I ventured out to Riverside under the sweltering summer sun, the air thick with the heat of the dog days, to meet the Typewriter Muse himself, Bob Marshall. Bob is the sole typewriter repairman in Southern California, and his expertise is unparalleled. Running an analog business in a digital age demands a deep understanding of his clientele and their unique needs, which Bob handles with ease. He’s a friendly guy I connected with through his Instagram account. You can also catch Bob with Joe Van Cleave in a delightful video that highlights the exceptional rapport between these two typewriter maestros.

Bob put in a call to Joe Van Cleave, another typewriter guru.

The typewriter I handed to Bob for repair is a Royal Safari with a rare and exquisite script font, elite 12-pitch. This font is a true gem, scarcely seen these days. The machine was an eBay find, so I was a little worried about shipping. And of course it arrived in dire condition—an unfortunate victim of poor handling. While it reportedly worked perfectly for the seller, by the time it reached me, it was DOA with a battered and bent carriage. Bob assessed the damage and confirmed it would require some effort, but he assured me he could restore it to working order. I eagerly anticipate the day this machine is back in action, ready to type again.