Sell or Donate Your Typewriter

El Granero Typewriter Company · Fuengirola, Málaga

Sell or Rehome Your Typewriter

You have a typewriter, and you'd like it to go somewhere it will be looked after. Good news: that's what we do all day. We buy, restore, rent and rehome. And even when we can't buy a machine, there is usually something better than a skip.

What we look for

Machines with another chapter in them

Portables in original condition

Olivetti, Olympia, Hermes, Erika, Triumph, Adler, Smith Corona, Voss, Remington, Royal, Silver Reed & Brother.

Pre-war and unusual

Pre-war machines, unusual European & USA models, and anything with a story we can verify.

Complete machines

With their case, key, ribbon spools, manual or original paperwork.

Familiar layouts

Spanish or English QWERTY, though we are always happy to see anything unusual.

Collections

Ten machines interest us far more than one, and can justify a trip.

Parts machines

A seized Lettera can keep three others alive.

If yours isn't on this list, write anyway. We've been surprised before.

No guessing

What we pay

Real numbers, confirmed after inspection.

Lettera 32

Good working condition, with case

20–50€ (sometimes more, depending on condition and accessories)
Lettera 32

Pristine, unmarked, with manual and accessories

75–90€ (sometimes more, depending on rarity, font or limited edition colour)
Post-war portables

Olympia SM 3, Erika 10, Adler Tippa, Hermes Baby etc.

We can send you a wish list of brands and models
Pre-war & unusual

Rare USA & European machines, collections, ephemera, accessories

Assessed individually

Two honest notes. Condition drives the number more than the model does. And a machine we can inspect in person is always worth more to us than one we are judging from photos or videos.

The buying process

Simple, direct and properly documented

  1. You send details and photos or videos. The six questions below cover everything we need to decide whether we are interested.
  2. We reply as soon as we can, or within a few working days, with a real number, not a range. If it isn't working for you, we recommend posting it on eBay or locally on Facebook Marketplace.
  3. We arrange the handover. We work by appointment. You can bring it to our Fuengirola workshop, or we collect it when you are within reach.
  4. We inspect it together. Ten to twenty minutes to check the carriage, escapement, segment and rubber parts. We type a sample text with a fresh ribbon.
  5. You are paid on the spot. Cash or transfer, your choice. If the machine is better than the photos suggested, our offer sometimes goes up. Sometimes we offer less, if it was hiding problems.
  6. We complete the paperwork. We are a registered Spanish business and every purchase is properly documented. You receive the money and sign a receipt with your details.

Then the typewriter goes to the warehouse or to the bench: stripped, cleaned, adjusted and photographed, before finding someone who will actually type on it. A second life, and a new story.

Why local is best

We need to meet the machine

Photos cannot show the inside

A typewriter can look immaculate and type like a bag of spanners, or look filthy and be mechanically perfect. The segment, escapement, drawband and mainspring do not photograph.

Shipping is the risky part

Typewriters are heavy, delicate, and usually packed by someone who has never packed one. When we ship, we pack, insure and claim. When a machine travels to us from a stranger, we are both hoping.

Outside our area?

Please still write to us, especially for a rare machine or a collection. Distance makes a deal harder, not impossible. It simply has to be worth the journey.

A good home matters

Rehoming, when money is not the point

Sometimes a machine is not worth selling, but nobody wants to be the person who throws it away. It was a grandmother's. It sat on a desk for forty years. Give it to us instead.

Where donated machines go

They may be restored for our rental fleet, used for events, films and workshops; passed through our ambassador network to writers, schools and enthusiasts across Europe; or carefully stripped for parts that keep other machines typing for another fifty years.

We collect locally, free

We can tell you what happened to it, and if you wish, note who it came from. Some of our rental machines still carry the name of the person who saved them.

Donating a typewriter starts something good. Nothing gathers dust; good energy, kept moving. We restore what we can, some go to schools, some to new writers, and some are sold to fund animal shelters.

The honest part

Sentimental value, and our shop prices

We take sentimental value seriously

It does not change the price we can pay, because the next customer buys a working typewriter with a warranty. The story matters to us, and we always ask why you want to sell. If our number feels too small, our advice is simple: don't sell it. A typewriter on a shelf costs nothing to keep, and in a few years it will be worth more.

Why is our selling price higher?

Restoration, above all: skilled workshop hours, new parts and ribbons, platen work where needed, testing, warranty and after-sales support. Then dry storage, photography, listings, advertising, marketplace fees, taxes, and the ordinary cost of running a legal workshop in Spain.

You are not losing that gap. You are skipping the work, the cost and the risk, and getting paid today.

