Obsolete Or Not?

[cabinetman]

LOML wants me to get rid of two IBM Selectric typewriters. She says nobody uses them anymore and they have no value. She may be right. I'm thinking that there is probably a lot of items made obsolete with the latest in computers, music systems, televisions, cameras, and maybe even with some tools.

I still have an old Smith Corona portable that belonged to my mother that looks like this. It still works great. It may one day have a collectible value.
.

[Bruce Cohen]

Cab,

Don't get rid of them, they make excellent anchors.

Bruce

[master53yoda]

I think that things are obsolete only if they are older then I am.

[x00018]

Don't trust them

Cab,

Don't get rid of them, they make excellent anchors.

Bruce

It the rotate tape breaks they will float.

Dave

[schloff]

What's a "typewriter"?

Hahaha

[phi1l]

Hang on to them, some day some museum will pay big money for those.

[JSUPreston]

C-man, I still use one here at the office on rare occassions. My hand writing is so bad that it's easier/quicker to load up a multipart form in one than it is for me to sit there and try writing where someone else can read it. I've also found it easier to do envelopes on than trying to remember the correct orientation for the printer and software on the computer (it doesn't always match up right). You may want to keep one of them for stuff like this.

[dkerfoot]

Ever see the commercial where people are sitting in a coffee shop using their laptops when the unmistakable sound of typing starts up. They all look at the table where a guy is typing away on his Selectric...

You may also have a fine running AMC Gremlin, but it will not get more valuable with time either. Having a small supply does not result in an increase in price unless there is also a demand.

Hate to tell you this, but even a charity thrift shop might not be willing to take them. Except for providing a few minutes of amusement to grandchildren, they have no remaining use or value (except sentimental).

.

[crokett]

Except for providing a few minutes of amusement to grandchildren, they have no remaining use or value (except sentimental).

.

Oh I don't know. Somebody could learn to type on one, probably better than on a computer. The penalties for typos are a bit more severe.

[LCHIEN]

I threw away a working Selectric I (non correcting) a 3-4 years ago. Just couldn't figure out what to do with it.

Definately obsolete. Your question is really, does it have any value or not, and to whom.

[smorris]

I still use an electric typewriter when writing particularly sensitive reports. I work in computer security and forensics so I know when not to use them.

And before someone asks, yes, I do burn the ribbons when I'm done.

[herb fellows]

Hate to burst your bubble, but as far as it ever being worth anything, not so much!
Because there were a zillion of them made, typewriters and sewing machines hold no value at all.

On the other hand, if you could convince everybody else that is holding onto them to chuck 'em.....

[Mr__Bill]

C-Man, get out that case of fanfold paper and feed the end into the typewriter and let the kids or grand-kids have it.
Hours of fun and then you can introduce them to the shredder.




Bill
well back to cleaning the gutters.... oh joy

[cwsmith]

Can you still buy ribbons for them?

Honestly, I'd probably keep the little Smith-Carona as it's just an interesting piece of mechanics to me. The first Christmas after I graduated High School, I bought my father a similar typewriter. I wonder what ever happened to it.

The Selectrics I suspect are much more plentiful and also much harder to repair, find components for. But I may be wrong in that respect. Lord knows there where tens of thousands of them sold.

Who knows, maybe someday you'll find yourself in a place without electricity and the portable will be just the thing to record the event on.

CWS

[smorris]

I may date myself but I learned to type back in the early sixties using my grandfathers Underwood. No electricity but it took a lot of finger muscle power to make those keys move.