What is My Typewriter Worth?

The infamous response to the age-old question “What is my typewriter worth?” is typically something to the tune of “Whatever someone is willing to pay for it.” While this witty rebuttal is technically correct, the question remains in ambiguity, with no further insight instilled. Therefore, one must ask “What is someone willing to pay for my typewriter?”

To determine what someone is willing to pay, four factors must be considered: Model, Special Options, Condition of Finish, and Completeness. These factors influence the desirability and value of any particular typewriter.

Model

Identifying a particular model is the simplest way to roughly estimate a typewriter’s value without any additional information. Some models, including first models and early iterations, tend to be more historically significant, often possessing features not found on later iterations. Additionally, every model was produced in different quantities, yielding some models to have few surviving examples today.

Special Options

Special options furnished by special order include long carriages, alternate finishes, alternate key top colors, and special keyboard layouts.

Condition of Finish

The condition of original decals, paint, and plating defines the overall condition of a machine. The more surface rust a machines has, the worse condition the decals tend to be. Note that a machine refinished by a dealer or other third party no longer retains its factory finish or decals, diminishing its desirability and value.

Completeness

A machine with broken or missing parts is naturally considered in worse condition than if all parts were intact. Because missing or broken parts can be remedied by replacing them with parts salvaged from a parts machine, a machine’s completeness may have less of an influence on desirability and value than previous factors.

Current Market Trends

While the information above provides useful insight, it remains somewhat theoretical. A more practical way to determine a specific model's value is by examining realized sale prices. The table below displays the minimum, maximum, and average sale prices based on data collected from various online auctions and private sales. Because sale data is limited for certain models, future prices may exceed the given ranges. As more data is collected, updates will be made to the table accordingly.