Brand · Switzerland · 1920s–1980s

Used Hermès (Paillard) typewriters

Hermes typewriters were made by Paillard, the Swiss company also known for Bolex cameras, at Yverdon. The first Hermes portable was the 2000 of 1932, followed in 1935 by the Hermes Baby, a flat four-row ultra-portable designed by Giuseppe Prezioso and sold in the US as the Rocket. The Hermes 3000 arrived in 1958 and became the brand's best-known machine, used by Sylvia Plath, Larry McMurtry and Jack Kerouac among others; the Media 3 is its simpler, tab-less sibling. Hermes portables are widely regarded as among the best-made of their era, and the market prices them that way: in late 2026 complete Hermes 3000s asked roughly $390–720 delivered unserviced, and Babies $320–460. Swiss machines often have German, French or Swiss keyboards, so check the layout before you buy.