Before computers, there were typewriters. From the late 19th-century to the mid-to-late 20th century, office work, schoolwork, novels, letters, and such writing were—if not hand-written—typed out on mechanical typing machines. With a few main brands, plus a signature look consistent across the industry by the 1920s, the typewriter is a very familiar antique. Many of them remain in functional condition today, ready for you. Here’s a list to get you started on your search for the perfect typewriter for you!
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Are Old Typewriters Worth Anything?
Typewriters are a mixed pot as far as investment worth. Models prior to 1940, especially if they are still in working condition, are typically a more spendy investment. Post-war models were typically mass-produced so there are plenty of them still bouncing around; they’re rarely a worthwhile monetary investment. The exception being especially colorful or unique machines.
If you are looking to make an investment by purchasing a typewriter, going old or unusual are your best bets!
What to Look for When Buying One
There are a few areas to look at for your new-old typewriter:
Ink ribbon: this is the typewriter piece most likely to be in bad condition after time, and therefore the most likely piece to be non-original. Make sure you know whether the ribbon has been recently replaced and/or what it takes to replace it.
Sticky keys: sometimes the mechanical keys of the typewriter either don’t press down in the first place or they don’t reset when you let the key up, keep an eye out for any functionality issues here.
Overall condition: the interior mechanics are good, but the outside casing is rusted & aged … not a pleasant scenario, so make sure to check the full condition of the machine.
Typewriters for Sale
I) Working Vintage Typewriters
1. Corona No.4
Period: 1929
Features: Fully functional, w/ new ribbon
Price: $499
This model was produced by one-half of what would become the Smith-Corona brand. This machine is in great vintage condition, with the original case and both spool caps accounted for.
2. Smith-Corona Clipper
Period: 1948
Features: Pica typeface, fully serviced and functional
Price: $400
A notable Smith-Corona model with its identifying clipper wings insignia, this model is in excellent condition. Cosmetically sound and newly restored to full functional use, it is ready for you!
3. Sears’ Tower Brand by Smith-Corona
Period: 1957
Features: Fully serviced and functional
Price: $395-430
This model was made by Smith-Corona for Sears’ Tower line. It has a southwestern color scheme with a Streamline Moderne styling edge. The piece has been serviced and will arrive fully functional! (The price range depends on accessories purchased with the typewriter, an extra ribbon and/or stationery kit.)
4. Remington Noiseless
Period: 1950s
Features: Ribbon needs replacing, AZERTY keyboard
Price: $115
Slightly more worn than some, this Remington machine is nonetheless a lovely piece that will be quite the stunner with just a little help. (Be aware of the AZERTY keyboard though!)
5. Remington Quiet Riter
Period: 1950s
Features: Fully functional with case
Price: $276
The original green paint on this typewriter makes for a classy mid-century piece in good vintage condition. The mechanical insides all work excellently as well!
6. Smith-Corona Sterling in Cherry Red
Period: 1963
Features: Fully serviced and functional
Price: $395-430
This Sterling model has been custom painted in a bright, eye-catching Cherry Red color. This is a rarer Smith-Corona model (despite the fact that there are two on this list…). The model features a “#1” key, rare for the 1960s. Again: the price range depends on accessories purchased with the typewriter, an extra ribbon and/or stationery kit.
7. Sears’ President 12 by Smith-Corona
Period: 1964
Features: 12” carriage allows for landscape orientation
Price: $445-480
Sears’ President typewriter was only produced for one year, making this a particularly rare find. With an unusually long carriage and an artistic script typeface (cursive), this really is both a sightly and functionally unique piece. This model is in excellent repair, with new ribbon installed. Again: the price range depends on accessories purchased with the typewriter, an extra ribbon and/or stationery kit.
8. Remington Rand
Period: 1960s
Features: New ribbon, original case, in working condition
Price: $145-168
Earlier versions of this line were cast iron typewriters, it’s unclear if they still were by the 1960s. Any way around it, this machine is in good cosmetic condition and in working order!
9. Yugoslavian UNIS Brand
Period: 1970s
Features: Fully serviced and functional
Price: $180
UNIS was a brand out of Yugoslavia (now defunct). This machine in a nice pink & white color scheme has been fully serviced and is ready to use.
II) Inexpensive Vintage Typewriters
1. Oliver Standard Visible Writer, No. 5
Period: Early 1900s
Features: n/a
Price: $134
What a gem! An early (for this list) typewriter, in good condition for its age. It needs a bit of help to be fully functional—namely in the “missing keys” area, although the seller points out there are plenty of online options for findings keys. It could probably use some oiling and cleaning as well.
