The Typewriter: 7 Tips for Collecting Vintage Writing Machines

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The familiar sounds of pecking away at the keys of your manual typewriter are indigenous to the way typing used to be. Waiting on the infamous sound of that "ding," you knew the end of your right margin was near. As you move the silver lever and coax a carriage return, your new line appears to begin typing once again.

Two basic categories that all writing machines can be placed in is either "keyboard" or "index." The keyboard category is when a keyboard is used to select the character you want and the key is depressed to print the character. An index typewriter has a chart on which all the characters appear using a pointer or wheel to select the desired character. Manipulation using another lever or mechanism prints the character.

It takes time and patience to extensively research and learn about collecting typewriters. There are hundreds of typewriter brands and thousands of models. Here are seven things to contemplate when searching to begin collecting vintage typewriters:

1. Rarity: Consider the make, model, year, use of materials and any other unique facets that create a rare vintage collectible.

2. Condition: Most vintage pieces will probably need some type of restoration. Investigate your potential collectible to estimate the amount of repair work needed and filter in estimated costs that would get it back in satisfactory working condition.

3. Type of mechanism: The operational makeup of the typewriter.

4. Exquisiteness of the design: The beauty of the typewriter. This includes style and other decorative elements like bronze and floral accents or mother of pearl inlays.

5. Personal affection of the piece: What draws you to a particular vintage model that makes you desire to buy it.

6. Join a collectors association: Search to see if there are any local clubs or organizations in your area. You may find that typewriter manufacturing companies could give you some leads on your inquiry.

7. Contact other collectors: You can check out some online collector's websites for information on buying or selling vintage typewriters.

There are relatively few collectors, so you will find that the prices on early typewriters are not fixed. Vintage typewriters may turn up at antique shows, flea markets, attics, garage sales, thrift stores or dilapidated shops carrying second-hand goods. It's a rarity that you will find vintage typewriters in elegant antique shops.

Early typewriters focused on visible distinctions and principal mechanics. Improvements were made in basic design elements, such as the system of linkages from the key to the type. Features maintained "type" alignment. Of course newer designs operated on fewer parts than earlier writing machines. These features made typing faster and easier. Amazingly, typewriters became quieter and more reliable. As typewriters evolved, inventors and manufacturers continued to develop the ultimate writing machine. Although vintage typewriters are not a popular collector's item, they are beginning to gain global attention from writing and engineering enthusiasts, historians and many people interested in collecting rare pieces of writing machine history.

Kym Gordon Moore is a member of the North Carolina Writer’s Network with over twenty six years of corporate and personal writing experience. As a public relations strategist for budget conscious new authors, she coordinates creative marketing packages for her clients. Many of her articles, essays, short stories and poems appeared in a variety of magazines, newspapers, ezines and anthologies. http://www.kymgmoore.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kym_Gordon_Moore

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Many Fine Examples of Antique Bookcases

When looking for antique bookcases, domestic pieces will generally date from as far back as 1700 when case furniture began to be produced in serious quantity. Bookcases of course can be traced back as far as the late 16th century and there are some very fine examples at Oxford University's Bodleian Library. Early examples of bookcases were usually made of oak, and tended to be plain rather than decorative. Very early books would be laid flat on the shelves, and it was only with the advent of the print industry that spines and titles would be displayed outwards.

A walnut bureau bookcase from the time of Queen Anne (1702-14) is a very fine example of an early antique bookcase. Pieces like this formed part of a revolution in furniture making in Britain, with the arrival of Huguenot craftsmen expelled from France at the end of the 17th century and these new forms of manufacture remained throughout the 18th century. The bureau bookcase was an encased set of shelves set upon a bureau or writing desk. The desk had a fold down flap with sets of drawers arranged beneath. The cabinet placed on top to hold the books had two often mirror glazed doors which helped to encourage light. These cabinets were often pedimented on top to give an architectural quality to the piece.

As the 18th century progressed, varying types of antique bookcase evolved. Much larger architectural pieces were being made for libraries and the smaller compact bureau bookcase for the drawing room. Walnut had now become very scarce and mahogany was being imported as its replacement. The bookcase was not only made to showcase books but also to showcase the art of the cabinet maker and many fine examples remain from the time of George III onwards. Door fronts were generally glazed within astragal mouldings and beading and these ornamental glazed doors could range from fairly plain to very elaborate.

