Repartee wrote:

TypewriterKing wrote:

The legendary Royal HH--very good typers--solid, rugged, reliable, will outlast you and your grandkids. These machines are tanks, but most of them are colored in that drab brown with green keys....

I have had bad luck with the Royal HH and FP - I may have five total now, but only one reached me in working condition however they started out. One FP is a real typewriter tragedy, but I may tell that story another day. Not saying they are not rugged machines, just that personally I've had bad luck.

As for collectability, unless you are aiming to flip them and care about what the market thinks that would seem to be purely subjective, and when I love a machine that nobody seems much interested in at the moment so much the better. I like a shiny mechanical work of art as much as the next person but I also love the tramp typewriters of the world that were just unobtrusively doing a job of work for many years in some back office, battered but still banging away. Ironically battered looking typewriters sometimes are in better mechanical condition than the barely used ones, depending on how the latter have been stored. At least if a typewriter had to work for a living it had to have some maintenance to keep it working.
 

I've long been a champion of the underdog myself--and sometimes these Royal HH and FP machines fit that bill.  I've found some that were total wrecks, and have managed to resurrect them.  But, I see what you mean about the "tramp typewriters."  I have a whole bunch of those that have been heavily used and are in very good mechanical shape--like a 1947 Remington KMC that was formerly used at Fort Hood, Texas.  I know it was a military typewriter because of so many names on the inside--including one that was from December, 1947!  I'm NOT selling that one--too much soul.  Besides, I put blank keytops on it, so if you go to typing on that one, you better be able to touch-type because NONE of the keys has anything on them to say which type bar they're connected to.  I used to call it the "blind bat" because of that, but since they're gray, I thought of one day painting the machine with medium blue in some spots, with a little gray and black to look like Batman.  The print is somewhat crooked, like a lot of Remingtons I've owned, but again, I'm not going to try to change that because that's part of that machine's personality.  And, right now, long as I have it, there is a ribbon that types blue.  It looks cool, and I'm going to use it till it runs out of ink.
 

Repartee wrote:

TypewriterKing wrote:

 I've long been a champion of the underdog myself--and sometimes these Royal HH and FP machines fit that bill. I've found some that were total wrecks, and have managed to resurrect them. But, I see what you mean about the "tramp typewriters." I have a whole bunch of those that have been heavily used and are in very good mechanical shape--like a 1947 Remington KMC that was formerly used at Fort Hood, Texas. I know it was a military typewriter because of so many names on the inside--including one that was from December, 1947! I'm NOT selling that one--too much soul .... I'm going to use it till it runs out of ink.
 

Well I'm glad you agree with me on the avenue of aesthetics "battered but unbroken". Popular theme in other areas, why not typewriters?

Another recently acquired Remington had a similar in history to the Super-Riter shown: single owner since the 1940's, sadly sold off when the old lady, in the way of nature, died. The dirt on the Super-Riter was kid stuff compared to the grime on the outside of this number 17, yet improbably it also seemed well maintained and worked very well. Maybe better than the newer model.  I'd like to think the old woman used it to the last but near the end could not see very well, "near" being a relative term, like maybe since the 1990's. It was after all black to start with. I finally did clean some of the grime off to make it a little more presentable but I hope I left enough in the crevices to leave it personality. A kind thank you note to the seller generated the idea that I had got a "deal". In a way I had but I assured him not in the sense of the marketplace, which had not fully awakened to the charm of such machines. That too was the way I learned the machine's history.

A lot of the machines I've gotten have such backstories.  These are my special machines--regardless of their collectibility or how sought after they may be or not be.  Me, I really don't look at such things.  The reason I put this thread out there was to see which machines are popular--I myself have no general idea.  I'm just a tinker who has an interest in typewriters, seeing them as being more than just implements that pile letters on paper--much more.  As you said, the marketplace isn't fully awakened to the charm of the "battered but not broken" machines.  The marketplace is cold and unfeeling--interested only in what profits in money it can generate.  The only way they could conceivably be awakened to such a phenomena is to see whether or not it sells--that's the bottom line--in all senses.

In my mind, anyway, just about every typewriter has a backstory.  It is this very reason why I started, and continue to collect typewriters.  I don't care how collectible one machine is over another, or even it it is in like-new condition.  Again, some of my best and most loved typewriters have seen many miles, and are lovingly cleaned and oiled and newly ribboned often.  Battered and charred they may look, but it's these old relics that will probably outlive the both of us.
 

TypewriterKing wrote:

In my mind, anyway, just about every typewriter has a backstory. It is this very reason why I started, and continue to collect typewriters. I don't care how collectible one machine is over another, or even it it is in like-new condition.

Spot on. Or at least I definitely agree with you.

