Old Typewriter Print Ads

These vintage typewriter ads are a masterclass in selling technology before it was cool. Marketers back then weren’t pitching “machines” — they were selling efficiency, prestige, and progress.

Marketing Analysis

Each ad blends emotional appeal with practicality. They showed how a typewriter could make your office faster, your writing cleaner, and your work more “modern.” The visuals often depicted professional men and women confidently using the product — a subtle way of saying, “Buy this, and you’ll look like them.”

Why It Works

• Focused on benefits, not specs
• Linked product use to identity and success
• Used future-focused language (“modern,” “efficient”)
• Created social proof with professional imagery

Examples

• Apple sold the iPhone as “a life upgrade,” not a phone.
• Tesla markets its cars as innovation status symbols.
• Grammarly sells confidence, not grammar checking.
• Peloton ties fitness gear to community and aspiration.