reply to u/patsy_dragon at https://reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1ucl6lx/is_this_typewriter_seller_legit_plz_help/ re: classictypewriter.com

It's Steven Budden, Jr. out of North Carolina who has been in the space for several years. I suspect that his prices are higher than most because it looks like he's offering a higher level of (bespoke) service than the blow and go C/O/A that many repair shops are offering in the $350-550 range. It looks more like he's doing actual restorations rather than simpler refurbishments with a clean, oil, and adjust. Prior to buying, I'd want to have a direct conversation about what level of service he's offering to these machines? Is it a full restoration? Or just refurbishing with all new rubber? The metal work and brights on his machines seem to indicate he's doing way more work than one typically sees in the overall space. (See: https://typecast.munk.org/2023/04/24/how-to-properly-describe-the-condition-of-a-typewriter/)

I'm vaguely concerned that he's not got himself listed on Polt's repair list at https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html, but as he looks like he's mostly doing higher end custom work, he may be trying to avoid the drive by day-to-day repair work and ribbon swaps that is the bread and butter of most shops. His socials seem to indicate this is a side job and he has another career(s).

If you're concerned, call him up and see what's going on beyond the website. You can also comparison shop using Richard Polt's repair list as well.

https://boffosocko.com/research/typewriter-collection/#Typewriter%20Market

reply to u/Solid-Theme-6653 at https://www.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1txfdst/is_this_lc_smith_typewriter_the_real_deal/

Rebuilt was a legal term back in the day to mean that a typewriter's condition was equivalent to that of a brand new machine: https://typecast.munk.org/2023/04/24/how-to-properly-describe-the-condition-of-a-typewriter/

Typewriters from that era will have wildly different conditions, and often be in very poor condition. https://boffosocko.com/2026/01/08/on-purchasing-typewriters-condition-is-king-context-is-queen/ Usually they start in the $20 range and often, but not always top, out in the $500 range. With only the pictures to compare these, I might place the first at $25 and the second at $120. (Putting my hands on the machine and inspecting it would obviously dramatically change my evaluation.)

Pretty much no one rebuilds machines anymore, they either service and/or refurbish them (relatively inexpensive $200-400) or they restore them ($500-2000+). I could imagine a well restored version of one of these machines selling for over $2,000, but it would have to be truly stunning and this would be tremendously rare.

More examples to look at and compare: https://typewriterdatabase.com/L.C.+Smith.8.143.bmys

Removing the Platen on Mid-Century Olivetti Typewriters. by [[Dr. Typewriter - Venneburg Typewriters]]

https://typewriterfeet.com/