| Typewriters are popular collectibles, especially very | | | | worth very little. |
| early models, and typewriters with past famous | | | | Tips |
| owners or a particularly interesting pedigree, which | | | | * There are no catalogues or price guides for old |
| often fetch very high prices on eBay. | | | | typewriters such as those you'll find updated annually |
| Because they're bulky, often dirty, need lots of careful | | | | for postcards and stamps, coins and ceramics. There |
| cleaning and sometimes repairs, most typewriters, old | | | | simply aren't enough collectors, or typewriters, to |
| and modern, are overlooked and fetched low prices at | | | | warrant special listings. Value, like many low volume |
| local offline auction houses. | | | | collectibles is best determined at auction, and is the |
| Despite this, anyone prepared to spend time cleaning, | | | | point where the price someone is willing to pay |
| researching, repairing and eventually packing a | | | | matches what the current owner will accept. By far |
| typewriter, will find ready bidders on eBay in both the | | | | the highest prices are paid for typewriters in good, |
| UK and USA, and no doubt other country sites, too. | | | | clean, working condition, with or without restoration |
| Typewriters don't always fetch fabulous prices, but | | | | work. |
| most early typewriters, from the late 1800s and early | | | | * You should clean typewriters carefully, getting right |
| 1900s rarely go unsold on eBay so you're almost | | | | into the tiniest of grooves without causing damage to |
| always going to make money. | | | | keys which were often long and spindly and |
| Recent eBay prices range from £73 for an | | | | unexpectedly delicate. I found the most comprehensive |
| early Empire Typewriter from 1892, to £380 for | | | | guide to cleaning old typewriters at: |
| a Salter Standard Victorian Typewriter in original tin | | | | Here's just a tiny few of their suggestions: |
| carry case. More unusual typewriter types attract | | | | 'A toothbrush and a nail brush can be helpful. |
| premium prices, such as a Braille typewriter that went | | | | For a gentler initial cleaning on a basically clean |
| for £142 and an early double keyboard model | | | | machine, try Endust or Pledge (be cautious around |
| that fetched £127. | | | | decals (transfers), as occasionally these products can |
| Outside of eBay some far higher prices have been | | | | harm them). |
| achieved for very early and unusual typewriter models | | | | For an even gentler and safer cleaning, simply use a |
| which are worth remembering at buying expeditions. | | | | few drops of dishwashing liquid dissolved in water. |
| For example, at Sotheby's a Merritt typewriter from | | | | Q-tips (similar to cotton buds) are very nice for |
| 1895 went for £715 some years ago, and at | | | | cleaning hard-to-reach areas. |
| Koln in Germany The Auction Team valued a rare | | | | For initial dust removal, the vacuum-cleaner hose |
| Imperial Typewriter, one of only three known to exist, | | | | attachment kits sold in computer and computer supply |
| at between £7,000 and £8,000. | | | | stores and catalogues work very well!' |
| Since the first successful commercial typewriters | | | | * Best places to buy are at general auction or from |
| were introduced in the late 1860s many unusual | | | | long established office equipment stores, but rarely will |
| designs have emerged, some plain and simple, others | | | | you get a bargain from antiques and second-hand |
| intricate and stunningly detailed. One of the simplest | | | | dealers who invariably think old means valuable, for |
| and earliest designs had a wheel with letters round the | | | | most items, and often they are wrong. |
| edge which was turned manually until the required | | | | * This is one of those collectibles you really need to |
| letter appeared in front of the paper and was pushed | | | | study and learn what makes one older item worthless |
| to form an impression. | | | | and a more modern type quite valuable. Web sites |
| More complicated typewriters had double keyboards, | | | | and books listed later provide much useful information. |
| one for lower case, the other for capitals, and were | | | | Choose one or both of those books mentioned later, |
| created in brass and mother of pearl hand painted with | | | | they're packed with pictures, and keep them close by |
| glorious gilded leaves and flowers. These are the kind | | | | on buying days. |
| of unusual models to watch out for at non-specialist | | | | * Don't expect to make more than fifty pounds or so |
| auctions and they're almost certain to attract high | | | | on most early typewriters, but remember you can pick |
| prices on eBay. | | | | them up very cheaply indeed, I've seen them fetch |
| These early models sometimes crop up at specialist | | | | less than a tenner at local auction. The trick to making |
| typewriter auctions where they invariably fetch a high | | | | money is to buy typewriters in good condition, but dirty, |
| price. Not the place to buy in expectation of high resell | | | | and spend time cleaning them up and taking several |
| fees on eBay but worth visiting for research and | | | | great photographs to display them from all angles for |
| experience. | | | | listing on eBay. |
| Like most collectibles, value depends mainly on rarity, | | | | * Be careful about delivery costs. These early models |
| not just age. For example, one of the earliest | | | | are extremely heavy and may cost way more to |
| serviceable typewriters, the Underwood, created from | | | | have delivered than they themselves are worth. |
| 1900 to 1932 was made in the millions and can still be | | | | Where possible, look for local buyers or others willing |
| found in working condition, consequently they are | | | | to collect. |