2. Remington Streamliner
Period: 1950s
Features: QWERTY layout
Price: $100
This one’s name is a bit on the nose as its styling is Streamline Moderne. It is in good vintage condition cosmetically, although it’s unclear what it’s like functionally.
3. Smith-Corona Sterling Model, Alpine Blue
Period: 1960
Features: Mostly functional, except that the M & caps lock buttons are inoperable
Price: $145
This piece has a new ribbon installed, so (except the two buttons) it is in good functional condition, as well as good cosmetic condition. It’s a colorful typewriter as well, a fun mid-century modern take on the machine!
4. Olivetti Lettera 32
Period: 1963
Features: QZERTY layout, A4 paper size
Price: $139
Designed by architect Marcello Nizzoli, this typewriter was a particularly well-known and widely used typewriter model. This one functions smoothly and is in good condition!
5. Royal Brand Aristocrat Model
Period: 1967
Features: Sleek design, needs some repair work
Price: $70
This typewriter has enough quirks and misfunctions that the seller is listing it as a display place, with the caveat that it is technically functional but needs some help. The overall condition is excellent, with minimal surface wear except a scrape across the top of the shell.
6. Olympia Traveler T015
Period: 1968
Features: QUERTZ layout, new reading ribbon
Price: $60
This is a portable typewriter model that was produced by the German company Olympia from ’68 into the 1980s. It is in good functional condition, with a new reading ribbon.
7. J. C. Penny Penncrest Caravelle 10
Period: 1970s
Features: Functional, will need new ribbon
Price: $90
This model comes in its original case (which is only mildly challenging to open) with its original manual and in fully functioning condition. It is in good cosmetic condition.
8. SCM Smith-Corona Electra 120
Period: 1970s
Features: Functional
Price: $50
Unlike the 1960 Smith-Corona model farther up, this ‘70s model is from Smith-Corona as a subsidiary of SCM. This piece is in good condition, tested as functional.
9. Vendex 750 Corn Blue
Period: 1960s
Features: In excellent functioning condition
Price: $132
This is an awesome compact typewriter in a nice corn blue color. It is clean, in good functioning condition, and excellent cosmetic condition.
10. Rover 1000 T035
Period: 1970s
Features: Bright, vivid coloring!
Price: $67
It will be impossible to miss this brightly colored typewriter adding a dash of style to your room or table. It’s in functional condition, the only issue being the letter T skips a spot after it … so “letter” looks like “let t er”.
III) Vintage Royal Typewriters
1. Model No. 1
Period: 1900s
Features: New ribbon & freshly oiled keys!
Price: $650
One of the first models produced by Royal Typewriter Company, this piece would have sold for $65 in the early 1900s (about $2,000 today). This particular model is in excellent repair, it’s been cared for lovingly.
2. Royal P series
Period: 1920-27
Features: Excellent condition, seems to be functional
Price: $950
This is a lovely brown-ombre Royal typewriter, a classy 1920s style with original case. It appears to be fully functional, with keys, carriage, & ribbon reels all moving smoothly.
3. Model P in Red Crackle Lacquer
Period: 1928
Features: Brand new ribbon, excellent functional condition
Price: $475
This typewriter model was a signature piece during the 1920s and 30s. This piece is in excellent condition functionally, and only minor wear cosmetically.
4. Royal KMM
Period: 1940s
Features: Fully serviced and functional
Price: $900-945
A particularly popular tabletop model through the 1940s and 50s, the Royal KMM could be found from offices to schools to homes. This one is in good vintage condition, fully functioning.
5. Quiet De Luxe Portable
Period: 1953
Features: Good functioning condition
Price: $248
This portable Royal typewriter comes in its original case – still ready to travel around with you (side note: the key is missing). It is in good cosmetic and functional condition.
6. Senior Companion in Silver-Grey
Period: 1954
Features: New ribbon, smooth functions
Price: $245
This is an excellent model in near-perfect cosmetic shape. The functionality is also great, except a small note of the backspace being slightly touchy.
7. Model HH in Coral Rose
Period: 1954
Features: Elite type, new ribbon
Price: $245
A solid tabletop typewriter that is in excellent functional condition. This model features green keys to mix it up from the typical black or white background.
8. Quiet De Luxe Portable in Teal
Period: 1957
Features: New ribbon, no sticky keys
Price: $575
Another excellent variant of the Quiet De Luxe line by Royal, this one in a bright teal shade. It is in excellent condition functionally (no sticky keys, major plus!) and good cosmetic condition with no major dings or dents.
