Meeting interesting people is just ONE of the perks of my profession. I ran across a news story about a 93 year old gentleman from Bremerton who has been repairing typewriters for nearly 80+ years. What?  I have an old Royal typewriter that could use some help–and hadn’t even considered typewriter repair folks were still around, and fairly close!  I was immediately on the phone making arrangements to meet him.  Allow me to introduce Bob Montgomery, of Bremerton Office Machine Company.  I lugged my machine up the 5 flights (thank goodness for elevators) and expectantly waited to hear his appraisal.  His repair shop was packed to the gills with resource materials, tools, binders, machines patiently waiting, and a bespectacled Mr. Montgomery, atop his swiveling office chair, in the middle of it all.  You can be certain he knows EXACTLY where every single thing is in there too.  After locating the serial number, he pulled out a dog-eared manila folder full of well worn loose sheets, page after page full of columns of tiny numbers.  His finger navigating the way through the numbers, he tells me my machine was made in 1937 with the excitement of a gold prospector who found flecks in his pan.  Incredible to think of how many stories and correspondence were produced on this machine…  Apparently all it needs is a new ribbon and some deep cleaning!  I can’t wait to see how it works and looks.  Now to find some deliciously creamy typewriter paper…  Letters anyone?