Have you watched the 2016 documentary California Typewriter? It features Tom Hanks and John Mayer.
Shockingly I have not. Instead… I went to the actual store.
A visit to the actual store
This film has eluded me for some time. I missed the Canadian screenings for a variety of reasons and it’s not on Netflix.*
I will rectify this glaring gap in my typewriter obsession but in the meantime, when I found myself in California earlier this year, I made it my mission to get myself to Berkley to visit this store.
Private tour
I got there in the nick of time. The shop was in the process of closing the doors when I arrived in early March.
In fact, Carmen Permillion, one of the daughters of owner Herbert Permillion, was so kind to make arrangments with me to open the shop doors just for me. It was so cool!
typewriters and fans say farewell
Some machines were ready to say farewell to California Typewriter as they waited for their owners to pick them up after being serviced and repaired.
I was secretly hoping this Hermes 3000 wouldn’t be claimed and I could causually take it home with me. Ha!
Another typewriter shop in Berkeley
I wish I had seen this shop in it’s heyday. This is the store that served as the inspiration for the film when the director first had his typewriter serviced here.
BUT all you typewriter aficionados don’t have to worry, there is another typewriter shop in Berkeley aptly named Berkeley Typewriter. Did I visit it too? You bet I did.
In fact, I had the pleasure of meeting Ken, the typewriter technician who used to work at the California Typewriter shop. He’s a bit famous now –to those in the know, so this was great fun for me.
Have you watched California Typewriter?
*Although not on Netflix you can rent the film on Amazon.com, YouTube or Google Play. After a bit of digging I also found it for FREE on Shaw on Demand. You know what I’ll be doing this weekend!
I’ve seen the film, thanks to your blog 🙂
And I’ve also read “Uncommon Type”, thanks to watching the film. Good book!
Oh yes, Eva, I totally forgot about Tom Hanks book “Uncommon Type.” I have read it as well and thoroughly enjoyed the short stories; each featuring a typewriter.
When the Calgary Public Library opens once again, it is available on DVD to check out and watch, and it is an absolutely fabulous documentary. I am so sad the store is closing though! Shops like this one are absolute gems, and the technicians are rare beings indeed. We need to find younger people who would love to learn to repair typewriters and take up the cause for the next generation, to keep the whole typewriter culture going.
Carla! This is brilliant and the best tip ever. Thank you for pointing me to this and sharing with all of us. Perhaps the film will be found in many libraries. As for who will repair the typewriters? this is a very good question. I wish I knew the answer. Thank for reading along.