1928 Barr Typewriter #2444
Status: My Collection
Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)
Created: 04-19-2026 at 10:38AM
Last Edit: 04-19-2026 at 11:34AM
Find on Ebay #AD
Find on Etsy #AD
Description:
2026-APR-19 Gallery Creation. I won this early turquoise Barr portable typewriter in an eBay auction that ended on Monday, 4/6/2026. This was a very popular item, and there were 47 bids before the end. The winning bid was $349, and shipping was $22.50, so my total came to $371.50.
It turns out that the sellers are based in the Binghamton, NY area, not far from Ithaca, where this typewriter was manufactured. I inquired about any provenance or history they might have had; all they could say is they purchased it at a local auction, and that it had come from the estate of a wealthy couple. However, as the gallery images show, there is a dealer label for a Leo Friedmann Typewriters; unfortunately, a quick Google search did not provide any further details on this organization. Interestingly, the under-side of the Type Cleaner instruction card has the remnants of a Weimar Germany-era 30 Mark stamp attached to it. That particular stamp was issued in the 2nd half of 1922. Why someone stuck it to the back of the instruction card is yet another mystery.
I have read the 2024 updated Will Davis article on the Barr, or Barr-Morse, Typewriter Company, and his writings indicate that this machine, S/N #2444, was produced before early 1930. Since Barr production started in Q4 of 1927, I would estimate this specimen was produced in 1928; but 1929 is also a possibility. Will Davis has high praise for the Barr as a usable, well-built machine, and with one now in hand, I can attest to its impressive build qualities. The auction win was worth every penny, and I'm even tempted to look for another Barr to add to my collection at some point.
I was able to create a weak typing sample with the installed ribbon, though it's very worn out. The type slugs seem to have the same foundry symbology as the Smith-Coronas of that era. This machine will be a worthy project to refurbish into a well-running and usable typewriter.
Typeface Specimen:
Photos:
Hunter: Brian Decker (bkdecker66)
Brian Decker's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]
Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 2104
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 Barr Typewriter on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Barr Serial Number page and the Barr Typewriter By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.