Typewriters are machines that last for so long they´re bound to have a backstory. I have quite a few of them with good stories that make me feel "forced" to keep them working as a sign of respect. A good example is a Brother Valiant which has travelled all around the world (literally), is quite battered but it still works at its best after I´ve replaced a ribbon spool. The backstory of a machine is part of its... personality. I mean, maybe I´m going a bit too far with this, but I perceive typewriters as distinct individuals. Each one has its own features, backstory and little details that make them unique. That´s why I think every typewriter is good for me, all of them bring something different along. This is where the original question of the post comes back:

Who´s to say what is collectable and what not? And why?

Honestly, I think it´s a mix of personal preference and history. There are typewriter models with so much history on them that they´re always a good addition to any collection and for sure anyone (I´m not limiting it only to collectors) would appreciate its value. History cannot be contested (mostly), and I think it´s safe to say that the Underwood 5 is a more relevant model than the Silver Reed S200. That has collecting value by itself, I´d say.

But in the end it´s up to yourself to decide. What if I don´t like the Underwood 5? Or what if I prefer the Remington 10 over it? Or what if I simply hate the Royal 10 because they betrayed the cool design of the Flatbed? What if I... whatever? That question is the answer: I decide, you decide, everyone decides. And I´d like to send a clear message aimed at overpriced and trendy typewriters: EXPENDABLE. There are always better options out there. Do you want a colourful portable? Skip the Valentines and pink Pluma 22´s and go for the Olympia Traveller de Luxe, which comes in white, green, orange, blue and pink and you can get five of them for the price of a cheap Valentine.

I view collecting as something to enjoy, not a business. You don´t need ultra-expensive typewriters to have a nice collection. In fact, any collection is a good one! Of course, I wish I could afford outlandish stuff like Pittsburghs, Crandalls and Writing Balls (why not?), but it´s not for its monetary value. I enjoy the little details of every machine, and a Lambert is more interesting than a Olivetti ET109.

After all this blabber, I´m going to make it even worse: Are we talking about the best typewriters or the most collectible? A Valentine is more collectible according to the "market" than an Olympia TdL, but if you want a Good Portable in Capitals I´d go for an Olivetti Lettera 32.

So, I´m going to make a list which combines typewriters I have tried and my wishlist. That should give a good idea on what I value as "collectible", but ultimately I´d like having basically every typewriter model in the world.

1.- Adler 7 (Beautiful thrust action machine, ultra-durable)
2.- Continental Silenta (Best silent typewriter evah!)
3.- Fox 23 (Great think-out-of-the-box typewriter)
4.- Olivetti M1 (At the top of my wishlist)
5.- Olympia SG1 (Er...)
6.- Optima M10 (Tremble before me, SG1!)
7.- Remington 10 (A classic)
8.- Royal 5 (Over the 10!)
9.- Underwood 5 (THE Classic)

As I´m writing this, I find it more and more unfair. I really can´t choose!

Bottom line, then: Look for a blend of historical value and performance, and filter it through your personal preference.

TypewriterKing wrote:

To be honest, I was looking for, well, I really wasn't all that sure, since I've done all my typewriter collecting from a hole in the ground, with no regard to what was "in," or "expensive," or "popular." I wondered what was in these categories. Like anything else, there are those who collect typewriters as some collect record albums, dolls, and coins--strictly for the monetary value. Now, I can tell you if you go into collecting typewriters for their value, be prepared to have a lot of real estate to house them. Also, like back in the early days of typewriter invention, the quickest way to lose money and go broke is to get into the typewriter business. I've been in it strictly for the enjoyment of it, and in the process, met alot of distinct individuals--both human and typewriter.

Totally agree! The most important part of collecting should be enjoying it.

As for trendy, overpriced and other undesirable stuff around me... here we go:

1.- Olivetti Valentine (A pity it has to be that way...)
2.- Bubblegum pink Olivetti Pluma 22 (or Lettera 22, depending on where you are).
3.- Underwood Universal (A bad surprise, this one)
4.- Olympia Traveler de Luxe (the curved one, not the colorful. Usually found at 5 x its price)

And I should mention the Underwood 5. In Spain it´s ridiculously overpriced taking into account how common it is. It´s hard to find it below 120 €, and it sometimes becomes insulting at over 400 €. Oh, and condition is irrelevant. Be ready to spend a lot in a rust bucket, according to the "market"
 

The earlier Universals, sadly. Somehow, it happens more or less the same as with the Underwood 5: they are far from rare, but people have decided they look like being awfully expensive. But why? Is it because the Underwood badge makes it more collectible? Even machines without the ribbon cover (a common disease, that one) ar found at outrageous prices. I think it is a matter of inertia. People find these typewriters offered (and never sold) at an outrsgeous price and everyone folows the trend.

As for the Olympia, bullseye! It is that machine, and IMVHO it never should go over 10 - 15 €. Not the worst typewriter of the world, but an insult to other Olympias like the little Splendid 33. Thing is you consistently bump into them at 60 €...