Portable Brother Typewriter

Q: I still have the portable Brother typewriter my father bought for me 40 years ago. I have kept it stored in its original carrying case and it still works. I wonder what it’s worth.

A: With few exceptions, only very early typewriters—those made and marketed in the late 1800s—sell for much money. Brother Industries, a Japanese corporation that dates back to 1908, is still in business today manufacturing printers, fax machines and other office and industrial equipment. Portable electric typewriters like yours don’t excite collectors, but you might be able to sell it online for up to $20.