Vintage typewriters are one of the most rewarding estate sale finds you can make. Whether you discovered an old machine in a grandparent’s attic, picked one up at a garage sale, or inherited a collection, this guide will help you identify what you have, date it to the correct era, and determine what it is worth. The vintage typewriter market has surged over the past decade, driven by the same nostalgia wave that reignited interest in vintage vinyl records and vintage cameras.
How to Date a Vintage Typewriter
Before determining value, you need to know what era your typewriter comes from. Three physical clues will date most machines reliably.
- Glass keys vs. plastic keys: The single fastest dating indicator. Round glass keys with metal rings are pre-1950 and significantly increase collector interest. Plastic keytops arrived in the late 1940s and were universal by the mid-1950s. Glass key machines command a 50-200% premium over the same model with plastic keys.
- Segment shift vs. carriage shift: Pre-1950 machines move the entire carriage up and down to type uppercase letters (carriage shift). Post-1950 machines typically use segment shift, where only the type basket moves. This is a secondary dating indicator.
- Color: Black crinkle paint is the standard finish through the mid-1950s. Pastel colors (grey, green, beige, turquoise) began appearing around 1955. Bright designer colors (red, teal, ivory) indicate 1960s to 1970s production. Colored machines from the 1960s and 1970s are currently very fashionable and command premiums over plain grey or beige equivalents.
- Serial number: All major manufacturers published serial number tables that allow you to identify the production year of virtually any machine. Search the Typewriter Database (typewriterdatabase.com) — enter your brand and serial number to find the exact production year and factory.
Vintage Typewriter Values by Brand
Underwood Typewriters
Underwood is the most recognizable American typewriter brand. The Underwood No. 5 (1900-1930) is an icon of the pre-war office era and the most commonly found antique typewriter at estate sales. Values are modest for standard No. 5 machines in poor to fair condition, but excellent examples with original glass keys and original case command strong prices.
- Underwood No. 5 (1900-1930), poor/fair condition: $50 to $150
- Underwood No. 5 (1900-1930), good condition with glass keys: $150 to $350
- Underwood No. 5 (1900-1930), excellent with original case: $300 to $600
- Underwood Universal portable (1930s), standard condition: $75 to $200
- Underwood Champion/De Luxe portable (1940s-1950s): $50 to $150
- Underwood 315/319 portable (1960s, pastel color): $75 to $175
Royal Typewriters
Royal was Underwood’s chief competitor and produced some of the most beloved American typewriters. The Royal Quiet De Luxe is the most sought-after Royal model, used by Ernest Hemingway and countless other writers. The Royal Futura and Royal Signet are popular 1960s models.
- Royal Standard No. 1 (1906-1920, glass keys): $200 to $500
- Royal Portable (1926-1935, glass keys): $150 to $400
- Royal Quiet De Luxe (1939-1955): $150 to $400 standard; $300 to $700 in excellent condition with case
- Royal Quiet De Luxe (1950s-1960s, pastel): $100 to $300
- Royal Futura 800 (1958-1963): $75 to $200
- Royal Safari/Signet (1960s, color): $75 to $175
Smith Corona Typewriters
Smith Corona produced typewriters from 1903 through the 1990s. The Silent Super and Corsair Deluxe are among the most popular Smith Corona models with today’s collectors. The 1960s and 1970s Smith Corona portables in turquoise and green are particularly fashionable.
- Smith Corona No. 3 / No. 4 (early 1900s, glass keys): $150 to $400
- Smith Corona Silent (1940s-1950s): $75 to $200
- Smith Corona Silent Super (1955-1960): $100 to $250
- Smith Corona Corsair Deluxe / Galaxie (1960s, standard): $75 to $175
- Smith Corona Galaxie / Classic 12 (1960s-1970s, color): $100 to $250
- Smith Corona Electra 120 / Coronamatic (1970s-1980s): $25 to $75
Olympia Typewriters
German-made Olympia typewriters have an outstanding reputation for build quality and typing feel. The SM3, SM4, SM7, and SM9 are the most collected models. Any working Olympia is worth more than its American counterpart from the same era because of the superior German engineering.
- Olympia SM3 (1954-1961): $150 to $350
- Olympia SM4 (1956-1963): $150 to $350
- Olympia SM7 (1963-1978): $125 to $300
- Olympia SM9 (1979-1993): $100 to $250
- Olympia Report De Luxe (portable, 1960s-1970s): $100 to $275
- Olympia SG1 / SG3 (large office standard): $100 to $300
Hermes Typewriters
Swiss-made Hermes typewriters are among the most valuable vintage portables on the market. The Hermes 3000 — produced in Yverdon, Switzerland from 1958 to 1967 — is considered by many collectors to be the finest portable typewriter ever made. Its sea-foam green clamshell case and exceptional typing action make it highly sought after. The Hermes Baby and Rocket are smaller, more affordable Swiss portables.
- Hermes 3000 (1958-1967, standard condition): $250 to $500
- Hermes 3000 (1958-1967, excellent with case): $400 to $800
- Hermes 3000 (1967-1977, later version): $175 to $400
- Hermes Baby (1935-1969): $100 to $300 depending on year and condition
- Hermes Rocket (1950s-1960s): $100 to $275
- Hermes Ambassador (large office): $150 to $350
Remington Typewriters
Remington built the first practical commercial typewriter in 1873. Early Remington machines with upstrike action (you couldn’t see what you typed) are museum pieces worth $300 to $2,000 depending on model and condition. Standard 20th-century Remington portables are common and modestly valued.