One of the most impressive bookcases is the breakfront. These are large architectural pieces with broken pediments and moulded cornices, usually made from mahogany. They can be fully or half glazed with cupboards rather than bureaux underneath, usually with three or four sets of shelves, with the central set pushed forward or breaking the front of the piece.

Towards the end of the 18th century, designer decorators like Robert Adam incorporated furniture like the secretaire cabinet and secretaire bookcase into their general house design. The much lighter satinwood had become popular during this later period and Adam employed craftsmen and artists to decorate furniture with marquetry inlay or painted neoclassical motifs and garlands of flowers. Some pieces were very bright and colourful indeed.

Much Queen Anne, Georgian and Neoclassical furniture from the 18th century was revived during the Victorian era so there remains a good choice of well made, large and more compact antique bookcases in a variety of guises to choose from. These are very imposing pieces of furniture and make excellent investments for the budding antique collector, or for the general investor.

The author, Christian Davies, is a second generation antiques dealer and owner of Christian Davies Antiques, a family based antiques business based in Preston, Lancashire.
Christian has over 23 years experience in the antiques business and has a passion for genuine, high quality antiques furniture, such as antique bookcases, which he sources from the UK and Europe.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christian_Raven_Davies

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A Brief History of Early Fine Ink Pens

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If you have ever sat down to write an old fashioned letter, address formal envelopes or write a speech, you probably have an appreciation of the artistic qualities of fine pens. Fine writing pens offer an authentic, nostalgic communication experience that typing or emailing simply cannot. It has been said that when people express their thoughts with fine ink pens as opposed to other forms of writing, they invoke a more emotional response from their reader. This is because unlike fine pens, online and typed messages lack the essence of the writer's personality.

The first fine pens were made with mass produced pen points that were stamped out of sheet metal and molded into various shapes to suit different styles of writing. To use, writers selected a pen point, fitted it onto a holder, dipped the tip in ink and began writing. Although innovations to the design of the instrument began in the latter part of the 19th century, this remained a popular format for fine writing pens until as late as the 1950s.

In an effort to eliminate the need to carry around an ink well and continuously dip the pen point, a portable fine pen that could carry its own refillable ink supply became necessary. Thus the fountain pen was born. A fine pen that featured a three channel feed was developed in the 1870s by L.E. Waterman. This design allowed for a smooth, controlled flow of ink via a pumping action, wherein the pen point snapped back and forth from an interior ink sac.

The next generation of fine pens used what is known as the self-filling system. They were also referred to as "eyedropper" pens because in order to fill them, users had to unscrew them and pour the ink supply in through a long dropper. Unfortunately, the fit between the cap and the barrel was not always secure and leaking was a common side effect. Therefore a model was invented in which the point was retracted into the barrel with a twisting motion, similar to a tube of lipstick. Theses were called safety pens.

Other variations on self-filling fine pens debuted throughout the years, including the blow filler, the sleeve filler, the button filler, the level filler, the pneumatic filler, the piston filler and the plunger filler. These represented the standard in fine writing pens until the invention of the cartridge pen in the 1930s, which is similar to the pens that are most commonly used today. They contained a glass ink cartridge (now made of plastic) that was intended to be disposable rather than refillable.

Early fine pens offer a glimpse into our communication history and as such have become a popular collectors' hobby. If you interested in learning more about fine pens, online retailers can offer a wealth of knowledge as well as unique items to start your collection.

Wayne Hemrick writes about - fine pens.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Hemrick

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Vintage Fountain Pens - Getting Started in the Hobby of Collecting

The Golden age of the fountain pen is usually considered to have started in the late 1800s, when it became the writing instrument that dominated, through World War II when it was largely replaced by the ballpoint pen.

During this roughly 60 year period there were an extraordinary number of innovations and styles introduced by many different manufacturers. Many of the pens created during this time are prized by collectors for their beauty and functionality.

Although fountain pens are still manufactured today and are still in demand as writing instruments, collectible vintage pens are generally considered to be those made before 1965. There are an extraordinary variety, and vintage pen collecting is a hobby that many people enjoy.

It's easy to get started. They are vintage pen shows held throughout the United States, mostly near larger cities. By visiting one of these pen shows you will have the opportunity to talk to knowledgeable collectors and viewed thousands of vintage pens.

