Welcome to one of history’s finest typewriters, lovingly restored for your writing pleasure.

Each machine is restored to order.* Allow 2 weeks for your personal restoration. You’ll get a stunning, authentic, lovingly-restored specimen of this model in the condition selected.

*Only 8 Hermes 3000s leave our shop each month.

Hermes 3000 Typewriter History

Before Paillard designed the Hermes 3000, they spent years dissecting many of history's iconic typewriters in order to create the perfect machine.

In 1958 that machine was unleashed upon the world.

The result was a feature-rich machine that was durable, comfortable, and beautiful. It quickly became a legend in the literary world. Jack Kerouac reportedly wrote his final novel on the Hermes 3000. Sylvia Plath wrote her only novel, the Bell Jar, on one. Adrienne Rich wrote some of her iconic poetry on the Hermes.

The Hermes 3000 is unrivaled for its

• Smooth manual type action

• Buttery, effortless key stroke that rivals any other manual

• Swiss precision engineering - Made in Switzerland during the Golden Age (1950s-1960s)

• Iconic curved design

• Ultra-reliable mechanics - precision mechanics, builtl to last

• Perfect balance - Substantial build quality in a portable form

• Responsive touch - Light, fast action ideal for long writing sessions

• Cutting-edge features, like auto-margins, tab set and clear keys and auto margins with visible margin indicators

• A ‘gold setting’ that lets you get an extra ribbon worth of typing in the same ribbon

Some other writers of interest that have been notes as using a Hermes 3000:

Stephen Dixon, Stephen Fry, Sam Shepard , John Steinbeck, Eugene Lonesco, Matt Groening.

YOUR HERMES 3000 WILL INCLUDE:

•  Fully restored Hermes 3000 typewriter (iconic rounded 1950s model shown)

•  New professional ribbon installed (black)

•  Original case in excellent condition

•  Detailed care instructions

•  Video tutorial - Setup, maintenance, and typing tips

• Warranty coverage (1-year EXCELLENT / 3-year BEST)

• Lifetime trade-in policy (100% credit toward any future purchase)

PROFESSIONAL RESTORATION BY EXPERT TECH:

Every Hermes 3000 receives a complete mechanical restoration:

• Full disassembly and deep cleaning

• Initial Test; mechanical adjustments and repairs

• New rubber platen installed

• New rubber feet installed

• Type cleaning and alignment

• Tension and spacing calibration

• Final quality inspection by Steven

These aren't just "cleaned up" - they're fully restored to like-new performance. ---

INCLUDES SETUP & CARE VIDEO TUTORIAL

New to typewriters? This video makes getting started effortless.

WARRANTY: Comes with our 1-3 year comprehensive warranty, depending on condition selected.

LIFETIME TRADE-IN POLICY: Changed your mind? Want to upgrade? We offer 100% trade-in credit (what you paid) toward any future typewriter purchase. Forever. Try that with any other vintage seller. ---

PROFESSIONAL SHIPPING: Professional eco-friendly packing - double-walled, load tested box, fully protected (some places use pounds of plastic and foam to pack one typewriter. We don’t. I’m trying to IMPROVE world conditions through recycling machines, not make things WORSE.)

We've shipped thousands of typewriters without incident. Your machine will arrives safe and ready to write.

SPECS:

• Model: Hermes 3000 Portable

• Manufacturer: Paillard (Switzerland)

• Manufacturing Period: 1950s-1960s

• Dimensions: 13" W × 13" D × 6" H

• Weight (with case): 17 lbs

• Weight (without case): 14 lbs

• Keyboard Layout: QWERTY, US Mechanism (sometimes you’ll get some European accent keys as special characters) [Machine of the world!]

• Type: Manual portable typewriter

• Platen Width: 10 inches (standard letter)

• Case: Original

• Condition: Professionally restored

• New Parts Installed: Platen, feet, ribbon

• Typeface: Elite or Pica (request in form at checkout)

***

Choose your Condition at checkout:

EXCELLENT = Daily Writer Fully restored and ready for heavy daily use. Clean, smooth, reliable. All mechanical issues addressed. May show light cosmetic wear from 60+ years of age. Perfect for writers who want a stunning working tool that will write and write.

1 YEAR WARRANTY.

BEST = Pristine cosmetic condition. Collector-grade aesthetics with flawless mechanics. For those that require or demand the best.

3 YEAR WARRANTY

***

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. (There is also a form at checkout where you can put requests, concerns, usage, etc).

📧 Email: steven@classictypewriter.com

Most sincerely,

Steven Budden Jr.

Classic Typewriter Co.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

classictypewriter.com

WHAT SETS US APART

Our Promise | Warranty | Working Guarantee | Lifetime Tradein Policy

RESOURCES

FAQ | Condition Explanation

REVIEWS

Karl S. Dec 9, 2024 — "Typewriter exceeded my expectations. The Hermes 3000 has become my new workhorse typewriter. A gorgeous piece of European ingenuity."

Gaye M. Sep 2, 2025 — "It's PERFECT!! Steven was with me every time I got in touch with any question."

Hope Bennett Jan 22, 2025 — "The typewriter will have a permanent position of honor in my sunroom."

Tracy N. Nov 4, 2024 — "A beautiful machine and works like a charm. I'm looking forward to many days of happy writing. Great service."

Douglas C. Jan 4, 2026 — "Beautiful typewriter, outstanding service. Highly recommend!"