Springfield! A guessing game

Springfield! What a place!

No, not the Springfield in Queensland, Belize, Nova Scotia, Missouri, Idaho, or the Simpsons' hometown—the Springfield that stretches gloriously along Interstate 70 between Dayton and Columbus in Ohio.

That's where I got to meet the Brumfields (well, 4 out of 6) today to swap some goodies (including a magazine that Mark Petersen brought to Herman's gathering for me, with a neat Varityper ad—thanks, Mark) and an IBM Executive that Brian bought from a Cincinnatian who gave it to me to deliver to him.

We perused the huge Springfield Antique Center and the still more massive Heart of Ohio Antique Center in search of you know what. On the way back home, I also made a quick stop at Dayton's Antiques Village.

I thought you might enjoy seeing the typewriters we spotted. Gone are the days when antique shops refused to stock typewriters, claiming they were good only as boat anchors; they are now a common sight.

Here's a tough challenge. Among all these writing devices, can you guess which two I brought home for WordPlay / The Urban Legend Institute? And can you guess which one Brian brought home? (Later he texted me that he also found a Royal 1 for $75, lucky dog.)

I don't have records of all the prices on these, so on a few of them I'm—well—just making up the prices.

Chapter 1: Springfield Antique Center

LC Smith no. 8, $97.50:

Smith-Corona Coronet, $40:

Smith-Corona Sterling Automatic, $35:

Underwood portable, $249:

This Remington no. 6 upstroke with wooden key levers was the oldest sight of the day. $260.

The serial number dates it at 1906.

Underwood, $30:

Simplex 200, $99:

Olive-green LC Smith no. 8, "RARE," $250:

Hermes Rocket with instructions and a nice leather case, $75:

Olivetti-Underwood Studio 44, $45:

Royal Quiet De Luxe, $45:

Bing no. 2, $285:

Underwood no. 5 with several problems, $65: 

Tom Thumb Junior, $49:

Chapter 2: Heart of Ohio Antique Center

Royal no. 10 with typing table, $125:

Unique, $29:

Royal KMG, $70:

Tom Thumb, $39:

LC Smith Secretarial no. 8, $99;

Royal Quiet De Luxe, $129:

Underwood 315, cursive, $65:

Classic Typewriter (made in the 21st century!), $75:

Smith-Corona Sterling Cartridge, $25:

Royal Administrator, $22:

Underwood Leader, $35:

Royal 890, $35:

We ran into fellow typewriter collector Mike Campbell! 

Here's Mike with Ian Brumfield.

Chapter 3: Antiques Village

Tom Thumb, $15:

LC Smith Super-Speed, "GREAT KEYS!" $62.50:

Smith-Corona Super Sterling, $17.99:

A pretty and interesting Woodstock with a cut-out paper table and no manufacturer's name. Unfortunately, this typewriter had no price tag, so buying it wasn't even an option:

Royal HH, $29.99:

Smith-Corona Coronet, $39.99:

Royal KMM, $65:

Tower (Underwood), $75:

I don't remember seeing one of these 'Towers" before.

Olympia SM8, $45:

And finally, an Adler Satellite 2001 for $95:

Let the guessing begin! The person who posts the most accurate guess in the comments below within the next 24 hours will win a care package of miscellaneous typewriter goodies.

Postcript: Here's a Royal 5 for $75 that Brian spotted; I missed it.