Office Antiques

Subcategories

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  Antique Typewriters

  In this section you will find a carefully selected range of antique typewriters for sale, including models from different periods, brands, sizes and systems. They are ideal pieces for collecting, decoration, shop windows, offices, libraries, writing studios, vintage spaces, interior design projects or as a special gift for writers, journalists, lawyers, collectors and lovers of office history.

  Antique typewriters for collecting and decoration

  Antique typewriters are part of the history of writing, office work, communication and administrative life. For more than a century, they were essential tools in offices, companies, newspapers, banks, public administrations, professional studios and homes all over the world.
  
  

  Before the arrival of computers and digital writing, the typewriter made it possible to produce documents clearly, quickly and uniformly. Letters, contracts, novels, reports, invoices and all kinds of texts passed through these mechanisms of keys, metal typebars, ink ribbons, rollers and moving carriages, which today arouse great interest among collectors and lovers of antique objects.

  A brief history of typewriters

  The history of typewriters is one of the great success stories of modern technology. Although there were earlier attempts, one of the first successfully commercialised models was the Malling-Hansen typewriter, developed in the 19th century by Rasmus Malling-Hansen. From that moment onwards, different inventors and manufacturers gradually perfected the system until the typewriter became an everyday object.
  
  

  During the second half of the 19th century, firms such as Remington, Hammond, Caligraph, Yost and Smith Premier played a fundamental role in the evolution of typing. Their machines incorporated new writing systems, keyboard layouts, printing mechanisms, carriages, ribbons and technical solutions that made typing increasingly comfortable and efficient.
  
  

  In the 20th century, the typewriter achieved enormous international diffusion. Brands such as Olivetti, Underwood, Royal, Continental, AEG, Erika, Triumph, Olympia, Hispano-Olivetti, Smith Corona and many others manufactured high-quality models, both office and portable. Later came electric and electronic typewriters, until computers gradually replaced their professional use.
  
  

  Today, those machines that were working tools for decades have become highly appreciated technical antiques for their design, history, mechanism and strong decorative presence.

  Great makers of antique typewriters

  The history of the typewriter is marked by great manufacturers whose models are now highly sought after by collectors. Each brand contributed its own technical solutions, designs and styles, giving rise to a wide variety of pieces with their own personality.

  Remington

  Remington was one of the fundamental names in the history of the typewriter. Associated with Christopher Latham Sholes and the first highly successful commercial models, Remington helped popularise typing and became one of the most important brands in the sector.

  Hammond

  Hammond typewriters stand out for their technical originality and for a printing system that differed from that of other manufacturers. They are highly appreciated by collectors, especially early models preserved with their case, accessories or original elements.

  Underwood

  Underwood was one of the great American typewriter brands. Its robust and reliable office models marked an era and were used for decades in companies, offices and administrations. Antique Underwood typewriters are now highly sought after for their quality and visual presence.

  Olivetti

  Olivetti is one of the best-known European manufacturers. Its typewriters combine technical quality, design and elegance. Olivetti office and portable models, especially from the 20th century, are highly appreciated by both collectors and decorators.

  Royal, Continental, AEG and other brands

  Alongside the above, other brands such as Royal, Continental, AEG, Smith Premier, Caligraph, Yost, Erika, Olympia, Triumph and Smith Corona form part of the history of typing. Each developed models with their own characteristics, from large office machines to compact portable typewriters.

  Types of antique typewriters

  There are many types of antique typewriters, and their interest may vary according to maker, period, printing system, design, state of preservation and rarity of the model. Some pieces stand out for their age, others for their industrial design, their operation, their original case or their connection with historic brands.

  Office typewriters

  Office typewriters are usually robust, heavy models designed for intensive use. They were common in companies, banks, offices, newspapers and administrations. Their strong visual presence makes them highly decorative pieces for offices, studios, libraries and vintage spaces.

  Portable typewriters

  Portable typewriters were designed to make transport and personal use easier. Many still retain their original case or carrying box, which increases their appeal to collectors. They are highly appreciated by writers, decorators and lovers of compact objects with history.

  Antique index typewriters

  Index typewriters are particularly curious models, earlier than or alternative to the conventional keyboard. In them, the user selected the letters by means of an index, pointer or similar system. They may have circular, linear or rectangular formats, and are often very rare pieces sought after by specialised collectors.

  Electric typewriters

  Electric typewriters represent a later stage in the evolution of typing. They incorporated motorised mechanisms that made writing easier and increased working speed. They are interesting for collectors of 20th-century office equipment and modern technical antiques.

