How Much Is It Worth?

A reader writes:

i have 3 antique typewrites that i would like to know the value of them.

  • webster shows no date in good condition
  • royal deluxe no date in good condition
  • olivetti underwood do date in good condition

they still all are in their cases

I’m afraid that appraising typewriters isn’t one of my specialities, but I’ll be of what help I can.

Since the monetary value of an item is based on the perceived utility it has in the eyes of its potential market, what you really need to do is determine what someone would pay for this, and there’s a quick way to do that: Put them on eBay and see what they sell for.

Of course, if they sell then you’ve got to give them to the person who bought them (or eBay will have your house burned down).

If you don’t want to sell them just yet but just want to get an idea then the thing to do is look at the prices of similar items that have recently been sold on eBay (not ones that people are still bidding on, since many people do what I do and wait until the last second to place a bid so as to minimize the chance of being outbid by someone else).

eBay really is the place to go for getting an idea of the market value of things like this. I heard an interview with an appraiser a while back talking about the fact that eBay has become the standard for accurate values these days, whereas before there were inefficient, market-constraining books that didn’t give you that good of an idea.

You could also try to find an antiques appraiser in your area (who will better be able to tell you if you’ve got a rare model on your hands–and thus whether you should set a special minimum price when you sell them on eBay) or go on the Antiques Roadshow if you can find where it’s being taped.

THERE’S ALSO AN ONLINE ANTIQUES APPRAISAL SERVICE HERE.

If you use it, be sure to include as much information about the typewriters as possible–including their model numbers.

Oh, and you could probably find some of those old appraiser’s books. Maybe you could get them on eBay!

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

11 thoughts on “How Much Is It Worth?”

  2. Because people know me more and more as a fine artist, I now get occasional requests to appraise antique paintings, or do art restoration work, which is a whole ‘nuther animal.
    Being a writer, I guess people figure Jimmy would be an antique typewriter enthusiast.
    Oddly enough, I watched Stephen King’s “Misery” last night, wherein an antique typewriter figures prominently.
    You know, Jimmy… I’m your number one fan…

  3. What software is installed on each? Do they come with a monitor?
    🙂
    Sigh, I learned to type on a typewriter. I have only seen two since.

  4. When I was on The Antiques Roadshow, one of the items I brought was my grandfather’s antique typewriter, which I thought was unique because it folded up and fit in a carrying case.
    Turns out that may be unique but that’s not what can make an antique typewriter valuable. The appraisers said that what makes antique typewriters valuable is when they don’t actually look like typewriters. I guess there were some strange-looking early models and those are the most collectible.
    They did say that there is a market for antique typewriters with companies who might want to incorporate it into an “antique look” for a reception area or showroom. My typewriter, as a decorative piece, was worth about $75-$100.

  5. Hah, I’ve seen a couple of requests here for help and wondered, “Why’d they write Jimmy Akin about this?” But I did enjoy those posts! I say, keep surprising us. 🙂
    Typewriters. That’s another retro thing I’ve been missing. I grew up using typewriters and my first was one of those completely manual kinds where you had to hammer the keys.
    It feels wrong not to have one in the house. If I were a better typist, I’d definitely buy one.
    I’m one of the new generation of typists who is spoiled by the Backspace key, mouse, Del key, etc. tho. I can type lighting fast, don’t get me wrong. But I developed the habit of typing lighting fast ever since mistakes didn’t really matter so much.

  7. Jimmy,
    A little off-topic. I have been reading on this internet thingy about many Catholics who are, shall we say, a bit skeptical about evolution. But the Church says faith and science are natural friends, can’t contradict each other.
    So I notice, over the last year, your many articles about markets and efficiency. And I think to myself how many Catholics I know fear the market and the idea of free markets and efficiency as somehow inimical to the obligation to help the poor.
    This here typrewriter post made me think of it. Have you ever thought about a series on the fundamentalist influence on Catholic thought? It seems that fear of the sciences of geology, biology and astrophysics, as well as fear of the “science” of economics gets some Catholics needlessy wrapped around the axle, about discoveries or theories in those fields somehow contradicting Catholic teaching.
    Along the lines of your post on how extending life, even hundreds of years, or ‘indefinitely’ would not be anathama. Seriously, I’ve read Catholics saying that we can’t do it – it would disprove “The wages of sin is death” and bring mass atheism. YOur post about “ultimate” mortality via supernova or whatnot was great.
    Anyway, just a question/suggestion. I’m not afraid of evolution or the big bang, or free markets – but it is nice to have good concise pieces of writing already saved on the hardrive…especially when someone else writes them 🙂

  8. They would be worth a fortune if a letter about George Bush shirking his National Guard duty were still in them. You know, left accidentally after 35 years. CBS would pay big bucks…..

  11. Wow…please help here…need name of good broker in SF area.. have 17 manual typewriters (inherited from Dad whom thought they’d be need in nuclear war -haha) All ranges Underwood, Royal, etc. even have one that has a carriage which would fit a mimeograph stenciler (remember those – had 3 of these too).
    Any help appreciated as am widow w/2 small children and 3 house fulls of antiques(crammed now into one house) to find homes for and limited time to investigate best opportunity to sell. I’ve been told to scrap these just to clear up clutter but am so reluctant to destroy these remnants of yesterday.
    please send info to BOCHoney@yahoo.com

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