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