Collecting Antique Typewriters

Quick Tips for Collecting Antique Typewriters

In Awe of the Manual Typewriter

When I look at the clumsy looking keyboard and manual return bar jutting out precariously on a vintage typewriter, I can’t help but wonder how people used those old things to write correspondence, term papers and even entire books. I think about old movies where the beat newspaper reporter is pounding out the latest news and shake my head in awe.

Sure, I learned the keyboard on a typewriter in high school, but at least it was electric. The only manual typewriter I’ve ever used was a teal green plastic trainer model I had as a kid. I could hunt and peck with the best of them on that thing, but I wouldn’t officially call it typing.

In my writing life now, I’ve come to appreciate the ease of using a computer, even when I had my own beat at a community newspaper a number of years ago. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t find the typewriter to be a fascinating apparatus in the history of written communication. Studying the typing machine’s incarnations can be captivating, and collectors who fancy them now seek vintage models fervently.

A Little Typewriter Trivia

I spied a version on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. a while back that would be pretty valuable if you could find one for sale. This Corona teaching model had colorful animals printed on round keys and corresponding animal rings to fit on each finger. While the typewriter was cute enough, probably dating to the 1940s or so, I couldn’t help question its functionality. How did children know which letter corresponded with the animals on each row?

I doubt Mark Twain worried too much about matters such as these when he purchased one of the earliest typewriters made by Remington and went on to write the first book manuscript to be produced on a “new-fangled writing-machine.” Twain was more concerned with keeping quiet about owning one, so he wouldn’t have to pen letters on it to answer questions from the curious.

I discovered this historical tidbit while browsing a site called myTypewriter.com. The site also reports that in the late 1870s, Remington came out with a No. 2 model that was much improved over the first version. But they weren’t the only company making typewriters back then.

Popular Typewriter Manufacturers and Styles

From 1880 through 1910, manufacturers like Caligraph, Hall and Blickensderfer introduced a number of interesting models that collectors would relish owning today. But none of these makers seriously challenged Remington’s market share until Underwood entered the typewriter field.

By 1898, Underwood produced 200 typewriters per week. That's a good number in the days when mass production was in its infancy. MyTypewriter.com states, “In 1901, Underwood introduced its legendary No. 5 model, which was sold in millions over a more than 30 years production life.”

The No. 5 included a ribbon selector, a back spacer and a tabular, along with other improvements over the years. This model set the standard for the entire typewriter industry allowing Underwood to replace Remington as the top typewriter manufacturer in the world.

When it comes to collecting typewriters, they’re divided into two categories: the index machine and the keyboard machine. Kovel’s Antiques & Collectibles Price List notes that an index machine has a pointer and dial for letter selection, while a keyboard machine refers to the type simply referred to as a typewriter.

Values Vary for Antique Typewriters

In general, models made for a short period of time with unusual features or those by a more obscure manufacturer will hold more value over common models. You’ll have to embark on a little research to see if your own antique typewriter is valuable. To do so, take a look at Antique Typewriters and Office Collectibles by Dale Rehr (Collector Books).

And don’t forget that go-with items like ribbon tins and user manuals are also collectible. In fact, some ribbon tins can sell for several hundred apiece. That bit of information might come in handy if you’re ever assigned the task of cleaning out granny’s attic.

Antique Typewriter Price Points

• Ford typewriter with ornate copper decor, 1895 - $13,131
• Lambert unusual dial typewriter, 1902 - $1,915
• Hammond one pound experimental typewriter, early 1890s - $1,200
• Fox No. 4 typewriter with original case, late 1890s - $385
• Bennett typewriter with cover, 1910 - $290
• Underwood No. 5 typewriter, 1917 - $182