Yes, we need this trend to go away. That's one depressing picture, Brian!

I love the beauty of an aged typewriter.  But if it still works, I would paint it if its in that bad of shape.  I wonder why kind of paint is used in repainting a typewriter?  Would you spray paint the pieces or use a brush.  I just saw a Royal KMM Standard that was in terrible shape.  Pretty bad.  I didn't buy it the antique shop was asking too much money, and I look for a working machine, this needed a lot of work.  I would have repainted it at some point had I bought it, it was pretty bad.  

Retro-Z wrote:

If the machine is in poor condition, there are really only two options:

1. Part it out. Yes, this means destroying a typewriter, but its parts may help dozens of other machines continue on in functional condition. Economically, this is also a better option if the machine would need some serious restoration. To anyone who needs parts to repair a vintage typewriter, this is where they come from.

2. Restore it. This will cost a LOT of money and time, so it's generally only worth it if the typewriter is a rare or desirable model (not always the same thing...). Personally, I think it would be cool to restore something like a pre-1930 open frame standard typewriter model like an Underwood No. 6, and paint it in a bright color (like yellow, red, turquoise blue, green, etc.). Those typewriters are gorgeous machines, and it's a pity they are all BLACK. 

This is all good, true advice unless you are someone like me and you can't stand to see a single machine destroyed, even if it is for parts. Boy, do I get a thrill whenever I fix a previously nonfunctional machine, rare or otherwise ;)

I know that judging by the dates on these posts, I'm getting into this conversation a little bit late, but the stories and pictures I've been exposed to about keychopped machines really tug at my heart.  It sure seems a crying waste.  I wonder if they're still doing this in 2016, and if so, has it gotten any worse or has it tapered off?  Anyway, I still envision finding one of these lost and foundlings either in a dumpster or alongside it, rescuing it, and having the parts it would take to fix it back to either its original glory or something close.  Who knows, maybe I'd throw a nice coat or two of paint on it after I fixed it up and gave it a new lease on life.  As soon as this happens, and as soon as I get situated with being able to post pictures and as soon as I find such a machine.  

I might just do that.  Though, Paddington Bear as I am, I've never bought anything online except through WalMart when I got my last Air Conditioner.  I've yet to look into PayPal and how to use it.  I do understand that the price they stamp on the machines they sell online does not include shipping charges.  If they're too high, I might have to take a few weeks to save my sheckles so I can buy something interesting to fix.  Plus, I could also look locally to see if there are any machines tore up in this fashion thrown in the dumpster.  Either way, I'll let everyone know just what happened, and how I plan to fix it.  Also, while I'm on the topic, I don't think there's anything wrong with repainting a machine.  One or two others on this forum have even said there really isn't much out there that would suffer value-wise, unless the machine is in pristine shape, or if it was a very very early make, like, say, a Hammond or one of them.  In fact, I am sort of in the planning stages of painting several of my machines that need it desperately.  What's more, I PLAN to paint them deliberately other colors besides their original factory coats (how many of these have we seen?) .  This will take awhile, along with taking pictures and putting them online.  I hope to dazzle everyone with my creations.