Royal · 1958–1962
Typical used$120–$230
The Royal Futura was Royal McBee's large late-1950s portable, sold from 1958 to about 1962 in two trims: the Futura 600 and the better-equipped Futura 800. It is bigger and heavier than the Quiet De Luxe, which is why it is often called a semi-portable, and it carries Royal's Magic Margin, with two red margin buttons on top of the carriage. The styling is the attraction: sculpted, often two-tone bodies in grey, salmon pink, turquoise and the occasional tri-colour. Futuras were built in the USA and Canada. In late 2026 about 17 Futura 800s were on eBay at roughly $120–230 delivered, none sold as serviced; colour moves the price more than mechanical condition does.
Buying guide
From Sep 25, 2026 listings
17 Futura 800s are listed, most at $120–230 delivered. None is sold as serviced, so plan on a clean, and check that the Magic Margin lever works, since it sticks when the carriage rails are dry. Color moves the price more than condition: salmon-pink two-tones and the odd tri-color ask more than the common gray. Two sellers say theirs works, at $160–170 delivered, which is the sweet spot. Watch shipping, which adds $89 and $154 on two listings. Like other Royals, the Futura takes a Royal ribbon spool, not Group 1.
Two-tone gray, about $94 delivered ($55 plus $39 shipping) with Best Offer from a 100% seller, below the $120–230 band. The seller says it isn't serviced, so budget for a clean, and ask whether every key strikes and the carriage advances.
Vintage Royal Futura 800 2-Tone Gray Typewriter Not Serviced
A 1959 Futura in periwinkle blue and gray with its case, listed as working, $160 with free shipping and Best Offer, from a 100% seller. Mid-band money for a machine the seller says types; ask for a typed sample and a check of the Magic Margin lever.
1959 Royal Futura 800 Typewriter • Periwinkle Blue & Gray w/Case Works
Baby blue with its case, listed as working, about $170 delivered ($116 plus $54 shipping) from a 100% seller. A fair price for a machine you can type on straight away; ask whether the margins set and the ribbon reverses at each end.
Vintage 1960's Royal Typewriter Futura 800 Baby Blue w/Case Works
Two-tone salmon pink with its case, about $193 delivered with Best Offer from a 100% seller, still inside the typical band. Pink two-tones are the Futuras collectors look for; ask for close photos of the corners, where two-tone paint chips, and whether it types.
Vtg Royal Futura 800 Portable Typewriter w/Case Two-Tone Salmon Pink &
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Sep 25, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ — eBay shows your exact total before you buy.
Snapshot
8 of 17 listed
Snapshot captured — listings may have ended
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Sep 25, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ — eBay shows your exact total before you buy.
UsedVintage Royal Futura 800 2-Tone Gray Typewriter Not Serviced
$55.00 + $38.55 shipping
Buy It Now$55.00
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Good buy
Not serviced, per the seller. Two-tone gray, about $94 delivered.
Seller: cartwh86
100% positive from 3.3K ratings
Used1959 Royal Futura 800 Typewriter • Periwinkle Blue & Gray w/Case Works
$159.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$159.99
This seller takes offers, and sellers often accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
Works, per the seller. $160 with free shipping.
Seller: estatefindsandliquidations
100% positive from 8.6K ratings
UsedVintage 1960's Royal Typewriter Futura 800 Baby Blue w/Case Works
$116.00 + $54.04 shipping
Buy It Now$116.00
This seller takes offers, and sellers often accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
Works, per the seller. Baby blue, about $170 delivered.
Seller: blackenstang
100% positive from 97 ratings
UsedVtg Royal Futura 800 Portable Typewriter w/Case Two-Tone Salmon Pink &
$130.00 + $62.61 shipping
Buy It Now$130.00
This seller takes offers, and sellers often accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
Two-tone salmon pink with the case, about $193 delivered.
Seller: imokru232
100% positive from 394 ratings
UsedVINTAGE ROYAL FUTURA 800 PORTABLE TYPEWRITER BLUE/GRAY in HARDCASE
$37.59 + $88.69 shipping
Buy It Now$37.59
This seller takes offers, and sellers often accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
Blue and gray in a hard case. About $89 of the $126 is shipping.
