Gift guide
Vintage Typewriter Gifts 2026: Machines, Ribbons and Paper
A vintage typewriter is a wonderful gift when it arrives working and ready to type. This guide covers the machines worth giving, the supplies that make any machine better, and the checks that keep a surprise from turning into a repair job.
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It is written for anyone buying for a writer, a first-time owner or a collector. Use the recipient buttons below to narrow the list. Machines come from eBay, where you are buying one specific used typewriter, so read each listing closely. Ribbons, paper and care supplies are easier to buy new on Amazon. If you are giving a machine, order early enough to unpack it, type a page and sort out any shipping problem with the seller before the holiday.
Stocking stuffers and desk supplies
Small things every typewriter owner uses up or wishes they had. These are the safest gifts on the page, because they suit almost any machine.
Universal 1/2-inch nylon ribbon (black, or black/red)
Good for: Writer, First typewriter, Has everything
A fresh ribbon is the gift that gets used first. Many manual portables take common half-inch ribbon, and black/red is the classic two-color choice for a machine with a working color selector. Nylon is the everyday modern option and easy to keep in stock.
Check first: “Universal” describes the ribbon width, not the spool. Many owners wind fresh ribbon onto the machine’s original spools.
Model-matched ribbon spools
Good for: Collector, First typewriter
Spool shape, center opening and reversing hardware vary between makers and model families, and the wrong spool can stop the ribbon advancing. A correct pair, ideally original metal spools, fixes one of the most common frustrations with a secondhand machine.
Check first: Know the exact make and model before ordering, and photograph the spools already in the machine if you can.
Typing paper, 20–24 lb, or cotton bond
Good for: Writer, Has everything
Ordinary copier paper works, but a 24 lb sheet or a cotton bond paper feels more substantial and makes typed letters and manuscript pages look finished. A ream pairs well with any machine on this page.
Check first: Stay around 20–24 lb for everyday typing; very heavy card stock can be awkward to feed around the platen.
Typewriter carbon paper
Good for: Collector, Writer, Has everything
For the hobbyist who wants the full period workflow: a carbon sheet between two pages gives a typed copy as you write. It is a small, fun gift for letter writers and anyone who likes keeping a file of their own correspondence.
Check first: Look for carbon paper made for typewriters, not graphite transfer paper for art, and keep it away from light-colored paint and decals.
Soft brush set, microfiber cloths and type-cleaning putty
Good for: First typewriter, Collector
Our cleaning advice starts dry: soft brushes, a hand air blower and lint-free microfiber cloths do most of the work, and a putty-type cleaner lifts packed ink out of the type slugs without any liquid. Put them in a small pouch and you have a proper care kit.
Check first: Skip “maintenance kits” built around spray lubricants. We advise against WD-40 and similar sprays inside a typewriter.
Typewriter dust cover
Good for: Collector, Design lover, First typewriter
Dust settles into the segment and escapement and makes keys sluggish over time. A breathable fabric cover is a quiet, useful gift for a machine that lives out on a desk or shelf, especially one without a case.
Check first: Measure the machine first: standards need a much larger cover than portables. Breathable fabric is better than a sealed plastic bag.
The Typewriter Revolution by Richard Polt
Good for: Writer, First typewriter, Has everything
Richard Polt’s book is a companion for people using typewriters today: choosing one, caring for it, writing with it, and the community around the machines. It suits a new owner, or someone still deciding whether they want one.
Portables for writers and first-time owners
Common, well-regarded manual portables. Being common is a strength here: spools, ribbons and service knowledge are easy to find, which matters more for a first machine than rarity.
Smith-Corona Silent-Super (or its sibling, the Sterling)
Good for: Writer, First typewriter
A popular postwar American portable that plenty of typists still use every day. The Silent-Super is common enough to shop carefully and respected enough that condition and service matter more than any rarity claim. The Sterling is a related Smith-Corona name worth searching alongside it.
Check first: Ask for a typing sample showing every key and a photo of both ribbon spools, and confirm the ribbon advances.
Royal Quiet De Luxe
Good for: Writer, First typewriter, Design lover
An American portable family made across several body generations, from rounded early machines to later angular ones, in a range of colors. That variety lets you match the recipient’s taste while still giving them a machine built for regular writing.
Check first: Identify the body generation first. On machines with Magic Margin, test the margin set before buying.
Remington Quiet-Riter
Good for: Writer, First typewriter
A practical postwar Remington portable, marketed around quieter personal typing. A serviced example is a solid, unflashy writing machine for someone who wants to type rather than display.
Check first: The model name says nothing about rubber condition; ask specifically about the platen and feed rollers.
Olivetti Lettera 32
Good for: Traveler, Writer, Design lover
The later sibling of the Lettera 22: a compact, flat Italian portable that packs easily. It suits a writer who wants a machine that moves between home, cafe and travel bag.
Check first: Inspect the plastic knobs, spacebar and carriage return lever, and confirm the keyboard language.
Olympia SM9
Good for: Writer, Collector
A later-generation Olympia portable that typists seek out for sturdy, consistent typing. A strong pick for someone planning long drafts on a machine built for daily use.
Check first: SM8 and SM9 feature sets and carriage configurations differ. Match the exact badge and ask for a long typing sample.
Collector and design pieces
Machines people choose for their history, design or reputation as much as for typing. Originality, completeness and service evidence matter most here, so read the listing closely.