- Remington No. 2-No. 6 (1878-1893, blind writer): $300 to $2,000
- Remington No. 10 / No. 11 (1907-1920, glass keys): $150 to $400
- Remington Portable No. 1 (1920-1925, first Remington portable): $200 to $500
- Remington Quiet-Riter / Deluxe (1950s): $50 to $150
- Remington Noiseless portable (1931-1950): $100 to $250
Olivetti Typewriters
Italian manufacturer Olivetti merged industrial design with typewriter engineering to create some of the most visually striking machines ever produced. The Olivetti Valentine — designed by Ettore Sottsass and Perry King in 1969 — is housed in a red ABS plastic case and is considered a design museum icon. It has appeared in permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Any Olivetti Valentine in original condition is collectible.
- Olivetti Valentine (1969-1975, standard condition): $200 to $500
- Olivetti Valentine (1969-1975, mint with original case and accessories): $500 to $1,200
- Olivetti Lettera 22 (1950-1963): $125 to $350 — considered one of the best-designed portables ever made, featured in MoMA's permanent collection
- Olivetti Lettera 32 (1963-1974): $100 to $275
- Olivetti Studio 44 (1952-1960s): $100 to $300
- Olivetti Praxis 48 (1964, electric): $75 to $200
Most Valuable Vintage Typewriters
While most vintage typewriters sell in the $50 to $300 range, certain rare and exceptional machines command dramatically higher prices:
- Malling-Hansen Writing Ball (1870-1875): The world's first commercially produced typewriter. Fewer than 200 survive. Museum examples have sold for $50,000 to $200,000.
- Sholes & Glidden Type-Writer (1874-1878): The ancestor of all modern typewriters. Only about 150 examples survive. Auction prices: $15,000 to $50,000.
- Remington No. 1 (1873-1878): The production version of the first Remington typewriter, with the distinctive ornate floral decals. Good examples: $3,000 to $8,000.
- Blickensderfer No. 5 / Blickensderfer Electric (1893-1920s): An innovative early portable with a typewheel rather than typebars. The Blickensderfer Electric is one of the earliest electric typewriters. Working examples: $500 to $1,500.
- Hammond Multiplex (1913-1920s): A unique typewriter with interchangeable type shuttles and variable character spacing. Exceptional examples with multiple shuttles: $400 to $1,200.
- Olivetti Valentine mint condition: As noted above, $500 to $1,200 for near-mint examples with original case.
Condition Guide for Vintage Typewriters
Condition is the single most important factor in vintage typewriter value after brand and model. Here is how to assess condition before buying or selling.
- Excellent / Showroom: All keys type cleanly, platen (rubber roller) is soft and unblemished, no missing or bent typebars, original paint with minimal wear, all original decals intact, all function keys (tab, margin release, backspace) work properly. Commands full market price.
- Good / Working: Types well with perhaps one sticky key, platen has light wear but still functional, minor paint chips, decals mostly intact. This is the standard for most sold online. 75-90% of excellent price.
- Fair / Restorable: Stiff or stuck keys, hardened platen, some rust or corrosion, missing keycap, faded decals. Still worth buying for restoration or use — just budget for a tune-up. 30-60% of excellent price.
- Poor / Parts: Multiple broken typebars, cracked platen, heavy rust or corrosion, major missing components. Primarily valuable for parts to restore other machines of the same model. 10-20% of excellent price.
- Platen condition matters more than most sellers realize: A rock-hard rubber platen (common on old machines) produces poor print quality and can damage type. Platen replacement or recovering costs $35 to $75 from a typewriter repair specialist. Factor this into any purchase price.
- Case or carrying bag: Original cases add $25 to $150 in value depending on brand and condition. Original cardboard shipping boxes from the 1950s and 1960s add an additional $50 to $200 for certain collectible models.
Where to Buy and Sell Vintage Typewriters
The vintage typewriter market has excellent venues for buyers and sellers at all price points.
- eBay: The largest marketplace by volume. Search completed listings (sold items) for the most accurate current prices — asking prices are often 2 to 3 times what machines actually sell for. Shipping is a significant cost; heavy standards can cost $40 to $80 to ship safely.
- Etsy: Increasingly popular for vintage typewriters, especially colorful 1960s-1970s portables. Prices run higher than eBay on average. Better for selling than buying at fair prices.
- The Typewriter Exchange (TWDB forum): TypewriterDatabase.com hosts an active community with buy/sell/trade sections. Knowledgeable buyers who appreciate quality and pay fair prices.
- Local antique shops and estate sales: Best source for finding underpriced machines. Most estate sale companies list typewriters at $20 to $50 regardless of model. This is where $200 Hermes 3000 machines regularly sell for $30.
- Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist: Often the best prices because local pickup avoids shipping costs. Sellers frequently want to avoid the hassle of boxing and shipping a heavy machine.
- Professional typewriter dealers: Milwaukee Typewriter Works, California Typewriter (as featured in the documentary), and similar specialist dealers sell fully restored machines at premium prices. Good option if you want a guaranteed working machine.
For more vintage collectibles guides, see our complete antique collecting guide, our guide to vintage cameras, our vintage vinyl records value guide, and our guide to vintage radios.
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