  Antique typewriters for decoration

  In addition to their value as collector’s items, antique typewriters are highly decorative pieces. Their mechanical aesthetic, keyboards, rollers, levers, carriages and metal structures add character to any setting.
  
  

  An antique typewriter can fit perfectly in an office, library, writer’s studio, shop window, bookshop, restaurant, hotel, vintage store or interior design project. It is also a very special gift for writers, journalists, lawyers, teachers, designers, lovers of literature or people connected with the world of communication.

  Buying antique typewriters at Antiguedades.es

  At Antiguedades.es, we select antique typewriters for sale with special attention to their authenticity, state of preservation, period, maker, model, operation, rarity and decorative value. Each available piece is presented with detailed photographs and a description that is as accurate as possible.
  
  

  If you are looking for an Olivetti, Remington, Underwood, Royal, Hammond, Continental, AEG, Olympia, Erika, Triumph, Smith Corona or another historic typewriter brand, we recommend visiting this section frequently, as our catalogue is periodically updated with new additions.
  
  

  If you have any questions about a piece, need additional photographs, precise measurements or information about its condition, operation, period or maker, please contact us. We will be happy to help you find the antique typewriter best suited to your collection, office, library, decoration or interior design project.

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  Antique Calculators

  In this section you will find a carefully selected range of antique calculating machines, mechanical calculators, antique arithmometers, adding machines, comptometers, antique slide rules and other devices related to the history of calculation. They are highly appreciated by collectors, engineers, mathematicians, accountants, decorators and lovers of technical antiques.

  Antique calculators and mechanical calculating machines

  Antique calculators form part of the history of calculation, office work, accounting, engineering, commerce and technology. Before the arrival of electronic calculators and computers, complex mathematical operations were carried out using abacuses, slide rules, arithmometers, adding machines, comptometers and mechanical calculating machines.
  
  

  These instruments made it possible to add, subtract, multiply, divide and perform calculations with greater speed and precision. They were used for decades in banks, companies, offices, shops, factories, laboratories, universities, engineering firms and public administrations.

  A brief history of antique calculators

  The origin of calculators can be found in very ancient instruments, such as the abacus, and in later tools such as the slide rule. For centuries, human beings sought ways to simplify mathematical operations and reduce errors in manual calculation.
  
  

  In the 17th century, fundamental advances took place. Blaise Pascal developed the famous Pascaline, one of the first mechanical calculators in history, while Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz designed mechanisms capable of performing more complex arithmetic operations. These inventions opened the way for later calculating machines.
  
  

  At the beginning of the 19th century, Charles Xavier Thomas de Colmar created the arithmometer, one of the first commercially successful mechanical calculators. From then on, mechanical calculation was gradually perfected through new systems, makers and increasingly precise, robust and reliable models.

  The arithmometer and the first mechanical calculators

  The arithmometer was one of the great calculating machines of the 19th century. Usually built with a metal mechanism and a wooden or metal case, it became an essential tool for offices, banks, insurance companies, administrations and professionals who needed to perform operations quickly and safely.
  
  

  Antique arithmometers stand out for their robustness, mechanical beauty and quality of construction. Their cranks, moving carriages, dials, scales, visible figures and internal mechanisms make them very attractive pieces for collectors of technical antiques.
  
  

  Among the best-known models are those based on the Odhner system, developed by Willgodt Theophil Odhner in the 19th century. Odhner calculators and their derivatives, such as Felix machines, became very widespread and were manufactured for decades in different countries.

  Comptometers, adding machines and other antique calculating machines

  Alongside the arithmometer, other mechanical calculation systems appeared and became highly successful between the late 19th century and much of the 20th century. These include antique comptometers, mechanical adding machines, comptographs and keyboard calculators.
  
  

  The comptometer made it possible to perform operations quickly by means of a key system, without the need to operate a crank as in other models. These machines were widely used in accounting, commerce, offices and companies, especially for their speed and efficiency in repetitive operations.
  
  

  Antique adding machines, for their part, were common tools in banks, shops, offices and administrative departments. Many preserve numerical keyboards, levers, paper rollers, printing mechanisms, metal or wooden cases and maker’s plates, which increases their collector’s and decorative interest.

  The Curta and portable mechanical calculators

  Among the most admired mechanical calculators is the Curta, a highly precise portable calculator introduced in the mid-20th century. Designed by Curt Herzstark, it stands out for its compact size, mechanical complexity and extraordinary manufacturing quality.
  
  

  The Curta is one of the most sought-after antique calculating machines among collectors. Its cylindrical design, crank-operated mechanism and ability to perform complex operations make it a unique piece in the history of mechanical calculation.
  
