Do’s and Don’ts of selling vintage typewriter
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I have a 70 year old typewriter that I used in high school and college. The question is if I should remove the address label from the case which had my college dorm address and name… also should I clean the machine itself. I don’t want to lessen the value by cleaning or removing something.
thank you
17 comments
christworks
·4 months ago@labab_7681 Do not remove the sticker. Do not do any type of deep clean. If there is obvious dust, you can do a simple wipe down. The buyer of this item and in the condition it is in will be someone who wants to restore it for their own collection or flip it. Keep things simple. Accurately describe it. Add a line that you are leaving the sticker and all cleaning to the buyer.
You do need to focus on packing it well. If there isn't a case, I would double box this. Last year I had a 1960s Olivetti manual calculator/adding machine get damaged in shipment. After I filed the FedEx claim, my buyer decided to keep it rather than return it. I wasn't out of anything and gained more since FedEx covered the claim. If I could re-do that pack job, I would put that box the calculator was in into a second box with an inch or two of room on all sides. The weight of things like that make them more apt to slip out of the delivery driver's hands, which is what I think happened in my case.
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoI pounded my way through undergrad and a year of grad school on a Smith-Corona, and then used it as a writer afterwards. I'm hard on typewriters (and keyboards) and that thing was anything but fragile.
fm2000
·4 months agoThey are definitely not fragile in the course of normal use, but could be damaged if dropped or crushed in shipping, especially if theirs doesn't have a hard case. Especially if you have someone throw it over a fence when they deliver it as someone mentioned in another thread (unlikely, but you have to pack things for that possibility.) Could end up a pile of broken plastic and bent metal.
Definitely thoroughly test and document any flaws (sticky keys, scratches on the case, etc.) Describe it in great detail. (People who are into typewriters are the kind of people who read descriptions, a good description here is time well spent.)
The lubricants can get sticky and tacky with age, and probably need to be cleaned and reapplied.
chapeau-noir
·4 months agoWell yes, without a doubt it needs to be packed securely as very little will survive being crushed, but keeping calling it 'fragile' is actually not true - they're very robust and there's nothing to be afraid of. Also, they are not that big - we're not talking about an early century Remington. They just need a solid packing job, similar to any machinery (espresso machine, coffee grinder, etc., which I have sold).
ETA: Yeah, either a thick machinery box or double box, I agree. That's pretty standard.
fm2000
·4 months agoDo a basic exterior cleaning and sell it as-is, no returns (being out shipping both ways would be a killer). You might do more harm than good if you are not familiar with servicing/refurbing typewriters. It probably needs at least a little servicing due to its age. The label is a tough call, if you sell it they will have your name, but Iwouldn't worry about the college address (it might not even be valid anymore, and if you sell it they will have your name anyway unless you have a company name etc. to sell here.) I'd leave the label on so you don't accidentally damage the finish trying to remove it (the guy who buys it will probably know how to cleanly and safely remove it).
Research prices carefully. Yours may or may not be worth hundreds, and the cost of shipping could be $80+ cross country. If you don't have experience packing large and fragile items, you might want to have FedEx Office or the UPS Store pack it (due to its size, you will probably have to send it FedEx or UPS anyway).
grann-4629
·4 months agoDo a basic exterior cleaning and sell it as-is, no returns (being out shipping both ways would be a killer).
Just to add that if you do that be very sure to provide a detailed description with lots of close up photos of the outside and with the cover open... don't give the buyer any reason to claim it is not as described or your 'as-is, no refund' statements are meaningless, overidden by eBay's MBG.
krazzykats
·4 months agoSell it as is, with all its smudges and scratches, and let a collector/restorer take care of it.
I’d just give the case and handle a light wipe-down/dusting.
ᓚᘏᗢ
jdbelt1960
·4 months agoYes I would for sure understand removing identifiable information is a no brainer. Next having the typewriter serviced so it is usable can't hurt. If you can add an ink tape spool would be a plus.
caldreamer
·4 months agoMy hubby repaired many antique typewriters, cash registers and adding machines as a hobby. We managed to find really old models at flea markets for under $10.
I would be very cautious about removing old stickers because it may have discoloration underneath or leave a glue residue.
inhawaii
·4 months agoI hope you've done your research.
To properly pack and ship a fragile, vintage typewriter is going to cost an arm and a leg.
stuff4divas
·4 months ago@labab_7681 i know nothing about typewriters, but if u do sell, once u ship, your name and address will be on the shipping label, so i personally see no reason to remove the address label from the case, nor would i clean it.
someone who buys it may take joy in disassembling, cleaning, etc
the above is only my opinion based on what i would do if i was selling such an item
Good Luck!
authentic*vintage
·4 months agoWhat brand and color?
Standard Fonts?
A dorm sticker is provenance, I wouldn't remove it - it will leave a lighter area on the case where it was - make sure you look up the sold comps for it prior to listing.
labab_7681
OP4 months agoThank you… it’s a smith corona from 1955… there was a record and booklet for learning to type. The color is a light blue or teal color with a light brown hard case.
Thank you for your reply. I was debating to remove and clean the case. But your response makes sense.
Thank you
authentic*vintage
·4 months agoIs it the Alpine blue? Do you still have the manual and record?
If so, this should do very well!
labab_7681
OP4 months agoI’m terrible with colors but that sounds about right… I’m still looking for the record and typewriter instruction book. I’m sure I gave it…
tools*
·4 months agoUnless it's an especially collectible typewriter, it'll probably sell for $25 and cost $85 to ship.
slippinjimmy
·4 months agoLots of 1950's Smith Corona typewriters sold in the $300 - $500 range, some of the rare colors go for more.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=typewriter+smith+corona&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_sop=16&Decade=1950s&_dcat=165654&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1
@labab_7681