What do you collect?

Joe said:
What makes a typewriter "vintage"? In other words, where do you draw the line between vintage and non-vintage?

If a typewriter is currently being manufactured, does that rule out it being vintage? I believe there are still a few manual typewriters being made for a niche market of people who want them.
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I don't really know what constitutes a "vintage" typewriter. My venture into this collection started when I decided I wanted a typewriter to make hand-made cards and notes. Royal still makes typewriters, and I was very temped to buy a new one on Amazon. But when I searched eBay to see if I could find one cheaper, the whole world of "vintage" typewriters came to my attention - who knew? For the same amount of money, I could buy a 1926 portable Royal or a new one - I picked the old one because it was simply beautiful.

Apparently, I've now joined a fairly cool club of vintage typewriter collectors (assuming 3 makes a collection).
 
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I used to find and collect agates. I have boxes of them. Haven't for a while though.

I have tons of vegan and vegetarian magazines and can never get enough of them...VegNews, Vegan Life, Vegetarian Journal, Vegetarian Times, Vegan Health and Fitness, American Vegan Magazine, United Poultry Press. And don't get me started on veg cookbooks lol.
 
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Poppy said:
I don't really know what constitutes a "vintage" typewriter. My venture into this collection started when I decided I wanted a typewriter to make hand-made cards and notes.
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Thanks for the info.

You posted pictures of two typewriters, both Royals. Is the third one you own a Royal? Since Royal is still in business, was your decision to get a Royal based on the expectation that Royal would still be able to supply you with ribbons?

I actually have two Smith-Corona typewriters--the "Personal Word Processor" (PWP), and a regular electric model. Both were purchased new. It was a bit difficult to find ribbons for the regular electric model, but I found one in OfficeMax. But now OfficeMax is kaput! Smith-Corona went bankrupt. It still exists but is no longer in the typewriter business. Brother makes an electronic typewriter almost exactly like the PWP, but it costs $600 or so.

I think I have two other typewriters in the house--one a manual and one an ancient electric.
I inherited these two from my father. It's not that I intend to "collect" typewriters; I just never thought of disposing of them.
 
The typewriters are very cool! When I was a child, I collected horse figurines, mostly made of china. I actually still have a few survivors and perhaps they qualify as antiques now! :D I started a collection of dragon figurines but those are expensive and I only have 2. I don't have much room for those kinds of things but I love them! I have a few other little animal figures too. I like magnets to put on the fridge and I try to get one from everywhere we travel to. They are inexpensive and easy to pack!
 
Ex-lovers.

Well, I have quite a few tin lunchboxes. None of the are fancy, vintage ones. I have been collecting them for sometime. I really should just get rid of them.
 
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Poppy, that's an awesome collection! I was thinking of buying a typewriter last year, but I ultimately shied away from it. There is something so romantic about them.

I have a collection of various R2-D2s. Or, at least, I did for years. Most of them are at my parents' house, but when I went to college I took just one little toy with me. It sat on my desk in my classroom this year, as I suspect it will for many years.
 
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dormouse said:
Poppy, that's an awesome collection! I was thinking of buying a typewriter last year, but I ultimately shied away from it. There is something so romantic about them.

I have a collection of various R2-D2s. Or, at least, I did for years. Most of them are at my parents' house, but when I went to college I took just one little toy with me. It sat on my desk in my classroom this year, as I suspect it will for many years.
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That's cool, dormouse!
 
I just remembered something. I sort of collect recorded classical music. At least, I've started collecting Bach, Mozart and Schubert. Joan Kennedy (Teddy Kennedy's wife/widow) wrote a book on classical music. She has a list of her favorites and a list of popular favorites organized by composer. I'm finding a fair number of these pieces are available free, legal and online.

I would not say classical is my favorite type of music, but it is now a part of my musical "diet."
 
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Poppy said:
You'll probably be able to find ribbons for your machines online. http://mytypewriter.com/ribbons.aspx] I bought a set of three ribbons from Antique, old, manual, used typewriters.
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Thanks for the info, Poppy. (BTW mytypewriter.com is going to be closed until February 28.) I'm going to have to dig out my regular electric Smith-Corona and write down the model number.

BTW, if you ever get a Smith-Corona a good site to visit for repairs or supplies is Will Repair (actually they say they service all brands, not just Smith-Corona)
Home
 
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I actually still have a version of this typewriter that I used all through college: It has a snap cover so that I could take it on the road. It came in handy in my internship days working for a small newspaper. I would sit in my car after covering a meeting and craft my article by flashlight, as the newspaper I worked for required me to file my story by 7:30 a.m. because it was an afternoon daily. :) I would have to dictate to an editor over the phone. Times sure have changed. :D

gsmith-corona%20_5638_1451545135.jpg
 
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My mother used to have a typewriter in the late 70s /early 80s and I remember the tapping noise it made and the ding at the end of the page. She could type really quickly, well I'm sure she still can.

Someone I know was going to give me their stamp collection for me to sell online but I'm worried I don't know enough about stamps to do that. I keep thinking I would sell a really valuable one for £1 or something.:eek:
 
Moll Flanders said:
My mother used to have a typewriter in the late 70s /early 80s and I remember the tapping noise it made and the ding at the end of the page. She could type really quickly, well I'm sure she still can.

Someone I know was going to give me their stamp collection for me to sell online but I'm worried I don't know enough about stamps to do that. I keep thinking I would sell a really valuable one for £1 or something.:eek:
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US stamps? (I can't remember where anyone lives) if so United States Stamp Values

Eta: oh oops i see a £ in your post so nvm :D
 
Moll Flanders said:
Someone I know was going to give me their stamp collection for me to sell online but I'm worried I don't know enough about stamps to do that. I keep thinking I would sell a really valuable one for £1 or something.:eek:
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Is there an auction house or some other place you can take the stamps to get their value appraised? Do they still do Antiques Roadshow in the UK?

Edited to add: Yes, they do. Antiques Roadshow - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
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