  

  Today, Curta calculators are especially appreciated by engineers, mathematicians, collectors of scientific instruments and lovers of precision machines.

  Great makers of antique calculators

  The history of antique calculators is linked to numerous European, American and Russian manufacturers. Each brand developed its own technical solutions and produced models that are now of great interest to collectors.

  Brunsviga

  Brunsviga was one of the most important German brands in the manufacture of antique calculating machines. Its solid and precise models were used in offices, companies and institutions for decades.

  Odhner and Felix

  Odhner and Felix calculators are closely related to the evolution of the pinwheel arithmometer. They are highly representative machines of European and Russian mechanical calculation, appreciated for their robustness and technical design.

  Thales, Triumphator and Mercedes-Euklid

  Brands such as Thales, Triumphator and Mercedes-Euklid manufactured high-quality calculating machines during the 20th century. Their models are highly valued by collectors of antique calculators, especially when they preserve their good condition, original plates, complete mechanisms or carrying cases.

  Burroughs and other brands

  Burroughs was another important name in the history of calculating machines and adding machines. Alongside it, other brands developed mechanical, electric or printing models that marked the evolution of calculation in offices, banks and companies.

  Antique calculators for collecting and decoration

  Antique calculators have a special appeal because of their combination of usefulness, engineering, design and mechanical precision. Their keyboards, cranks, gears, moving carriages, dials and visible mechanisms show a period when calculation depended on physical and perfectly built solutions.
  
  

  In addition to their historical interest, many of these pieces still retain their functionality. Others are valued mainly as collector’s items or decorative objects, especially for their visual presence and the quality of their materials.
  
  

  An antique mechanical calculator, an arithmometer, an adding machine or a slide rule can be an ideal piece to decorate an office, engineering studio, workplace, library, scientific cabinet, shop window, private museum or industrial and technical-style space.
  
  

  Buying antique calculators at Antiguedades.es

  At Antiguedades.es, we select antique calculators for sale with special attention to their authenticity, state of preservation, period, maker, model, operation, rarity and decorative value. Each available piece is presented with detailed photographs and a description that is as accurate as possible.
  
  

  If you are looking for antique calculating machines, mechanical calculators, arithmometers, adding machines, comptometers, antique slide rules, Curta calculators, Brunsviga, Odhner, Felix, Thales, Triumphator, Mercedes-Euklid or Burroughs, we recommend visiting this section frequently, as our catalogue is periodically updated with new additions.
  
  

  If you have any questions about a piece, need additional photographs, precise measurements or information about its condition, operation, period or maker, please contact us. We will be happy to help you find the antique calculator best suited to your collection, office, library, scientific cabinet, decoration or interior design project.

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  Antique Telephones

  In this section you will find a carefully selected range of antique telephones for sale, including antique wall telephones, desk telephones, wooden telephones, Bakelite telephones, candlestick telephones, switchboard models, rotary dial telephones, Heraldo telephones, gondola-style telephones and other devices connected with the history of telephony.

  Antique telephones for collecting and decoration

  Antique telephones form part of the history of communications and the technical evolution of modern life. From the first late 19th-century devices to wall telephones, desk telephones, wooden models, candlestick telephones, Bakelite telephones and vintage 20th-century models, these pieces show how communication between people changed over time.
  
  

  Before mobile phones and digital communications, the telephone was one of the great inventions that transformed society. It shortened distances, made business faster, connected homes, offices, shops and administrations, and created a new way of communicating remotely.

  A brief history of antique telephones

  The history of the telephone is linked to some of the great technical advances of the 19th century. Although the invention of the telephone was long attributed to Alexander Graham Bell, the figure of Antonio Meucci now occupies an essential place in the origins of this device. Meucci developed a communication system he called the telettrofono, designed to transmit the human voice over distance.
  
  

  The appearance of the telephone profoundly revolutionised communication between people. From the first models, still bulky and complex, manufacturers gradually improved the technology, design and ease of use. Telephones went from being almost experimental technical instruments to becoming common objects in offices, shops, homes, hotels, stations, factories and administrations.
  
  

  During the 20th century, telephony spread massively. Wall telephones, desk models, rotary dial telephones, Bakelite devices and, later, compact models with more modern designs marked different stages in an evolution that prepared the way for today’s communications.

  Antique telephones for collecting and decoration

  Antique telephones are highly appreciated by collectors of technical antiques, lovers of the history of communications, decorators, interior designers and enthusiasts of industrial design. Their aesthetics, materials and mechanisms make them objects with great personality.
  
