Q: I have a working Smith Corona portable typewrite (Silent) in its original case with the instruction manual. It was a 1950 graduation gift but was never used, so it’s in mint condition. Does an old portable typewriter like this have any value in today’s marketplace?
A: The Smith Premier Typewriter Co. was founded in 1887 by brothers Lyman C., Wilbert, Monroe C., and Hurlburt Smith. The first Smith typewriters were made at Lyman’s gun manufacturing factory. By 1903, the brothers were doing business as the L.C. Smith and Brothers Typewriter Co. Corona was the name of a typewriter made by the Standard Typewriter Co. It merged with Smith in 1926 to become L.C. Smith and Corona Typewriters, Inc. The company name was shortened to Smith Corona Inc. in 1949. There were several name changes, a bankruptcy and reorganization until the company became Smith Corona Corp. in 1989. It stopped making typewriters in 1998 and sold typewriters made in South Korea until 2009. The company is still in business, selling thermal transfer ribbons and pressure sensitive labels. Your typewriter could sell to someone who wants to use it. Fifties typewriters sell for $50 to $75.
JUST A FUN STORY TO SHARE ABOUT AN OLD PORTABLE TYPEWRITER.RECENTLY MY FAMILY GATHERED FOR MY BIRTHDAY.MY DAUGHTER WAS WITH THE GRANDS UPSTAIRS ROOTING AROUND AND FOUND MY HUSBAND’S PORTABLE.NEXT THING WE KNEW THEY WERE GATHERED AROUND THE KITCHEN TABLE.THERE WERE NO PHONES,TABLETS,COMPUTERS.THEY WERE TYPING AND WANTING TO KNOW HOW YOU MOVED THE PAPER,HOW YOU GOT BACK TO THE LEFT MARGIN-IT WAS SO CUTE TO WATCH THEM DISCOVER AND USE SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TO HAVE FOR EVERYDAY ITEMS. ONE OF THEM WANTED TO TAKE IT HOME WITH HIM TO USE FOR REAL SO I SAID SURE–MY SON AND THAT SAME GRANDSON WERE AGAIN ROOTING AROUND BUT THIS TIME IN MY SON’S LP RECORD COLLECTION AND HIS TURNTABLE. AGAIN HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS–THANK GOODNESS WE HAD THE CHANCE TO EXPLAIN A BIT OF LIFE BEFORE “DEVISES”—LIFE WAS DIFFERENT BUT HOW DID WE KNOW DIFFERENT?NOW OUR CHILDREN HAVE TO BE SHOWN HOW TO OPERATE MANY OF THE THINGS WE USED EVERYDAY–
I am so glad I no longer have to type on such things! I see it as a Hollywood movie prop…enshrined as a set piece in a period film. Thanks for sharing.
This is a beautiful streamlined industrial typewriter and still useful. Thank you for including it as a feature in the Komments.
We have sold typewriters for years, but over the last three in particular we have seen demand and prices rise. We regularly sell them with and without cases for use by students, artists, crafters, and builders of steampunk computers. Some take them apart for jewelry and other crafts, some use them as intended. Our most recent sale was to a local musician who wanted to custom type cards to go out as promos with her new release. Some just collect and display them in their period homes. We sell them between $100.00 and $200.00 regularly. New ribbon in many colors is easily available online at various outlets.