Over the past century, more than three hundred kinds of typewriters have been produced. As time passed on, as it does, more complex and advanced models were introduced. Made of different materials with a variety of features, typewriters quickly became an administrative staple.
With the onset of computers and the Internet typewriters became obsolete overnight. This made for a great opportunity for collectors, as some typewriters are valuable collectables. No longer found at office equipment stores, they are commonplace at auctions and real estate sales.
If you are liquidating your estate and come across your grandfather’s old typewriter in the attic, don’t get too excited quite yet. Remember typewriters were mass produced on a very grand scale and are still far from rare. Be sure to get an expert appraisal from an experienced estate sales associate before you start counting your money.
When on the other side, avoid getting swindled when you are purchasing an antique typewriter. A sure fire way to ensure you aren’t getting ripped off is cross checking the brand name as well as serial and model numbers. Crandall, Edison Mimeograph, Keaton Music and Hammond are all popular and established names in the industry of collectible typewriters. Serial and model numbers on the machine will confirm when it was produced, features and how much it is actually worth.
When getting your typewriter properly appraised, you will receive a written document disclosing its condition and the dollar amount of value. With prices and value of antiques constantly changing, it’s important to have hard proof of the value of your collectible typewriter. Therefore, whether you choose to keep it, pass it along to family, or sell it at an estate sale you and all interested parties are in the know.