9. Model P in Crackled Blue
Period: 1950s
Features: Fully serviced and functional
Price: $600
A beautiful deep blue coloring makes this typewriter stand out. It is a portable Royal, with the case included. It has been serviced and is ready to use!
IV) Vintage Portable Typewriters
1. Corona No.3 Folding
Period: 1917
Features: Folds for compact transport, functional condition
Price: $569
This is a lovely miniature typewriter from a company that would eventually become one-half of Smith-Corona. This model is rare to find in functional condition is they are light-weight and prone to suffer under time’s wear easier; however, this one is in excellent condition overall.
2. Remington No.2
Period: 1928
Features: New carriage return, rubber feet, & ribbon with original case
Price: $495
The ‘20s are typically hallmarked by black machines with golden highlights—this one mixes it up with a burgundy finish in unusually good condition. The mechanics have all been serviced with minor replacements and are now in full functional condition.
3. Remington Portable No.2
Period: 1920s
Features: Good functional condition
Price: $200
On the older side of the spectrum, this Remington model is an early portable typewriter. It is in good condition: there is understandably some surface wear and the ink printing fades down the letters, but it is in overall operable condition!
4. Mercedes Prima
Period: 1936
Features: Fully serviced and functional
Price: $660
This typewriter comes with a sense of humor—and a mechanical man prepared to assist your workflow (check to the right in picture). Mercedes was a Swiss brand, different than the car brand Mercedes-Benz. This machine is in good condition overall, newly refurbished mechanically and fully functional.
5. Underwood Leader in Atomic Blue
Period: 1950s
Features: Original case & in working condition
Price: $178
A Mid-Century Moderne design in a sleek blue and black color scheme makes this typewriter a stylish accessory for any writing purpose. This typewriter is in functional condition and comes in its original case. Both case and machine have minimal wear and are in excellent vintage condition!
6. Halda P
Period: 1950s
Features: QWERTY layout, no sticky keys
Price: $272
Designed by Carl Malmsten and made in Sweden, this is a nontypical typewriter brand. The keyboard features Swedish additions to the usual Latin alphabet. The machine is fully functional, in good cosmetic condition.
7. Remington Mark II for Sperry Rand
Period: 1969
Features: Fully functional
Price: $150
A Space Age design straight-out of 1960s sci-fi, this is a classy looking machine. The typewriter is fully functional and in good cosmetic condition.
8. Erika 10
Period: 1960s
Features: Fully serviced and cleaned
Price: $592
A typewriter made by VEB Schreibmaschinenwerke in Dresden, Germany. There are only mild aesthetic flaws (slight dents) but the machine is fully functional, it is in overall excellent shape.
9. Royal Portable in Safari Blue
Period: 1960s
Features: Needs ribbon and some key tuning
Price: $100
Another Royal Portable, this time in safari blue and white. The original case and manual are included. The cosmetic state is great, but the mechanics on this one will need some help: the ribbon needs replacing, and certain keys don’t strike consistently.
10. Olympia Traveller De Luxe
Period: 1970s
Features: Fully serviced and functional
Price: $300
This is a lovely green and white portable typewriter. It is freshly serviced and ready for use, still with its original suitcase.
11. Royal Litton 200
Period: 1970s
Features: Small design with new ribbon, fully functional
Price: $182
Compact design, happy coloring, and an unusual keyboard featuring Hungarian letters all set this Royal portable typewriter apart. The machine is fully functional and specialist-checked, in good cosmetic condition.
12. Royal Epoch
Period: Pre-2000
Features: Functional & clean, with case intact.
Price: $150
A nice, clean & straight-forward typewriter in functional condition.
V) Vintage Cast Iron Typewriters
1. Underwood 5
Period: 1918
Features: New ribbon, Elite typeface, fully functional
Price: $349
The Underwood No.5 is by and large considered the quintessential typewriter, it is the model that set the standards for how a typical typewriter looked and functioned for decades after. This machine is functional, with a new universal ribbon installed.
2. Underwood 5 #2
Period: 1920s
Features: Fully restored and functional
Price: $1250-1295
Another classical Underwood No.5, this machine has been restored to full functionality.
3. Underwood No.4
Period: 1930
Features: Excellent display typewriter, repair is possible
Price: $350
This is a classic-looking machine with a QUERTY layout and black-and-gold design. It has a few mechanical challenges currently so it is being sold as a display piece, it is possible that the machine could be returned to functional condition again though.