  

  An antique wooden telephone, a wall model with double bells, a black Bakelite telephone, a candlestick telephone or a classic rotary dial telephone can become a very attractive decorative piece for an office, library, hallway, living room, workplace, restaurant, hotel, vintage shop, shop window or interior design project.
  
  

  In addition to their decorative value, some antique telephones may retain part of their functionality or be adapted for current use, depending on the model and installation. In any case, their main interest lies in their history, design and direct connection with one of the great technological revolutions in communication.

  Types of antique telephones

  Antique candlestick telephones

  Antique candlestick telephones take their name from their vertical and slender design. In Spain they are also known as teléfonos de vela or candilófonos. They were very popular between the late 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century.
  
  

  These telephones usually consist of a base, a vertical stem, a fixed transmitter and a separate receiver. Their elegant silhouette and historic appearance make them highly sought-after pieces among collectors of antique telephony and decorators.

  Antique wall telephones

  Antique wall telephones were widely used in homes, shops, offices, hotels, taverns, stations and public spaces. Many models were made with wooden cases, metal mechanisms, cranks, separate receivers and external bells.
  
  

  Among the most decorative antique telephones are wall models with wooden cases and double bells. They are pieces with strong visual presence, very suitable for rustic, classic, industrial interiors or spaces connected with the history of communications.

  Antique desk telephones

  Antique desk telephones appeared as a more compact and convenient evolution of the earliest models. They were very common in offices, homes, workplaces and shops throughout much of the 20th century.
  
  

  This group includes telephones made of metal, Bakelite, early plastic or mixed materials, many with rotary dials, integrated receivers, original wiring and a design characteristic of their period. Classic models such as the Standard, Bakelite telephones and Heraldo telephones form part of the visual memory of several generations.

  Antique wooden telephones

  Antique wooden telephones are especially appreciated for their decorative strength. Many correspond to early 20th-century wall models, with solid wooden cases, metal bells, side crank and separate receiver.
  
  

  These pieces evoke the early years of telephony and are highly sought after for collections of technical antiques, interior decoration, country houses, restaurants, hotels, private museums and historically inspired settings.

  Heraldo telephones and vintage telephones

  Heraldo telephones, manufactured by Citesa and very popular in Spain from the 1960s onwards, form part of the everyday history of Spanish telephony. Although they are not always considered antiques in the strict sense, they are highly recognisable vintage pieces and increasingly appreciated by collectors and decorators.
  
  

  Alongside them, gondola-style telephones and other compact models from the second half of the 20th century represent a more modern, practical and domestic stage of design. Their retro aesthetic makes them ideal objects for vintage decoration, telephony collections and spaces inspired by 20th-century industrial design.

  Buying antique telephones at Antiguedades.es

  At Antiguedades.es, we select antique telephones for sale with special attention to their authenticity, state of preservation, period, materials, maker, design, rarity and decorative value. Each available piece is presented with detailed photographs and a description that is as accurate as possible.
  
  

  If you are looking for antique wall telephones, wooden telephones, desk telephones, candlestick telephones, Bakelite telephones, Heraldo telephones, rotary dial telephones, vintage models or telephony antiques, we recommend visiting this section frequently, as our catalogue is periodically updated with new additions.
  
  

  If you have any questions about a piece, need additional photographs, precise measurements or information about its condition, operation, period or maker, please contact us. We will be happy to help you find the antique telephone best suited to your collection, office, decoration, shop window or interior design project.

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  Antique Telegraphs

  In this section you will find a carefully selected range of antique telegraphs for sale, antique Morse devices, telegraph keys, Morse keys, telegraph stations, telegraph printers, galvanometers, coils, electrical components and other objects related to the history of telegraphy and communications.

  Antique telegraphs and Morse devices for collectors

  Antique telegraphs form part of the history of communications and represent one of the great technical advances of the 19th century. Before the arrival of the telephone, radio, the internet and digital communications, the telegraph made it possible to transmit messages over long distances with a speed previously unknown.
  
  

  Until the appearance of telegraphy, information depended mainly on postal mail, messengers or much more limited visual systems. The invention of the telegraph completely changed the way news, orders, commercial messages, military information and official communications were transmitted.

  A brief history of antique telegraphs

  The history of the telegraph is linked to the development of electricity, physics, engineering and the need to transmit information over distance. Although Samuel F. B. Morse is the name most closely associated with the invention of the electric telegraph, before his success there had been various investigations and experiments related to the electrical transmission of signals.
  
  

  Morse developed a practical system of electric telegraphy and, together with collaborators such as Alfred Vail, contributed to the creation and spread of the famous Morse code. This system made it possible to transmit letters, numbers and signs through combinations of short and long signals, popularly known as dots and dashes.
  
