The Early Show

Ribbon Tin Revival

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

September 1, 1999 / 3:53 PM EDT / CBS

A little bit more than 100 years ago, the typewriter became part of the office much as the computer is today.

And just as your computer printer eats ink by the tankful, a business typewriter gobbled up a couple of ribbons a week. CBS News Saturday Morning's collectible expert Tony Hyman explains their worth.

To fill the demand for ribbons, small companies sprouted up everywhere, offering typewriter ribbons in tiny, eye-catching tins decorated with everything one could imagine: pirates and ships, beavers and badgers, giants and dwarves, pinups and pigeons.

Some long-lived brands like Panama can be found in dozens of varieties. Estimate the age of a Panama tin by identifying the era of the plane flying over the canal pictured on the tin.

The ribbon tins range in value from a dollar to $150. The average price of a collectible ribbon tin is about $12, although one ribbon tin is said to have sold for $1,200.

Some of the prettiest designs are found on the least expensive tins, making this a great beginning hobby. You'll find these useful tins in desk drawers filled with pins, tacks, stamps and even dentures.

For more information on typewriter ribbon tins, Hyman recommends Darryl Rehr, an expert buyer. His email address is dcrehr@earthlink.net. Read his article on the Early Typewriter Collectors Association Web site. He also buys antique typewriters and adding devices.

For more information on collectibles go to Tony Hyman's Web site.

Previous CBS News Saturday Morning segments with collectibles expert Tony Hyman are available in the Collectibles Archive.

If you think you have a collectible worth a lot of cash, send an email to sat@cbsnews.com. Put "What's It Worth?" in the subject line, or write to "What's It Worth?" CBS News Saturday Morning, 514 West 57th St., 6th floor, New York, N.Y. 10019.

Please note that because of the volume of mail received, Saturday Morning can't respond to all requests, but some will be selected and featured on the show in the near future.