About this tool
Vintage typewriter specs are full of jargon: Pica, Elite, CPI, character density… This converter turns them into numbers you can compute, so you can figure out 'how many words fit on a page' of a given machine.
The lower half embeds serial-number age tables for the major brands (Underwood, Olivetti, Remington, Royal, Smith-Corona, Hermès, Olympia, IBM Selectric): pick a brand and a serial range to estimate the production year. Note: estimates are based on published reference data — for precise dating, consult that brand's official serial handbook.
How to use
- Use the top cards to convert Pica/Elite and character density
- Enter line width and spacing to compute characters per line
- Below, pick a brand to see its serial-number age bands
FAQ
What do Pica and Elite mean?
Pica = 10 characters per inch (10 CPI); Elite = 12 characters per inch (12 CPI). Pica type is larger and easier to read; Elite fits more text per line.
Is the serial dating accurate?
We provide decade-level estimate bands, good for a quick date. Year-precise dating needs the brand's official serial handbook (often verifiable at community databases).
Looking for more? Browse our history timeline, the glossary or the brand encyclopaedia.