Typewriters & Office Machines: What to Record

Identification

Brand Text Technology & machines

Brand or manufacturer under which the object was sold.

Model Text Technology & machines

Model or product name given by the manufacturer.

Reference number Text Technology & machines

Manufacturer's model, reference or article number.

Serial number Text Technology & machines

Individual serial number of this object, as marked on it.

Year Year Technology & machines

Year of making, issue or publication when known exactly.

Date / period Text Technology & machines

When the object was made, as precise as known, e.g. 1876, c. 1890, 1920s, 2nd century AD.

Country Text Technology & machines

Country of origin or issue, by its usual English name (historic states as named at the time, e.g. Kingdom of Bavaria).

Reference link Link Technology & machines

Web page about this object or its reference entry (catalogue, database, sale).

Office machine type Choice, or your own

Kind of office machine.

• Standard typewriter
• Portable typewriter
• Electric typewriter
• Index / early typewriter
• Cash register
• Duplicator / mimeograph
• Dictating machine
• Cipher / encryption machine
• Cheque writer / office device

Typeface Text

Typeface and pitch, e.g. Pica 10, Elite 12, script.

Keyboard layout Text

Keyboard layout and language version, e.g. US QWERTY, German QWERTZ, French AZERTY.

Condition

Function and appearance, described separately.

Working order Choice Technology & machines

Whether the mechanism or device works.

• Working
• Working with faults
• Not tested
• Not working
• Restored to working order

Condition Choice Technology & machines

Overall condition in plain terms; domains with an established grading scale use that scale instead.

• Mint / as new
• Excellent
• Very good
• Good
• Fair
• Poor

Condition notes Text Technology & machines

Faults, wear and damage in detail.

Restoration & repairs Text Technology & machines

Restorations, repairs, replaced parts and cleaning, with who did them and when if known.

Completeness

Completeness Text Technology & machines

Parts, accessories, inserts and instructions present or missing.

Original packaging Choice Technology & machines

Original box, case, manual, certificate or warranty card that came with the object.

• Original box and documents
• Original box only
• Documents only
• None

Acquisition

How and when the object came into the collection.

Acquisition date Date Technology & machines

Date the object came into the collection.

Acquisition method Choice, or your own Technology & machines

How the object came into the collection.

• Purchase
• Auction
• Gift
• Inheritance
• Exchange / trade
• Self-collected / found
• Commission

Acquired from Text Technology & machines

Seller, auction house (with sale and lot number), donor or place where it was found.

Purchase price Amount Technology & machines

Price paid including fees and premiums.

Provenance Text Technology & machines

Earlier owners and the object's history, oldest first, with sources (labels, invoices, sale catalogues).

Value

Estimated and insured value.

Estimated value Amount Technology & machines

Current market value as estimated.

Valuation date Date Technology & machines

Date of the current value estimate.

Valuation basis Choice Technology & machines

What the estimated value is based on.

• Own estimate
• Recent sales / auction results
• Dealer offer
• Catalogue value
• Professional appraisal
• Insurance valuation

Insured value Amount Technology & machines

Sum the object is insured for.

Collection record

Your own inventory data.

Inventory number Text Technology & machines

Your own number or label for the object, e.g. C-0042, as written on its label or album page.

Storage location Text Technology & machines

Where the object is kept, e.g. room, cabinet, drawer, album and page, box.