4. Royal 104
Period: 1931
Features: New ribbon, fully functional
Price: $699
An earlier typewriter, this solidly constructed table-topper is in royally fine condition. It is fully functional, with a new universal ribbon that will make for easy future replacements.
5. Remington Rand
Period: 1939
Features: In working condition: all keys function accurately, and carriages moves easily
Price: $235
In fully functioning condition, with the typical amount of surface wear and nothing more, this is a lovely machine in overall great vintage condition.
6. Royal Magic Margin
Period: 1939-40
Features: In working condition
Price: $185
The original sales company’s sticker is still attached, one Bulmer Typewriter Company at 368 University W. This machine is in overall good condition, fully functional.
7. Royal KMM
Period: 1940s
Features: Oversized carriage, technically functional but needs restoration
Price: $266
This cast iron typewriter features an oversized carriage for landscape-orientation typing, as well as a proudly displayed “Made in Canada” sign. It technically types but needs replacement parts and work to do so smoothly.
8. Remington KMC
Period: 1940s
Features: Technically functional, but needs a bit of TLC
Price: $50
The surface areas of this typewriter are all in good condition with minimal wear, the mechanics mostly function but have a few quirks that need to be sorted … plus a good oiling & cleaning!
9. L. C. Smith
Period: Early 20th century
Features: Works well but needs new ribbon
Price: $200
This model is from after the Smith-Corona merger … but before they started producing typewriters under the joint name. This sturdy machine is in good condition; with a good cleaning and new ribbon, it will be all set to go!
VI) Decorative Vintage Typewriters
1. Underwood Portable
Period: 1910s
Features: n/a
Price: $140
A beautifully designed portable typewriter, a bit of cleaning and it’s ready for display!
2. Simplex Model A
Period: 1924
Features: n/a
Price: $12
This is a typewriter, it’s just a very different design than what became industry norm. On this machine, the next letter is chosen by spinning the wheel around—like a rotary phone—then pressing down to print the letter. This one is non-functional, but a great display piece with an interesting history!
3. Remington No.3
Period: 1929
Features: Space bar doesn’t function
Price: $150
A deep blue cosmetic appeal grounds this typewriter and makes for an excellent display piece. The mechanical side doesn’t operate fully, it would be a project piece to make functional again.
4. Underwood No.3
Period: 1920s
Features: Keys, rollers, etc. seem to work; repair may be possible
Price: $377
This is a lovely Underwood machine in excellent repair, aside from the fact that it is currently non-functional. But, for either display or a enthusiast’s project—this is a great piece!
5. Underwood Standard
Period: 1920s
Features: n/a
Price: $650
Chrome edging, original stickers, and an elegant 1920s design—this Underwood machine is an amazing display piece.
6. Royal Signet Senior
Period: 1934
Features: n/a
Price: $110
In a nice deep blue color, this typewriter stands out from the crowd! It is not fully functional, but in excellent cosmetic condition & perfect for display.
7. Continental 340
Period: 1930s
Features: Challenged returns—most keys are sticky
Price: $243
It is possible this machine could function again, but it would need quite a bit of restoration. The keys need revamping, ribbon needs replacing, and overall, a good oiling and cleaning. It is a classic looking piece with great character for display or overhaul though!
8. Royal Quiet De Luxe
Period: 1940s
Features: Space bar carriage string broken
Price: $125
A Royal De Luxe line machine in excellent cosmetic condition, with its original case. Ready for display!
9. Smith-Corona Sterling
Period: 1954
Features: Cleaned, not restored or refurbished
Price: $250
Mid-century style in beige & cream sets this typewriter as a classy office display. It is not currently in functional condition, although it does have potential….
10. Tom Thumb Children’s Typewriter
Period: 1950s
Features: No ribbon or case
Price: $75
A charming child-size typewriter in a mint & turquoise color scheme. This piece is non-operable but very cute for display!
11. Remington Monarch
Period: 1963
Features: Carriage stalls & keys need oiling, remedial project perhaps?
Price: $125
This machine has potential, but it needs some TLC. The surface has rust spots, while the carriage and keys are troubled currently.
12. Sears’ Tower Capri
Period: 1970s
Features: Feed rollers malfunctioning
Price: $165
This is, more or less, a clone of the Remington Streamliner also in production during this era. This machine is functionally challenged due to initial design and not particularly keen to operate again, so it is a better display piece! But for display, it is awesome—the color is striking, and the cosmetic condition is excellent.
