Portable typewriters by Underwood, Remington, Olympia, Smith Corona, Hermes, Olivetti, Royal, and Imperial. Each typewriter assessed for model, era, colour, working condition, and completeness.
Vintage typewriters have surged in collector demand. The right model in the right colour can be worth £100–£400 — but most sellers don't know what they have or what drives value. Free insured postage. Written valuation. Paid in 72 hours.
Four factors drive typewriter values in the current collector market:
Do not attempt repairs. Amateur servicing — particularly oiling the mechanism with WD-40 or similar — causes more damage than it fixes. Do not replace keytops, repaint, or re-platen. The collector market values originality. A typewriter in honest original condition, even with worn paint, is worth more than one that has been cosmetically restored.
Do not clean aggressively. A gentle wipe with a dry cloth to remove dust is fine. Do not use solvents, abrasives, or metal polish on painted surfaces or chrome. The decals and transfer prints on many typewriters are fragile and can be destroyed by cleaning products.
Tell us what typewriter you have. We send a free prepaid, tracked and insured label the same working day.
Lock the carriage. Use the original case if available. Wrap in bubble wrap with 5cm padding on all sides. Insured to £5,000.
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Model identified. Colour noted. Working state assessed. Written valuation with explanation. Accept or decline. Return free. Paid within 72 hours.
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Order your free pack →Common 1960s–70s portables in working condition are typically £30–£80. Desirable models in unusual colours — Hermes 3000 in mint green, Olivetti Lettera in turquoise — can be £100–£400. Pre-war desktops in good condition are £80–£250.
Hermes 3000 (mint green/sea foam), Olivetti Valentine (red), Olivetti Lettera 22/32 in original colours, Olympia SM3/SM9, Royal Quiet De Luxe (1950s). Colour is a major value driver — unusual colours command 3–5x premiums.
No — but working condition adds significant value. Many collectors buy non-working machines for restoration or display. Cosmetic condition, original colour, and completeness all matter. Never attempt repairs yourself.
Lock the carriage, use the original case if available, wrap in bubble wrap with 5cm padding. Use reinforced tape. Insured to £5,000 from the moment the courier scans it.
Order your free insured postage pack. Model identified, colour noted, working state assessed. Written valuation. Paid within 72 hours.