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1886 Caligraph 2 Serial # 14661 1886 Caligraph 2 typewriter, Serial # 14661 Brian Decker's 1886 Caligraph 2 typewriter. 2026-08-08 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Brian Decker: 1886 Caligraph 2 Serial # 14661 2026-AUG-08, Gallery Creation. I do not own a Caligraph, never have; but due to their scarceness and desirability, I figured this example currently listed on eBay was worth a TWDB gallery. Also, the serial number, 14661, is in the transition range (~14000-17000) for metal-ringed keytops to vulcanite keytops with clear celluloid caps, according to TWDB. I'm not sure which type is on this machine, frankly; the greenish-tint may be an artifact of the listing photos, or may be oxidation of copper in the metal key rings. Alternatively, I could be looking at dirty vulcanite!

This eBay listing has the "Buy It Now/OBO" option; the "Buy It Now" price is $389.87. The seller is "The Way less taken" out of Mechanicsville, VA. This machine is not in the best condition, but it's not as though a Caligraph comes available on eBay every day (in truth, there are five Caligraph machines that I can find listed on eBay currently: three in Europe, one other one in the USA; the only other one with a visible serial number is a New Century Model 6 in the Hunter Collection in France). My rough best guess for a manufacture date is around 1886, four years into production (out of 12, from 1882-1894). If No. 2 started around S/N 5000, this one is in the realm of 10,000 out of about 30,000 produced, so about a third of the way into the series.

1886 Caligraph 2 #14661

Status: Sightings
Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)
Created: 08-08-2026 at 02:38PM
Last Edit: 08-08-2026 at 03:44PM

Description Hunter 20 Photos 0 Likes  Find on Ebay #AD  Find on Etsy #AD

Description:

2026-AUG-08, Gallery Creation. I do not own a Caligraph, never have; but due to their scarceness and desirability, I figured this example currently listed on eBay was worth a TWDB gallery. Also, the serial number, 14661, is in the transition range (~14000-17000) for metal-ringed keytops to vulcanite keytops with clear celluloid caps, according to TWDB. I'm not sure which type is on this machine, frankly; the greenish-tint may be an artifact of the listing photos, or may be oxidation of copper in the metal key rings. Alternatively, I could be looking at dirty vulcanite!

This eBay listing has the "Buy It Now/OBO" option; the "Buy It Now" price is $389.87. The seller is "The Way less taken" out of Mechanicsville, VA. This machine is not in the best condition, but it's not as though a Caligraph comes available on eBay every day (in truth, there are five Caligraph machines that I can find listed on eBay currently: three in Europe, one other one in the USA; the only other one with a visible serial number is a New Century Model 6 in the Hunter Collection in France). My rough best guess for a manufacture date is around 1886, four years into production (out of 12, from 1882-1894). If No. 2 started around S/N 5000, this one is in the realm of 10,000 out of about 30,000 produced, so about a third of the way into the series.

Typeface Specimen:

Photos:

Front top-down view with somewhat better lighting.
Front top-down view with somewhat better lighting.

Keyboard and front arm-rest panel.
Keyboard and front arm-rest panel.

Keyboard closeup - metal rings or vulcanite?
Keyboard closeup - metal rings or vulcanite?

Carriage raised.
Carriage raised.

Serial number.
Serial number.

Left carriage rail-end.
Left carriage rail-end.

Forward right quadrant view.
Forward right quadrant view.

Right broadside view.
Right broadside view.

Aft right quadrant view.
Aft right quadrant view.

Aft, slightly to right.
Aft, slightly to right.

Aft, slightly to left.
Aft, slightly to left.

Left broadside view.
Left broadside view.

Left forward quadrant view.
Left forward quadrant view.

Type basket, aft detail.
Type basket, aft detail.

Type basket, forward detail.
Type basket, forward detail.

Underside.
Underside.

Underside detail.
Underside detail.

Underside detail #2.
Underside detail #2.

Caligraph decal.
Caligraph decal.

eBay main listing view.
eBay main listing view.

Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)

Brian Decker's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 4160

My interest in typewriters started in 1997, when I was in graduate school at the University of Georgia. I purchased and read Darryl Rehr's book, joined ETC, and started reaching out to known collectors. I had several email interchanges with Richard Polt dating from that period. I also bought some of my first machines from Bob Aubert, and visited him at his home twice. After marriage and relocation to New England, I continued visiting antique shops and eBay, until other priorities put my typewriter hobby on hiatus around 2008.

In late 2024, I started up again, working on my machines and having some of them serviced professionally by New England Typewriter (NET) LLC (Merrimack, NH), until they closed their doors in December of 2025. Since mid-2025, I have been adding to my collection again, first with a Hermes 3000 purchase from NET, then with various auctions and purchases on eBay, when I find something that catches my eye.


RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Caligraph 2 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Caligraph Serial Number page and the Caligraph 2 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.

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