Seller: willsdeals13
100% positive from 1.6K ratings
UsedRoyal Futura 800 Portable Typewriter Gray No Case
$74.99 + $57.92 shipping
Buy It Now$74.99
This seller takes offers, and sellers often accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
No case. Fine if you'll keep it on a desk.
Seller: yabuya0
99.2% positive from 1.2K ratings
UsedRoyal Futura 800 Typewriter Rare Red White & Blue Tri-Color Model W Le
$165.00 + $154.10 shipping
Buy It Now$165.00
This seller takes offers, and sellers often accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
Red, white and blue tri-color with a case — unusual, but about $154 of the $319 is shipping.
Seller: gimbler
99.7% positive from 9.8K ratings
UsedVintage Royal Futura 800 1960’s Typewriter
$320.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$320.00
This seller takes offers, and sellers often accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Heads-up: priced high
$320 on a bare listing with no condition claims, well above the typical band. Ask for photos and a typed sample.
Seller: 4clbloom
100% positive from 542 ratings
Prices and availability change daily. The full, current search on eBay shows every matching listing, including new ones since Sep 25, 2026.
See all current listings on eBay →Manual typewriters here are 50–80 years old; the same condition badge means different things at that age than on a 2-year-old electronic. Use this as a translation key when you read listings.
New / new-old-stock
Vanishingly rare on a manual typewriter — most surviving units are 50+ years old. A "new" listing here usually means a late-production unit (e.g. a 1990s Olivetti Lettera 32 still sealed in factory packaging) or a seller misusing the badge. Verify the listing photos show the original packaging and factory ribbon spool; treat the price premium with skepticism unless those check out.
Refurbished / serviced
The body has been through a CLA (clean / lubricate / adjust) by a typewriter specialist — segment re-lubed, platen tested or re-covered, draw band re-tensioned, type slugs cleaned, key linkages freed. Expect a $100–250 premium over an unserviced "used" equivalent; the listing should name the shop (Gramercy, Cambridge, WordsAreWinged, etc.) or include a service receipt. Highest-confidence buy for a writer who wants to type the day it arrives.
Used — tested / working
The realistic ceiling for most listings. Body types, carriage returns, escapement advances, shift works, ribbon advances. Cosmetic wear is normal. Look for "tested with fresh ribbon" (best), "tested — types all letters" (fine), plus a stated return window — anything short of that drifts toward "for parts." Platen rubber often still hardened on a "used — tested" body; budget $150–250 for a re-cover if you plan to type long-form on it.
For parts / not working
Sold as-is with no functional guarantee. Common project-typewriter failure modes: hardened platen, gummed segment (sticky keys), broken draw band, missing case, broken bell, dirty type slugs. Buy only to harvest components for another body, donate to a tech for spares, or accept the gamble of a $100–300 specialist CLA on top. The cheapest path to a typing body is almost always a "used — tested" listing, not "for parts" plus a service bill.
The ribbon, brush, platen fluid, and oil a body off eBay almost never ships with. The ribbon link is matched to Royal proprietary — the wrong spool is the easiest way to lose a typewriter purchase on the consumable.
Ribbon — Royal proprietary (Royal Quiet De Luxe lineage)
Search on AmazonType slug cleaner brush
Search on AmazonPlaten rejuvenation fluid
Search on AmazonLight machine oil (segment + rails)
Search on AmazonReplacement rubber feet
Search on AmazonPlan on a clean: the Magic Margin and carriage stick when the rails are dry and dirty, and old lubricant makes keys sluggish. Check the platen and feed rollers, which are usually hard. Like other Royals it takes a Royal-style ribbon spool, not Group 1, so check before ordering ribbon. Two-tone paint shows chips on the corners; on a colour-premium machine look closely at the photos. Make sure the carriage release levers and paper bail rollers are present.
The Futura 600 shares the body with fewer features. Production years are approximate spans compiled from collector references (the Typewriter Database, oz.Typewriter, Ted Munk's and Richard Polt's typewriter pages). Individual machines are dated by serial number: look the serial up on the Typewriter Database's serial-number page for this brand rather than trusting a seller's stated year.