Ruben Flores in his shop, U.S. Office Machines
A Writer's Notebook
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.
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.
Leave a CommentI recently contacted Bob Marshall at Typewriter Muse about these three parts machines I have. He showed an interest, so I told him I planned to be in Riverside later this month and would drop the machines by his shop. I’m always happy to put typewriters in the hands of people who can use them.
By the way, here’s an excellent write-up about Bob (“Meet Bob Marshall”) in a local magazine.
Leave a CommentMy flagship typewriter: a Woodstock No. 5 from 1916. This WWI-era machine still works perfectly over a hundred years later. Amazing!
A photo of this typewriter was published in a book called SHIFT HAPPENS, which can be ordered through this website — https://shifthappens.site
The above photo is what will appear in the book.
Leave a CommentMy flagship typewriter: a Woodstock No. 5 from 1916. This WWI-era machine still works perfectly over a hundred years later. Amazing!
Leave a CommentAs I sauntered into the musty thrift store, I didn’t expect to lay eyes on something so magnificent – a typewriter. Not just any typewriter, mind you, but a bona fide Royal De Luxe portable. The kind that’s beloved by typewriter connoisseurs worldwide. I had to have it.
The price tag was a little steep, a cool $58, but my heart was set on it. After all, when you stumble upon a gem like this, you don’t let a few dollars stand in the way of true love. So I snatched it up and held it close to my chest, feeling the weight of history in my hands.
It turns out, there’s a deadly flaw in the escapement – it skips, threatening to render this beauty useless.
My heart sank as I realized that this prized possession may only serve as mere decoration. And to add insult to injury, the shift key was proving to be a tough nut to crack. I should’ve scrutinized this more closely when I was perusing the thrift store, but alas, my excitement got the best of me.
I may have to face the hard truth that this Royal Deluxe will only ever grace my shelf, never to be used for its true purpose. But, as they say, such is life. And who knows, maybe there’s a typewriter repair wizard out there who can work their magic and bring this machine back to life.
Leave a CommentHere’s the printed proof of my sci-if novel, THE AREAN WALL, along with a favorite writing machine. The book will publish toward the end of the month. It’s not listed yet, but stay tuned.
This is a photo of Frank Sensenbrenner, an American politician who represented Wisconsin’s 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 2021. He loves his IBM Selectric.