Home / FAQ
Asked often
Twelve answers the bench gives most. The thirteenth answer is always: bring it in.
Do you buy machines?
Sometimes, and never by email. Bring it in; the bench decides.
Do you ship?
Machines, no. Ribbons and parts, yes, anywhere in the valley by Friday.
Can you fix my grandmother's machine?
That is the whole business. Bring the machine and the story.
What is the turnaround?
Service in three days, restoration in one to three weeks, house calls within the week.
Do you teach typing?
Saturdays at nine, in the back room. Free, three seats, arrive early.
Do you sell new typewriters?
No. New typewriters stopped being made and we never started pretending otherwise.
What is the bell?
The carriage bell rings at the end of each line. Ours rings twice on Saturdays.
Is the late-shift theme permanent?
No. The button in the corner; the eye doctor has opinions too.
Do you take trade-ins?
Into stock, at the bench's discretion, valued on the spot.
Do you repair adding machines?
One afternoon a month. Call first; the burp of joy is scheduled.
Can I just come and type?
Tuesdays after four, any machine on the shelf, one page at a time.
Why 'Carriage Bell'?
For the bell that rings when the carriage returns. Oren heard it across the mill in 1962 and never quite got over it.