1. What to buy first?
Beginners should start with 1950s–60s manual portables: Olympia SM series, Smith-Corona Silent/Sterling, Royal Quiet De Luxe and the Olivetti Lettera 32 are all dependable, typically priced from tens to a few hundred dollars. Standard office machines (Underwood No.5, Royal HH) are big but heavy-feeling — great desktop display pieces.
2. Portable vs standard
Portables are light, cheap and plentiful — ideal for daily use and entry collecting. Standards are heavy with firmer action and steadier print — the ultimate ceremony machine — but costly to ship and big to store. Decide first: use, display, or invest?
3. Hands-on checklist
① Type every key and check for jams and clean print; ② listen for even carriage advance; ③ test Shift, Shift Lock, Tab, backspace and the margin bell; ④ check the platen isn't hardened or cracked; ⑤ check badge, serial number and keycaps; ⑥ ask about case and manual. Testing in person beats buying blind online.
4. Are electrics worth it?
The IBM Selectric feels unique, sounds amazing and swaps fonts, but it's heavy, complex to repair and easy to damage in shipping. For pure vintage experience a manual portable is far less hassle; for creators wanting the iconic look and sound, nothing beats a Selectric.
5. What drives value?
Condition first: original paint, complete keycaps, no rust and proper function beat any 'restored respray'. Then rarity (limited colors, rare models like the Hermès 2000, early Coronas), completeness (original case, manual, invoice) and provenance (celebrity association, special use). Mass-produced 1950s–60s portables are cheap and plentiful — collect for love and use, not speculation.
6. Where to buy?
Domestically: second-hand marketplaces, flea markets, collector groups; overseas: eBay, Etsy, local thrift stores. For cross-border buys, factor in shipping and duties, and insist the seller double-boxes with foam around the platen — most damage happens in transit.
Once you own one, learn to keep it alive with the care guide and date it with the serial converter.