You could also just go on eBay and randomly start buying pens that appeal to you. Just like with used cars, however, different pens have varying values depending on the model, manufacturer, and condition. While you would rapidly build up a pen collection this way, some knowledge about what you're buying is essential.

Fortunately there are some pen guides available which you can use to educate yourself and help make a wise decision when buying a vintage pen. If you are serious about collecting antique pens as a hobby, you will want to add a few good reference books to your personal library.

One of the best books recommended for beginning collectors is Fountain Pens Past & Present -- Identification & Value Guide by Paul Erano.

This is considered by many vintage pen collectors to be a very comprehensive book about how to collect vintage pens. There are many color photos and also vintage fountain pen ads. It has lots of different and valuable information, talks about how to find vintage pens and restore them. It also covers the basics for how to value pens. Of course the actual values for specific pens change over time. However this book is a good guide to determining the relative value of different vintage pens. If you are truly interested in collecting antique pens as a hobby, this is an excellent book to add to your collection.

Also, thanks to the Internet, you can frequently locate copies of the actual brochures published by a pen manufacturer for those vintage pens you are interested in. The original brochures are collectibles by themselves, but you can also frequently buy a PDF version in an electronic format to uncover as much detail as possible about your pen.

eBay is an excellent place to find fountain pens. At any one time there usually are over 1000 auctions going on for vintage pens. In general, when competing in an eBay auction, keep in mind that there are other people who want the same pen that you do. They may be willing or to pay more than the pen is worth so to avoid this you should always do your research, determine the approximate value for the pen, set your personal limit as to the amount you are willing to pay, and stick to that.

Because there are such a huge number of auctions on eBay, if you are unable to buy one particular vintage pen because you are outbid, the chances are good that there will the another pen similar to it auctioned in the near future.

Sara Bondia writes on a wide variety of topics and regularly contributes articles to different websites. For information on how to find an extraordinary variety of collectible vintage fountain pens visit [http://www.vintage-fountain-pens.info] NOTE: You have full permission to reprint this article within your website or newsletter as long as you leave the article fully intact and include the author's information and the website link. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sara_M._Bondia

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The Different Factors That Affect Antique Book Prices

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Collecting antique items can be very enjoying. There are different reasons why a person or individual collects antiques. Most of them have the passion for history and that is why they want to collect and use antique items. These items also add elegance to a room or area. This is very suitable if the theme of your house decoration is western style. For people who love to read books, they often collect antique books and have it displayed in their shelves or library. If you are a person who loves to collect books and you want to also collect antique books, then here are a few hints about the different factors that can affect antique book prices.

When talking about antiques, they are items that age a hundred years or more. Therefore, a book is only considered as an antique if it has already been around for a hundred years or more. Since it has already been around for a long period of time, there are greater possibilities of it being inflicted with damages. Breakages and damages on an antique item depreciate its value. So, when it comes to antique book prices, even just a small damage on the book will already mean depreciation in terms of its value. Take note that condition of an antique item also plays a big factor when it comes to its appraisal.

Another factor that affects antique book prices is the historical background of the book. The richer the history of the book is, the higher its price value will be. For instance, if the book was the one written by a famous writer, then for sure that book is valuable and costs expensive. Another example is; even if the book is not written by a famous author or writer as long as the book was read or used by a famous person, then the book is surely valuable.

And lastly, the biggest factor that can raise or drop the value of an antique item is rarity. An antique item that is very rare is also very valuable and expensive. This is where other people take advantage of - especially those who are known as scammers. They try to make an exact duplication of the item and sell it expensively. And, if you do not have the proper antiquing skills and knowledge, you can become their victim. So, in order to avoid getting scammed or fooled, be sure to educate yourself a lot first about successful antiquing and always bring along with you tools and equipments that will help you identify if an item is really antique or not.

Margaret W. Moore is an art enthusiast and loves collecting antique items very much. She had been onto antiquing for decades and continues to share all her knowledge and expertise about successful antiquing through specific antique book prices. She also compiled all her knowledge and expertise about antiquing and authored the book "The Hidden Secrets Of Antiquing" for the benefit of those who want to know more about successful antiquing. To discover more secrets behind successful antiquing, please feel free to visit her site http://www.superantiquingsecrets.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margaret_W._Moore

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