Hermes 3000
Good for: Collector, Design lover, Has everything
A Swiss portable with a strong reputation among writers and collectors, made in distinct body generations. Its reputation drives demand, which makes generation, plastic condition and service evidence especially important.
Check first: Identify the shell generation, check the platen knobs for cracks, and confirm the case latches hold the machine securely.
Olympia SM3 or SM4
Good for: Collector, Writer
Closely related German portables that are often confused in casual listings. Either is a fine gift for a collector who values build quality over flash, and both are serious typing machines.
Check first: Use the tabulator controls and the model badge to tell them apart, and inspect carriage clearance and body mounts.
Olivetti Lettera 22
Good for: Design lover, Collector, Traveler
Marcello Nizzoli’s compact Italian portable, a design held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. It is as much a piece of industrial design as a writing tool, and still small enough to travel.
Check first: Check the carriage return carefully; our troubleshooting guide shows what to watch for.
Hermes Baby or Hermes Rocket
Good for: Traveler, Design lover, Collector
A very compact, low-profile Swiss ultra-portable associated with travel typing. It is the pick for someone who wants a typewriter in a bag rather than on a desk, or a collector drawn to small machines.
Check first: Names vary by market and generation, so read the badge, serial and body together. Ask whether the original case is included.
Early Remington Portable
Good for: Collector, Design lover, Has everything
Remington’s portable family spans several distinct generations, and the early compact machines have real period charm. A good type-and-display gift for a collector, as long as you know which generation you are buying.
Check first: “Remington portable” is too broad on its own. Identify the generation and serial family before comparing listings.
Underwood No. 5 (desk standard)
Good for: Collector, Design lover, Has everything
The landmark front-strike, visible-writing office standard. It is a heavy desk machine that anchors a room as a display piece and still types, best for a collector with desk space.
Check first: Very heavy and vulnerable in shipping, so local pickup is a real advantage. Inspect the carriage rails, typebar action and feet.
Gifts for a machine they already own
For the person who has the typewriter already. These keep a favorite machine working, protected and ready to travel.
A service visit with a typewriter technician
Good for: Has everything, Collector, Writer, First typewriter
If their machine sticks, skips or prints faintly, a clean and adjustment from an experienced technician can be the most useful gift of all. Escapement faults, broken drawbands, hardened feed rollers and alignment work are technician jobs, not home-kit jobs.
Check first: Ask the shop what a basic service includes and whether platen or feed-roller work is part of it. Many people give a handwritten card and book the drop-off together.
A replacement carrying case
Good for: Traveler, Collector
Plenty of portables survive without their original case. A sound replacement makes the machine safer to carry, store and ship, which is ideal for someone who types away from home.
Check first: Measure the machine and check how the case secures it. A case that looks right but does not hold the machine in place is a travel risk.
Gifts to skip
- An “as is” or untested machine for a non-tinkerer. It may need a technician before it types. Great for a restorer, disappointing on the day for everyone else.
- Spray lubricants sold as typewriter care. WD-40 and similar sprays leave a film that collects dust and turns sticky inside the mechanism.
- A desk standard shipped without a serious packing plan. Heavy machines like the Underwood No. 5 are vulnerable in transit. Choose local pickup where you can, or follow our packing checklist.
- A surprise machine for an established collector. Collectors usually know exactly which model, generation and typeface they want. Ask, or give a supply or service gift instead.
- A “universal” ribbon on the wrong spools. If the machine needs model-specific spools, a mismatched pair can stop the ribbon advancing. Match the spools or plan to rewind onto the originals.
Gift receipts and return windows
Return terms vary a lot by seller. Many individual sellers of vintage machines set their own return policies, and some do not accept change-of-mind returns, so read the return section of each listing before you buy. For new supplies, check the seller’s holiday return policy at checkout. Whatever you buy, unpack it promptly, keep the packaging and photograph any damage right away so you can raise a problem within the window.
More gift ideas
Still deciding? These pages help you narrow down the right machine or accessory:
- How to choose your first vintage typewriter
- Portable vs. standard typewriters
- Typewriter cases and accessories
- Pica, elite and other typefaces
- Popular vintage typewriter models
- Our model and condition checklist for buyers
FAQ
Is a vintage typewriter a good gift for someone who has never used one?
Yes, if it arrives working. Choose a common, serviced portable such as a Smith-Corona Silent-Super, Royal Quiet De Luxe or Olympia portable, and include a fresh ribbon and some paper. Save “as is” project machines for people who enjoy tinkering.
What does “serviced” mean compared with “as is”?
Neither is a standardized grade. Ask the seller what work was done, by whom and when, and request a fresh typing sample. “As is” usually means the seller is not promising that it works.
Will a universal ribbon fit any typewriter?
Universal refers to the common half-inch ribbon width. Spool shape, center opening and reversing hardware still vary, so many owners wind fresh ribbon onto the machine’s original spools.
How can I tell how old a typewriter is?
Find the serial number, confirm the maker and model family, then look it up in a serial table for that specific family. Record a production range rather than a single exact date.
How do I make sure a typewriter survives shipping?
Ask the seller to engage the carriage lock if the machine has one and to pack it so the machine cannot move inside its case and the case cannot move inside the box. Unpack it as soon as it arrives and photograph any damage before contacting the seller.
What paper should I give with a typewriter?
A 20 to 24 lb paper or a cotton bond paper is a safe choice for everyday typing and letters. Add carbon paper if they would enjoy making typed copies.