Help us give a proper answer

Six questions we will ask

Answer these in your first message and we can often give you a number straight away.

  1. Where are you? City and country.
  2. What is it? Brand, model and serial number.
  3. What condition is it in? Keys, carriage, ribbon feed, rust, cracks or missing parts.
  4. Has it been repaired, serviced or modified? By whom and when, as far as you know.
  5. What price do you have in mind? Or simply say "donation".
  6. What comes with it? Case, key, manual, spare ribbons or original invoice.

Please include photos: front, back, both sides, keyboard from above, type slugs, serial number, case, and close-ups of any flaws. Natural light and no filters. Photos of flaws help your offer, they don't hurt it.

Ready when you are

Send us the details

Answer what you know. It gives us enough information to reply properly, without a long chain of emails.

Fill in the details below and click Send Enquiry — your message will go directly to our inbox.
Quick condition check — tick anything that applies

Photos will help us give a fair answer. Please reply to our confirmation email with photos of the front, back, both sides, keyboard, serial number, case and any flaws.

A few common questions

FAQ

Do you buy from outside Spain?

For rare machines and collections, yes — case by case. For common post-war portables, shipping often costs more than the typewriter. Ask and we will tell you honestly.

Can you tell me what my typewriter is worth?

We will tell you what we would pay for it: a real number you can act on today. We do not issue written valuations or insurance appraisals.

Do you take machines that do not work?

Yes, as parts donors. Say so upfront and we will tell you straight away what it is worth to us.

Will you buy my whole collection?

Very likely worth a conversation. Send a list, even a rough one.

I do not want to sell — I want it repaired.

That is our main business. Contact us about restoration and servicing instead.

Do you do part exchange?

Yes, against a machine you are buying from us. It is often the best value you will get.

What if I just want it gone, to a good home?

See the rehoming section above. We collect locally, free, and can tell you where it ended up.

How long until you reply?

A few working days at most, depending on demand. You will always receive an answer, even if it is a no.

Explore Olivetti Best Sellers

Latest Review

"I had a wonderful experience with El Granero, which must surely rank among the best typewriter companies in Europe, if not the best! Ania and Jacek were encouraging from the beginning and kindly invited me to visit their lovely Atelier in Fuengirola. Although very busy with orders, they prioritised my selection and got it ready in a matter of hours so I could take it with me. All in all it was a terrific experience, and when I want to add to my collection, it will certainly be at El Granero. Thank you Ania and Jacek!"

Peter Silke
Testimonio Local

"Por suerte descubrí El Granero Typewriter, donde fui atendido con profesionalidad y amabilidad por Jacek y Ania. Restauraron mi Olivetti Estudio 45, máquina muy especial para mí, ya que fue un regalo de mis padres. Además les compré una Olivetti Lettera 32 en perfecto estado. Más allá de la restauración y la compra, aprendes escuchando a Jacek y Ania. Les estoy muy agradecido."

Salvador Moreno Fernandez
1000+ Five-Star Reviews

"For 12 years, we have been a dedicated typewriter company, reviving analog magic one key at a time. We are incredibly humbled to have received over 1000 4.9-star reviews from our passionate community. Each review tells a unique story of a writer reconnecting with the tactile joy of typing, and we invite you to explore the incredible testimonials from our global family of enthusiasts.

Explore More Testimonials"

A Decade of Dedication
5000+ Typewriters Restored

"Our journey began with a profound respect for mechanical craftsmanship and a mission to rescue forgotten pieces of history. To date, we have painstakingly restored over 5000 typewriters, bringing them back to their former glory. Each restoration in our atelier is a true labor of love, preserving the soul of the machine while ensuring it functions flawlessly for a new generation of writers, poets, and dreamers who appreciate the analog rhythm.

More About Us"

Who We Are
4500 Clients in 75 Countries

"Operating a specialized typewriter repair shop allows us to breathe new life into intricate mechanisms from decades past. Our meticulous servicing standards have earned the trust of a global community, allowing us to ship safely to over 4500 clients across 79 different countries. Whether it is a complete mechanical overhaul, sourcing rare vintage parts, or a fine-tuned cleaning, our dedication ensures that every machine leaves our workbench ready for decades of reliable use.

View Repair Services & Prices"

Our Repair Shop
760 Laps Around The Earth

"When we reflect on the incredible distances our typewriters have travelled to reach your desks, the numbers are truly staggering. Just imagine six continents! The combined shipping distance of sending these heavy, beautiful machines to our international customers equates to approximately 760 laps around the Earth. Knowing that our restored typewriters are sparking creativity in almost every corner of the globe is the greatest reward for our daily work at the workbench."

Our Global Journey