Question 1

What antique typewriters are most collectible?

Accepted Answer

Pre-1900 typewriters with unusual keyboard configurations are the most valuable. The Hansen Writing Ball (1870, designed by Rasmus Malling-Hansen) is the holy grail, with the fewer than 10 surviving examples valued at over 100,000 dollars. The Sholes & Glidden Type-Writer (1874, the first commercially produced typewriter) sells for 50,000 to 150,000 dollars. Decorative index typewriters with circular type elements (Mignon, Odell) sell for 500 to 5,000 dollars. Among standard typewriters, Hermes 3000s in mint condition have risen from 200 to over 800 dollars since the 'typewriter revival' among writers. Working condition is essential: a non-functional typewriter loses 50 to 80 percent of its value.

Question 2

Are vintage sewing machines worth anything?

Accepted Answer

Most common Singer sewing machines from the early to mid-20th century sell for 50 to 200 dollars. However, specific models command significant premiums. The Singer Featherweight 221 (produced 1933 to 1968) sells for 300 to 800 dollars in working condition, with rare color variants (white, green) reaching 2,000 dollars. Pre-1900 hand-crank and treadle machines by Wheeler & Wilson, Willcox & Gibbs, and early Singer models with ornate decals sell for 200 to 2,000 dollars. The most valuable are miniature and toy sewing machines, particularly pre-1920 examples by Singer, Peter Pan, and German makers, which can reach 500 to 5,000 dollars. Original carrying cases, accessories, and instruction manuals add 20 to 40 percent.

Question 3

What makes automata so expensive?

Accepted Answer

Automata, self-operating mechanical figures, combine watchmaking precision with artistic craftsmanship. French makers dominate the market: a Jaquet-Droz writing automaton from the 1770s is considered a masterpiece of mechanical engineering and is valued at tens of millions (the original three are in the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Neuchâtel). 19th-century French automata by Vichy, Roullet et Decamps, and Lambert sell for 10,000 to over 500,000 dollars depending on complexity, condition, and provenance. Key value factors: number of distinct movements, quality of the bisque head and costume, working condition of the mechanism, and original key and base. Restoration by specialist clockmakers can cost 5,000 to 20,000 dollars.

Question 4

How should I evaluate vintage industrial design objects?

Accepted Answer

Industrial design objects are valued at the intersection of functionality, aesthetics, and historical significance. Look for pieces by documented designers: Raymond Loewy's Gestetner duplicator (1929), Henry Dreyfuss's Honeywell thermostat (1953), and Dieter Rams's Braun products (1960s to 80s). Condition standards differ from decorative antiques. Original paint, decals, and patina are preferred, but working condition is especially important for mechanical objects. Signed or documented examples command premiums. The market has grown since MoMA and the Design Museum in London elevated industrial design to art status. Vintage Braun electronics sell for 200 to 5,000 dollars. Streamline-era (1930s to 40s) appliances and machines are a strong mid-market category.

Question 5

What early computing devices are collectible?

Accepted Answer

The Curta calculator remains the most iconic mechanical computer, with approximately 80,000 units produced between 1948 and 1972. Type I models sell for 1,000 to 2,000 dollars. Slide rules range from 10 dollars for common models to over 1,000 for rare specialized rules. Early electronic calculators (HP-35, the first scientific pocket calculator from 1972) sell for 200 to 1,000 dollars. For serious collectors, WWII-era Enigma machines (German encryption devices) sell for 200,000 to 500,000 dollars. Apple I computers (approximately 200 built by Jobs and Wozniak in 1976, roughly 80 known to survive) have sold for over 900,000 dollars. Working condition is essential for value at every level.

Question 6

Are vintage cash registers collected?

Accepted Answer

National Cash Register (NCR) brass registers from 1890 to 1920 are the most collected cash registers, combining ornate Victorian design with impressive engineering. 'Candy store' models with elaborate brass cases, marble ledge shelves, and working mechanisms sell for 1,000 to 5,000 dollars. Elaborate floor-standing models with multiple drawers and receipt mechanisms can reach 10,000 to 25,000 dollars. Key value factors: model number (certain models are rarer), completeness of original keys and marquee signs, working condition, and quality of the brass finish (original lacquer versus replated). NCR models from the 'Amount Purchased' series with ornate Art Nouveau scrollwork are particularly desirable. Restoration of brass cases by specialist refinishers costs 1,000 to 3,000 dollars.

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