Typewriters

My apologizes if this is in the wrong section.

I'm looking into purchasing a vintage typewriter and am curious as to if anyone has any information or opinions on different brands. What should I "look for" when ordering one off eBay? Besides the obvious—it being portable—is there any major difference in a portable typewriter compared to a desktop one? Any information on typewriters would be helpful. I know a little, unfortunately not enough to make a decision.

Thanks, everyone.

 

I don't know many people who even use Typewriters anymore.
But I hear that the Royale Typewritiers are good.

 

Electric or Manual?

 

Manual.

And thanks, Lemex, I'll look into it.

 

the olivetti portable was the standard 'tool' of the journalist in times gone by... if you want excellence of design, ease of use, and maximum portability, i suggest you find one from the 50s or 60s... the 'lettera 22' [c. 1950] is the original paradigm... anything up to the 'lettera 32' should be what you want...

 

I, personally, own a Swintec 8016 Select Series typewriter.
It has been in my father's shop for a long time, but still works like a charm. Unfortunately, either because of the cartridge or my bumbling, it will not longer ERASE! Which is frustrating, to say the least.
Then again, it's very old, but on the other hand; it's electronic. That is, it must be plugged in to function. So it's not THAT old.

S'a good typewriter. It has backspace, (which doesn't erase) a separate erase button. Tab, reverse tab, the numbers at the top and all of their alternate symbols. (!@#$% et cetera)

It beeps when you're reaching the end of the page, and all kinds of other nifty things. Fun, fun.

 

wow, you really want to get into the swing of things!
The tabbing or click. click click. i prefer a laptop to be honest, i use a rubber keyboard, just to stop it.

i dug this out for you though.

http://mrtypewriter.tripod.com/typeforsale.htm

Dont qutoe me on thier reliablitlity though they where 3rd down in google.

enjoy

 

I prefer a keyboard to a typewriter... then again, printers are fairly cheap now

~Lynn

 

Oh, I'm a big fan of loud typing. I, in fact, downloaded a program that creates typewriter sound effects every time you hit a key. (It doesn't sound very genuine, though, and I type so fast that the sounds begin cutting short and it sounds awful)