90 Year Old Typewriter Repairman! Robert E De Barth, Lansdale PA [ Video ]

Wow, was my day ever made when we pulled on the door at De Barth Typewriter Repairs and it was open! Robert does most of his repairwork for people who send their typewriters to him, so he keeps the lights off in the front mostly.

Here's a quick video I did with my phone (apologies/quality/my big face) to give you a peek inside. I hope to return to do a more proper vid some time as he's too fascinating a character to not share with everyone:

BOY was it fascinating to talk to him  - about the history of typewriters, how he at 90 years old is still sharp as a tack and fixes typewriters himself, sometimes fabricating missing parts in his shop, and how he gets typewriters from all over the world sent to him for repairs.

Here's what it looks like from the outside:

The hours are Tuesday to Saturday 9-1, but best to call before going, just to make sure he's there.

I can't tell you how much it means, to know that there's someone, 90 years old, with a wealth of knowledge about these antique machines, still repairing them, and that they still work after being 100 years old, when today we can't even use a computer that is 5 years old. Sigh!