13 Vintage And Classic Typewriters for Every Kind Of Budget

A typewriter is a typing device that was mainly used to print or write manuscripts in the past.

Currently, different types of typewriters have been discovered that are used for different purposes. Unfortunately, not all are suitable for the use of small children.

Typewriters were widely used in the 19th century. However, the first patent for the typewriter was issued in 1714 in the name of Henry Mill. He was an English inventor.

According to a website that sells typewriters, children aged between 6-16 years make up a large client base for typewriters in the industry. This is because young minds are influenced easily.

They know that most of the writers in history used typewriters to write unforgettable books, stories, and poems of history and therefore want to imitate the writing atmosphere of their favorite writer.

Automatic typewriters can type around 150 words per minute. It saves the time and energy of a typist but the only drawback of automatic typewriters is that they cannot type a stenciled matter.

However, the invention of the electric typewriter proved to be revolutionary and soon it was realized that they were more suitable for people of all age groups. It produces more manuscripts in much less time than the early typewriters. The various types of fonts make the manuscripts look fancier than the older models.

Typewriters For Kids

A manual typewriter might be difficult for a kid to handle and will discourage them to use it. Instead, an automatic or electric typewriter is much more suitable for kids and they'll be interested in using one if they are comfortable with it.

• When choosing a typewriter for your kid, the selection is done depending on the smoothness of typewriter keys, the weight of the typewriter, and its usability. Typewriters should be cleaned and serviced regularly for the smooth use of a young person.
• The working condition of the typewriters should be checked at regular intervals and one must make sure no trace of dirt and grease is left behind on the typewriter. Conducting a bit of research before buying a second-hand typewriter for a kid is also recommended.
• For instance, if a typewriter belonged to a heavy smoker previously, then a lot of nicotine residues get stored on the typewriters which is not at all healthy for kids. A typewriter selected for a child should be cleaned properly before handing it over to them.
• Some of the typewriters that can be recommended for kids are Olivetti Tropical or ROMA, Silver Reed typewriters, or the Adler Tippa model.
• The American Index typewriter was a small typewriter meant for people with limited means. In the 20th century, these small portable typewriters were sold as children's toys. The Index typewriters were sold for $5 by Marx Toys in the '20s and '30s.

Which are the different brands of typewriters?

Before computers and printers made their entry into the writing business, typewriters owned the market. The majority of the early writers and composers wrote the manuscripts of their great stories and poems using typewriters. Although not as many as earlier, some writers still seem to have the same fascination for typing on typewriters rather than using modern technology.

The euphoria of using typewriters in the present world is underestimated. Many writers still prefer typing on a typewriter than a computer and it shows. There are 10 known brands whose typewriters continue to exist even in the present day.

• Adler Typewriter: The Adler Company was set up in 1896 and started in the industry by manufacturing cars, bikes, and bicycles at first. Later they shifted to typewriter production and came up with the first typewriter in 1898. The innovations in the Adler typewriters attracted many customers. They also used durable parts, some of them were functional even after 50 years. They ceased to be in the business in 1995 but some of their products are still in use. Some famous Adler models are the Champion, the Klein-Adler 2, and Gabriele.
• Remington typewriter: The Remington Company was founded in 1816 but they started typewriter production in 1873. They also manufactured office supplies and they later upgraded to the computer business. However, some of their typewriters are still in use. This vintage typewriter introduced the first QWERTY typing control pad. Some famous Remington products are Remington number one, two, and seven.
• IBM typewriter: IBM Typewriter was one of the first successful electric typewriters that were ever manufactured. They launched their first successful model in the United States in 1935, which was an enormous success. Later on, they produced several models until the late '60s. The improved features of the IBM typewriters made them better than many other manual typewriters.
• Imperial typewriter: The Imperial Typewriter was manufactured by the Imperial Typewriter Company which was set up by Hidalgo Moya. The first two models didn't win people's attention because of the complications of the model. The third model manufactured with the help of two local business people kick-started their business and they since became one of the top manufacturers in the market.
• Oliver typewriter: The typewriters of the Oliver Typewriter Company sold more than a million models in the world. They are popular for their down-strike method of typing.
• Olivetti typewriter: In the 1911 Turin’s Universal World Fair, Camillo Olivetti launched his first model of Olivetti typewriter to the public. By the end of the festival, he had 100 orders. His love for typewriters and passion for producing them was the beginning of the company's fame. Their production ceased in 1994 but it still has its presence in 83 countries.
• Olympia typewriter: The Olympia typewriter is known as the Mercedes Benz of typewriters. It's the favorite choice of famous authors and Hollywood filmmakers. Many models are still available in vintage shops. It is a popular product of the modern time for people who like the aesthetic appeal of typewriters.
• Royal typewriters: The Royal Typewriter Company started in 1904 and its first product became available to the public two years after that. The model Royal 10 was probably the most innovative and modern typewriter in the world before an electric typewriter.
• Smith-Corona typewriter: The Smith and Corona typewriter first came to the market in 1926. This company's typewriters dominated a better part of the 20th century and their products were in high demand. The Smith-Corona Model number one and two are the most popular and iconic models of the company to date.
• Underwood Typewriter: Established in 1895, the Underwood Typewriting Company was a pioneer among companies of typewriters. By 1939, they manufactured five million products. Model number five was the most famous model of the company.

How does a typewriter work?

A typewriter is a writing machine that helped in typing and printing manuscripts in the past. It was equivalent to the modern-day printer, but instead of digital printing, you had to type out the words in a conventional typewriter.

• Young people under the age of 30 have most likely never seen a functional typewriter in their life.
• On seeing photographs, kids might wonder how this device produced manuscripts so wonderfully.
• A sheet is rolled into the machine and when the typists hit the typewriter keyboard, the lever rises pushing the bar of the key against the ink ribbon and on paper.
• The pressure on the carbon tape leaves an impression on the paper. Each key on the keyboard had two characters. The shift mechanism helped to choose the second character on the key.
• Some other levers helped to add space among lines or to move the paper while typing.

How To Clean A Typewriter

To keep a typewriter dust-free, you should clean it every two to three weeks. There are some simple ways to clean the typewriters and following these methods will keep the machines tidy.

• Use a vacuum or a paintbrush to get rid of the dust from the exteriors of the machine. This is one of the toughest jobs with cleaning typewriters.
• You can also vacuum the underside of the machine.
• Using a can of compressed air helps to remove the difficult-to-reach dirt from the typewriters.
• The keys can be cleaned with white vinegar and cotton swabs.
• For removing grease from the keys, you can stroke the keys with a cotton swab using an alcohol-based solution.