  

  During the 19th century, the telegraph spread rapidly through many countries. Telegraph lines connected cities, railway stations, ports, post offices, administrative centres and commercial networks. Thanks to telegraphy, news could travel in minutes instead of days or weeks.
  
  

  Antique telegraphs were a fundamental step in the evolution of modern communications. Their historical importance is enormous, as they prepared the way for the telephone, radio, electrical communications and, ultimately, today’s transmission systems.

  Antique Morse devices and telegraph stations

  Antique Morse devices are particularly interesting pieces within technical antiques. They may form part of transmitting stations, receiving stations or complete telegraph communication sets.
  
  

  Transmitting stations were equipped with Morse keys, telegraph keys or manipulators, used by the operator to send messages by means of electrical impulses. Each press of the key generated a signal which, combined with others, made it possible to form letters and words according to Morse code.
  
  

  Receiving stations could include recording devices, telegraph printers, sounders, coils, galvanometers and other elements designed to receive, interpret or record signals. In some cases, messages were printed on strips or rolls of paper, which were later read and transcribed by the operator.

  Types of antique telegraphs and telegraph pieces

  Antique Morse keys

  Antique Morse keys, also known as telegraph keys, are among the most sought-after pieces by collectors. They were used to send electrical signals through short and long presses, allowing complete messages to be transmitted by means of Morse code.
  
  

  These pieces often stand out for the quality of their materials, such as brass, steel, Bakelite, wood or ebonite, and for the precision of their mechanism. Their compact and functional design makes them highly attractive objects for collecting and decoration.

  Antique Morse devices

  Antique Morse devices include different instruments used to send, receive or record telegraph messages. They may preserve coils, printing mechanisms, electrical contacts, wooden bases, bells, springs, dials or original components.
  
  

  They are pieces of great interest to collectors of antique communications, technical antiques, scientific instruments and objects related to the history of electricity.

  Antique telegraph printers

  Antique telegraph printers made it possible to record received signs on paper. These devices transformed electrical signals into marks, dots, dashes or characters that could later be interpreted by an operator.
  
  

  Because of their mechanical and electrical complexity, antique telegraph printers are especially valued pieces. Their visual presence, visible mechanisms and direct connection with the transmission of news make them highly attractive objects for museums, private collections and technical decoration.

  Antique galvanometers

  Antique galvanometers were essential instruments for detecting and measuring small electrical currents. In the context of telegraphy, they helped to check the presence of a signal, the operation of the lines and the correct electrical transmission.
  
  

  These pieces are of great interest within scientific and electrical collecting. They are often made from quality materials and may preserve graduated scales, needles, coils, wooden cases, protective glass or maker’s plates.

  Antique telegraph stations

  Antique telegraph stations could be made up of different elements: Morse keys, receivers, sounders, printers, galvanometers, batteries, coils and other electrical components. When complete or partially complete sets are preserved, their historical and collector’s interest increases considerably.
  
  

  These sets help us better understand how a telegraph office, railway station, military installation or communication centre worked before the arrival of the telephone and other modern systems.

  Antique telegraphs for collecting and decoration

  Antique telegraphs and Morse devices are objects full of magnetism. Their appeal comes from the combination of history, precision, electricity, mechanics and design. They are pieces that evoke a period when each message required technical knowledge, attention and manual skill.
  
  

  These antiques are highly appreciated by collectors of antique technology, the history of communications, electricity, railway objects, militaria, scientific instruments and technical antiques. They are also highly decorative pieces for offices, libraries, private museums, scientific cabinets, shop windows, workspaces, studios and industrial-inspired interiors.
  
  

  In many cases, antique telegraphs still preserve their original mechanisms, wooden bases, contacts, coils, plates, cables, bells or brass elements. Even when not in use, they retain great visual strength and enormous historical value.

  Buying antique telegraphs at Antiguedades.es

  At Antiguedades.es, we select antique telegraphs for sale and Morse devices with special attention to their authenticity, state of preservation, period, materials, maker, operation, rarity and historical value. Each available piece is presented with detailed photographs and a description that is as accurate as possible.
  
  

  If you are looking for antique Morse devices, Morse keys, telegraph stations, telegraph printers, antique galvanometers, sounders, electrical components or antiques related to the history of telegraphy, we recommend visiting this section frequently, as our catalogue is periodically updated with new additions.
  
  

  If you have any questions about a piece, need additional photographs, precise measurements or information about its condition, operation, period or maker, please contact us. We will be happy to help you find the antique telegraph or Morse device best suited to your collection, office, private museum, decoration or interior design project.