tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post7523824171459169574..comments2024-03-25T15:02:25.695+11:00Comments on oz.Typewriter: Rarity and Desirability of TypewritersRobert Messengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04366507489948676594noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-70125366639236978712013-11-14T05:35:39.228+11:002013-11-14T05:35:39.228+11:00Interesting read! I notice some names of typewrite...Interesting read! I notice some names of typewriters I haven't heard from before.<br /><br />@Ted: I think it would be a nice "extra" to the database. Maybe even with a dropdown menu to select the continental area of where the typewriter was bought. The desirability option doesn't ring a bell to me yet, unless it appears on some kind of "want list" in my profile. Spiderwebzhttp://blog.spiderwebz.nl/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-42314114504455054032013-11-14T02:12:02.579+11:002013-11-14T02:12:02.579+11:00Since I maintain a database of my typers, which in...Since I maintain a database of my typers, which includes the total price paid, it would be simple to update my records in Ted's database.<br /><br />The subjectivity of desirability makes that rating less useful and interesting to me. We all collect for a variety of reasons; rarity, perceived beauty, typing quality, color, typeface, etc., etc. For example, i would rate my Olympia SM4 high because I've been eagerly seeking its particular typeface, while another would reasonably rate it lower because it is so common.<br /><br />Price paid would be much more useful. I, for one, have no compunction sharing what I've paid, as I believe this is useful, or at least interesting, to other collectors. But then, my wife never reads the same blogs as I do.TonysVisionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16035849049327300498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-21479683581456074522013-11-14T02:03:44.346+11:002013-11-14T02:03:44.346+11:00This comment has been removed by the author.TonysVisionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16035849049327300498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-53001106066489515272013-11-14T01:58:25.243+11:002013-11-14T01:58:25.243+11:00I think this will be a helpful online reference po...I think this will be a helpful online reference point.<br /><br />Maybe Alan will organize a new survey for some upcoming issue of ETCetera.Richard Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16232053429935587826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-53384589208427111802013-11-14T00:59:09.719+11:002013-11-14T00:59:09.719+11:00It would seem that an updating of the ETCetera Rar...It would seem that an updating of the ETCetera Rarity and Desirability survey is needed since it's been 11 years or more since the last one. I do agree that price is very subjective and can vary widely based on your location. I tend to average ebay prices for completed sales to determine a current value on more common machines.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-3554506967374489262013-11-13T23:51:10.840+11:002013-11-13T23:51:10.840+11:00In the last couple of years, I meant... sorry. In the last couple of years, I meant... sorry. Miguel Chávezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09411154570699775904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-51253455277659637992013-11-13T23:50:03.272+11:002013-11-13T23:50:03.272+11:00I?ve been having this problem too. The Mexican typ...I?ve been having this problem too. The Mexican typewriter market has exploded in the past couple of weeks, to the point that, where I was able to buy a nice and functional Selectric II for a mere $150.00 mexican pesos (around USD $10.00 at today's exchange rates), these days the same machines are being sold for 500 - 1000 pesos, sometimes with accesories. Still not as expensive as a more classic machine, but more expensive than I paid for mine. <br /><br />What people has asked me often is about the RANGE of prices for machines like the Olympia Traveller DeLuxe or the Olivetti Lettera, which are, like Robert said, very common machines around here. In that case the answer is usually simple: price is determined by supply and demand, so I usually suggest them to check the online markets or put the machines in auction with a reserve price around $500 pesos or so. <br /><br />I've had the same problem with other items, too - for some odd reason people has been taking old cameras to my shop to see how much they're worth. In those cases it's been useful checking not only in the e-marketplace but also in collectors' forums, auctions and non-eBay eshops. Plenty of surprises there. <br /><br />Finally, I agree with Robert about the rarity factor being relative. When I started collecting typewriters I hadn't seen more than 2 or 3 Olivers. Today there are around 5 of those on sale online. Same goes for things like the Corona portables or the older Remingtons. Many old machines were sold originally in Mexico and they come with the Spanish keyboard; but many more have been imported in recent years as a result of the typewriter craze and are being sold at higher prices than I think they are worth. Case in point: there's some guy selling a very battered Smith Premier with double keyboard. He's asking USD 1,500 for it. And that's before shipping and handling! Miguel Chávezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09411154570699775904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-86156227574905570272013-11-13T16:38:28.063+11:002013-11-13T16:38:28.063+11:00It's an admirable idea and my first reaction i...It's an admirable idea and my first reaction is that it might take some of the heat off those of us who get bombarded with requests to evaluate typewriters sight unseen.<br />Lynda Breckler has a page of "Online News" and typewriter sales each quarter in the Typewriter Exchange, but I think it is fair to say this is more for true antiques and higher-priced machines, and not a huge number of those come up for sale.<br />I'm not on the Yahoo forums, but I know there was an attempt at one stage some years ago to list items being sold - again, I think in the same "rarities" category.<br />As I see it, the problem (or should I say the need) is in the area of the more common-and-garden typewriters, the ones that are popping up on eBay very regularly - mostly post-war machines, but not always.<br />Be aware, however, that what a Rheinmetall will fetch in Germany is a lot different to what it will fetch in the US or Australia, and what a Royal will fetch in Australia is a lot different to what it will go for in the US. That would be one big handicap, I should think.<br /><br />,<br />Robert Messengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04366507489948676594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-55159139244154169722013-11-13T16:23:01.516+11:002013-11-13T16:23:01.516+11:00Ryan has approached me with the idea of adding a s...Ryan has approached me with the idea of adding a sort of price/desirability index to the typewriter database, inspired by this article. I previously considered this task somewhat unachievable for the reasons that Mr. Dilts expounds in his article, and the feeling I've gotten that typewriter collectors seemed generally unwilling to be forthcoming about the prices they paid for machines unless it was a really smokin' deal.<br /><br />That said, it would be fairly trivial for me to add fields to the database for collectors to include "price paid" and "desirability" - the first, if averaged over a large selection of like machines, might be handy - and the second might be useful if only to generally indicate how favorably the average collector regards certain models.<br /><br />If this seems useful, I would be happy to add it. It just may be tough to get people to enter that info for the nearly 800 machines that are already in the database. (:Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16774432656602082311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5248447883714712696.post-63324431285348609832013-11-13T15:40:24.532+11:002013-11-13T15:40:24.532+11:00In many hobbies there are price guides that help m...In many hobbies there are price guides that help manage the market and provide a sensible pricing strategy for newcomers. I have collected furniture and other things and having a good guide can help price negotiations. We have seen the effect of typewriter mania in Craigslist and ebay. I think it's time for the hobby to have a good, modern price guide. The ETC guide is certainly a good starting place.Ryan Adneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00638154287454314617noreply@blogger.com