Mark Twain briefly played around with a Sholes & Glidden. Nietzsche is reported to have disliked his Hansen. Many young people today have never used one, though its legacy lives on today in the computer's "qwerty" keyboard.
We are, of course, talking about one of the most important innovations in office machines, the typewriter.
Though inventors had been working on various writing machines since at least the 18th century, the first commercially produced machines are generally considered the Hansen "writing ball" and the Sholes & Glidden "type-writer."
Somewhat resembling a brass pin cushion, the Hansen writing ball was manufactured in Denmark from 1870 until 1890. Several hundred were produced, but few have survived, making the Hansen writing ball the "holy grail" of collecting. And though the Hansen ball was actually faster than a regular keyboard machine, it eventually lost the commercial race to the Sholes & Glidden typewriter manufactured by the Remington gun company (New York) beginning in 1874.
The first Sholes & Gliddens were not entirely "user friendly." A series of improvements were made in the years up to 1877, when it began to be marketed under the Sholes & Glidden "Perfected"/Remington No. 1 nameplates, but still only some 5000 machines had been sold by 1878 when it was replaced with the legendary Remington No. 2, considered the "archetype of the typewriter."
The eventual success of the Remington No. 2 stimulated innovators everywhere, and hundreds of different typewriters were patented and marketed until the 1930's, when manufacturers more or less adopted standard designs. Collectors consider this period - between 1874 and 1930 - the "Golden Age" of typewriters. In fact, so many different designs were developed during this period that some collectors spend their lives attempting to acquire one specimen of each.
The secondary markets for old typewriters are in a state of flux. The machine is not yet completely obsolete, and a few manufacturers are still producing them. Many offices still have them on hand to print the odd-shaped document, and small portables are handy if you're up a creek without an electric outlet or a spare battery pack for your laptop. (It's easy to visualize a Henry David Thoreau of today sitting by a pond somewhere, pecking away at his Olivetti.) As the typewriter gradually fades into history, however, more collectors around the globe are beginning to recognize the historical importance, innovation, and beauty in the old "writing machines."
So what are old typewriters worth? One-of-a-kind prototypes and rarities like the Hansen ball discussed earlier can easily command thousands of dollars at auction. (In 2002, a Hansen fetched 120,000 Euros!) And a Sholes & Glidden can sell for up to $5000. But in the world of typewriters, "old" does not necessarily mean "valuable." Machines were built to last and many are a lot more common than most people realize. For example, the Underwood 5 (1901-1931) was manufactured in such numbers that only those in excellent condition are worth more than a few dollars.
One possible area for the new collector deals with small portables. Many of these were sold in the mid 20th century and are considered "sleeper" collectibles by some. They can be found everywhere, are extremely inexpensive, but have the potential to increase in value, especially if accompanied by their cases and manuals.
Don't have room for a typewriter collection? Ribbon tins - advertising gems that take up little space - are just one type of ancillary collectible.
Interested in learning more about collectible typewriters? Check out the resources listed below, and
All About Antique Typewriters (link) - Topics include Why Collect? How Many Different Kinds Are There? What's Hot; What's Not? More!
Antique Typewriter Collecting (link) - Info on collecting, plus check out the pictorial gallery, time line, and Classic Typewriter Classifieds.
The Classic Typewriter Page (link) - Very informative site offers an illustrated history, tips on basic restoration, special pages devoted to Remington portables, list of sites where you can visit collections of vintage and antiques typewriters, links, more!
ETCetera - Journal of the Early Typewriter Collectors' Association (link) - Quarterly full-color magazine devoted to "historic writing machines." Check out the free-sample download.
The International Rasmus Malling-Hansen Society (link) - All about the Hansen Writing Ball and its inventor.
The Portable Typewriter Reference Site (link) - Covers just about every portable you can think of!
The Ribbon Tin Connection (link) - Darryl Rehr's site for those who'd like to know more about - ribbon tins!
Typwriters (link) - Will Davis' Master Index Page. Portal to several sites all dealing with typewriters!
The Virtual Typewriter Museum (link) - Highly informative site arranges collection by Brand, Timeline, type (Keyboard, Index). And check out the sections on Related Collectibles and Typewriter Art.
About the author:
Michele Alice is EcommerceBytes Update Contributing Editor. Michele is a freelance writer in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. She collects books, science fiction memorabilia and more! Email her at makalice @ adelphia.net eBay ID: Malice9
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