Underwood · late 1930s–1950s
Typical used$130–$200
The Champion was Underwood's budget portable, sharing the 1938 Dobson-designed body with the Universal but with fewer features and a shorter key throw; a still simpler Leader followed in 1949. It was built in Hartford, Connecticut, and sold in large numbers through the 1940s and 1950s, which is why it is one of the cheapest American portables today. The glossy black 1930s bodies are the earlier ones and ask more than the 1940s grey crinkle machines. In late 2026 about 20 were on eBay, most at $130–200 delivered, and tested machines with a case ran about $150–185.
Buying guide
From Oct 1, 2026 listings
20 Champions are listed, most at $130–200 delivered, which makes it one of the cheapest American portables. It's Underwood's budget model, with a shorter key throw than the Universal. Untested cased machines start near $55, and tested ones with a case run about $150–180. Glossy black bodies are the earlier finish and ask more than the 1940s gray crinkle. Red flag: a for-parts machine at $75 costs more than an untested complete one. A manual, a mainspring, a magazine ad and a desk-size 'Bulletin' Champion also showed up and aren't counted.
With its case, untested, about $55 delivered ($30 plus $25 shipping) with Best Offer from a 99.5% seller — well under the $130–200 band. Untested means it may need a clean, so ask whether the carriage advances and every key strikes before you offer.
Vintage Underwood Champion Portable Typewriter w/ Case Made in USA Unt
With its case and in good working condition per a 100% seller, about $150 delivered ($120 plus $30 shipping), Buy It Now. That's the low end of the band for a cased, working Champion. Ask for a typed sample and a photo of the case.
antique UNDERWOOD CHAMPION Typewriter & Case in Good Working Condition
Tested and working with its case, about $179 delivered ($150 plus $29 shipping) with Best Offer from a 99.8% seller. It's mid-band, so an offer is reasonable; ask what the test covered and whether the ribbon is fresh.
Vintage Underwood Champion Portable Typewriter Tested Works W/Case Gre
Glossy black with its case, the earlier finish collectors prefer, about $353 delivered with Best Offer from a 100% seller. The $250 ask is the top of the range and $103 shipping pushes it further, so make an offer and ask whether it types.
Vtg Underwood Champion Portable Typewriter w/ Case -Glossy Black -Made
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 1, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ — eBay shows your exact total before you buy.
Snapshot
8 of 20 listed
Snapshot captured — listings may have ended
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 1, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ — eBay shows your exact total before you buy.
UsedVintage Underwood Champion Portable Typewriter w/ Case Made in USA Unt
$30.00 + $25.10 shipping
Buy It Now$30.00
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.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Lowest total at about $55; untested, with the case.
Seller: oldworldfindsshop
99.5% positive
Usedantique UNDERWOOD CHAMPION Typewriter & Case in Good Working Condition
$120.00 + $29.55 shipping
Buy It Now$120.00
Good buy
Good working condition, per the seller.
Seller: arts_and_characters
100% positive
UsedVintage Underwood Champion Portable Typewriter Tested Works W/Case Gre
$149.70 + $29.45 shipping
Buy It Now$149.70
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.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Tested and working per the seller, with the case, about $179 delivered.
Seller: grib_81
99.8% positive
UsedVtg Underwood Champion Portable Typewriter w/ Case -Glossy Black -Made
$249.95 + $103.37 shipping
Buy It Now$249.95
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.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Glossy black with the case; $103 of the $353 total is shipping.
Seller: hive_mind_industries
100% positive
For partsUnderwood Champion Portable Typewriter In Case 1940s For Parts or Repa
$44.99 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$44.99
Our take
For parts or repair, about $75 delivered — $20 more than the untested, complete $55 Champion.
Seller: jenntiques2
100% positive
Used1941 Underwood Champion Portable Typewriter In Case
$90.99 + $15.40 shipping
Buy It Now$90.99
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.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
1941, in its case, about $106 delivered.
Seller: markmagnuson10
99.4% positive from 7K ratings
UsedAntique UNDERWOOD Champion Typewriter w/ Upper Tabulator Bar
$150.00 + $45.00 shipping
Buy It Now$150.00
Our take
Has the upper tabulator bar, about $195 delivered.
Seller: brcarc_91
100% positive
UsedVintage 1940's UNDERWOOD Champion Drab Gray/Green Deco Working Typewri
$199.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$199.99
Our take
1940s drab gray-green deco finish, working per the seller, $200 with free shipping.
Seller: georgeb2482
100% positive from 8.3K ratings
Prices and availability change daily. The full, current search on eBay shows every matching listing, including new ones since Oct 1, 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 Group 1 universal — the wrong spool is the easiest way to lose a typewriter purchase on the consumable.
Ribbon — Group 1 universal (most postwar portables)
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 AmazonThe case is often the weak point: check the handle, hinges and latch. Plan on a platen re-cover for regular typing. Grey crinkle paint flakes around the carriage. Check the carriage return, line spacing and margin release. Searches also turn up manuals, mainsprings and the desk-size Bulletin Champion, so read titles carefully.
The Champion and Universal share a body; the badge on the paper table tells them apart. 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.