Welcome to the forum! I encourage you to add your location to your profile; given this is an international forum it makes it easier to talk about things such as selling prices when the geographical region is known.

1. I don't know if it's unheard of, but in my area to pay that kind of money for a regular L.C. Smith standard from that era would be borderline insane.  I think more details are required. Is there anything special about the typewriter? Which model are we talking about?

2. Given that I don't know which model you're asking about it, I can't comment on whether or not it originally came with a case.

3. If this is your first typewriter purchase, I wouldn't ask the seller anything. I'd move on and buy an inexpensive machine for around $50 that is in working condition. The most I've ever spent for a working L.C. Smith standard - in my area - was $55 CDN. Granted it was a 1935 model, and not one from 1914, but that really shouldn't make a lot of difference in the machine's value.

 

Uwe wrote:

1. I don't know if it's unheard of, but in my area to pay that kind of money for a regular L.C. Smith standard from that era would be borderline insane.

Your post came in while I was typing, and I think it is a better answer; I think I was too tempered. "Borderline insane" is much closer to how I feel about a $1400 L.C. Smith.

Also, I came across this typewriter/seller on ebay... in both of your opinions, (1) is this machine in good shape based on the pictures/what is written about it and (2) is the price for the machine justified?

For the Royal, the guy seems to push the envelope of what the market will bear; and he knows how to take complimentary pictures.  I have the same machine in similar tuned, and clean condition I picked up for a small fraction of that listing; and is a very good typer "right out of the box" as they say.  With the shipping cost, the eBay listing is close to a $900 investment and the platen is still the old one.  I planned, and do, use mine a lot so I went the extra mile to have the platen recovered.  While it's not absolutely required, a hard platen is hard on keys and much noisier than one that's up to spec.

Like waiting for the vintage truck or car, the key is patience and separating the high ballers from the more reasonable deals.

The Achilles's heel of eBay on heavy items is the shipping.  Not so much the cost but does the other end know what they're doing.  Many a machine has been knocked around, destroyed, or bent from well intentioned but woefully inadequate packaging.  I bought a decent 50's Hermes at a good price long distance, but it was seriously beat up in shipping.  The seller was heartbroken, just no clue. Newsprint and foam peanuts aren't enough.  Insurance covered it, and the chassis was donated to a repair shop for parts.  eBay, and craigslist are good indicators for value, and joining groups like this and on Facebook are other avenues for becoming aware of value versus collectability.  Visit 2nd hand stores, consignment shops,(now AKA antique malls), swap meets, flea markets.  It's kinda fun.  I picked up a real nice 40's Remington Quiet Deluxe portable for $20 at an automotive swap meet.  The case was muddy, the machine covered in a haze of dirt, but at the end of the day the guy wanted it gone. From $50 to $20 is not a bad deal.  Some cleaning brought the shine out, it only needed some lube as the innerds were still clean and it types and looks practically new.  I can see maybe to buy a really nice 1920's to 1940's machine, refurbished to type ready condition is gonna cost, $150-$350?  For me something a few bucks and TLC is more my liking; then if it needs expert attention, supporting the local typewriter repair is good too.