: Xavier University’s resource provides identification information and history
• Typewriter collector forums: Sites like Typewriter Talk can help identify unusual models

Online Marketplaces

• eBay: The largest marketplace for vintage typewriters, offering both auction and fixed-price formats
• Etsy: Particularly good for aesthetically pleasing machines that appeal to decorators or photographers
• Facebook Marketplace: Good for local sales that avoid shipping challenges
• Typewriter-specific forums: Sites like Typewriter Talk have classified sections

Specialist Dealers

• Antique dealers: Local antique shops sometimes buy typewriters, especially higher-end models
• Typewriter repair shops: Many also deal in vintage machines
• Prop rental companies: For decorative machines in good cosmetic condition

Auction Houses

For rare, historically significant, or celebrity-owned typewriters, consider:

• Major auction houses like Christie’s, Sotheby’s, or Heritage Auctions
• Specialty auctions focusing on literary memorabilia or vintage technology

Pricing Strategy

When setting an asking price:

1. Research comparable sales of similar models in similar condition
2. Consider condition honestly - working machines command significantly higher prices
3. Document provenance if your typewriter has interesting history
4. Factor in shipping costs - typewriters are heavy and require careful packaging

Cleaning and Preservation

• Dust regularly using soft brushes, compressed air (low pressure), or vacuum with brush attachment
• Clean metal surfaces with appropriate products - avoid harsh chemicals
• Address rust carefully - consult a specialist for valuable machines
• Keep ribbon ink fresh by removing ribbons from machines in long-term storage

Storage Recommendations

• Avoid temperature and humidity fluctuations
• Cover the machine with a dust cover when not in use
• Store on a stable surface away from direct sunlight
• If using the original case, ensure it’s clean and dry

Restoration Considerations

Before undertaking any restoration:

• Assess whether restoration will increase or decrease value - sometimes original patina is preferred
• Consult specialists for rare or valuable machines
• Document the machine’s original condition before making changes
• Use period-appropriate parts and materials whenever possible

Comprehensive database of typewriter serial numbers and dating information to help identify when your machine was manufactured.

Browse current listings and completed sales to research comparable typewriter values and selling prices.

Australian auction results database with pricing information on various typewriter models.

Extensive information about typewriter history, identification, and collecting by typewriter expert Richard Polt.

Active community where collectors provide good faith estimates of typewriter values based on photos and descriptions.

Detailed guide explaining the factors that determine a typewriter's value in today's market.

Comprehensive resource for understanding what makes different typewriter models valuable.

In the United States, an antique is generally defined as an object that is 100 years old or older. For typewriters, this means machines manufactured before the 1920s would qualify as true antiques. Typewriters made between the 1920s and 1970s are typically considered "vintage" rather than antique.
This distinction is important for collectors, as true antique typewriters (pre-1920s) often command higher prices due to their historical significance and rarity, provided they’re in good condition.

Several factors determine a typewriter's value to collectors:

Age and rarity: Earlier models, particularly those from before 1900, are typically more valuable
Brand and model: Certain manufacturers (Underwood, Royal, Hermes) and specific models are more sought after
Condition: Working machines in excellent cosmetic condition command significant premiums
Unique features: Unusual keyboards, rare colors, or special features increase value
Historical significance: Machines with documented connections to famous people or events
Completeness: Original case, manuals, and accessories add value

The most valuable typewriters typically combine several of these factors – for example, a rare early model in excellent condition with its original case.

Most standard electric typewriters from the 1960s-1980s have relatively modest collector value, typically in the $50-$150 range, and only if in good working condition. However, there are exceptions:

The IBM Selectric models (especially in unusual colors or early models) can sell for $100-$300
Specialty electric typewriters with unusual features or keyboards
Models with documented connections to famous authors or historical events
Pristine examples with original packaging and documentation

Electric typewriters are generally less sought after by collectors than manual models, partly because their complex electrical and mechanical systems are more prone to failure and more difficult to repair.

If you have a typewriter that isn't valuable but you'd like to dispose of responsibly:

Offer it to schools or theaters for educational or prop purposes
Donate to thrift stores if the machine is in working condition
List it for free on marketplace sites or Freecycle
Contact typewriter repair shops who may use it for parts
Recycle as scrap metal - non-electric typewriters can be taken to scrap metal recycling centers

For electric typewriters with electronic components, check with your local e-waste recycling program for proper disposal options.

The most expensive typewriter ever sold at auction was a Malling-Hansen Writing Ball, which fetched approximately $122,500 at Christie's in December 2023. This rare Danish-made typewriter from the 1870s is considered one of the earliest commercially produced typewriters and features a distinctive spherical design with radiating keys.
Other notable high-value sales include:

Ernest Hemingway’s Halda typewriter: $65,000
Jack Kerouac’s last typewriter: $25,000
Cormac McCarthy’s Olivetti typewriter: $254,500 (though this extreme price reflected his literary fame more than the machine itself)

These extraordinary prices typically reflect historical significance and celebrity connections rather than the inherent value of the typewriter models themselves.

Royal typewriters vary significantly in value depending on the specific model, age, and condition:

Early Royal models (pre-1920): $200-$600 depending on condition
Royal Portable models (1920s-1930s): $150-$350 for standard models in good condition
Royal Quiet De Luxe (1940s-1950s): $150-$400, with premium prices for unusual colors
Royal electric models (1960s-1970s): $50-$150 if in working condition

Particularly desirable are the Royal Quiet De Luxe models in colors like burgundy, green, or two-tone designs, which can command $300-$500 in excellent condition. The gold-plated Royal Quiet De Luxe (made as a commemorative model) can sell for $800-$1,500.

Typewriter serial numbers are typically located in one of these places:

On the frame: Look underneath the carriage when it’s moved to one side
On the back panel: Many machines have a plate or stamped number on the rear
Under the machine: Check the bottom surface
Inside the ribbon cover: Some models placed serial numbers here

Once you find the serial number, you can often determine the manufacturing date by consulting resources like The Typewriter Database (typewriterdatabase.com), which maintains serial number records for many major brands.
For rare or unusual typewriters not covered in common databases, typewriter collector forums may be able to help identify the age based on serial number patterns.

While most common office typewriters from the mid-20th century have modest value ($50-$300), rare early models, those with unique features, or machines in exceptional condition can command significant premiums. For the highest-value machines – those with historical significance or celebrity connections – professional appraisal is always recommended.

Whether you’re looking to sell a typewriter you’ve discovered or begin collecting these mechanical marvels, the resources and information in this guide should help you navigate the fascinating world of vintage typewriter valuation. Remember that condition is paramount – a working typewriter will almost always be worth significantly more than a non-functional example of the same model.

As interest in analog technologies continues to grow in our digital age, typewriters remain enduring symbols of an era when writing was a more deliberate, physical act. This nostalgia factor, combined with the impressive mechanical craftsmanship these machines represent, ensures that well-preserved typewriters will likely continue to hold or increase their value in the years to come.

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