My
Saturday with the Braille Writer Repair Man
Editor�s Note: The following article, originally titled �How I Spent My Saturday� is reprinted from an issue of the VIP Newsletter, a publication of the Visually Impaired Preschool Services of Louisville, Kentucky. As a service to our readers, I did some research and added the list of Braille writer repair individuals and agencies at the end of the article.
I recently spent a Saturday with John Ireland (a.k.a.
Dr. Dot), Braille writer repairman extra-ordinaire, dismantling and
reassembling a Braille writer. The process took over eight hours, which is
typical, John says, of a good job.
We look at a Braille writer and think, �How
old-fashioned-looking and simple this thing is.� You would probably be
surprised to know, if you haven�t attempted this yourself, that there are a
zillion parts inside, all with peculiar names, and with no obvious pattern of
connection. In addition to the native parts, there are often some interesting
�foreign� parts. John says that his typical finds include pencil parts, french
fries, safety pins, chewing gum wrappers, labels wrapped around the rollers,
paper chunks, and lots of dirt and grime.
As John took the Braille writer apart, he examined
each part and its connection to the next, analyzing as he went. After the
workbench was completely covered with thing-a-mabobs and doohickeys, he started
the re-assembly. He carefully cleaned each of the zillion pieces, filed a few
back into shape, straightened one or two parts, put only the slightest drop of
oil in just the right spots, and replaced springs and missing screws. As he
re-installed each separate piece, he carefully checked for smoothness of
operation and alignment of parts. Seeing the dissected beast back in one piece
and working properly was quite a delight! Observing the knowledge and skill
needed to complete a cleaning and repair gave me a new understanding of what is
required and evoked great admiration for the time, patience, and care that John
gives to the process.
As I drove home, completely mind-boggled, several
things John said during the process rang clearly. If we want to keep Braille
writers working, we must teach students to 1. Keep the cover on them when not
in use. 2. Store them away from heat and dust. 3. Do everything you can to keep
foreign objects out of the Braille writer (which includes not brushing the dog
near the Braille writer). 4. Do not attempt to take the Braille writer apart,
and do not add oil or sprays. 5. When a Braille writer is shipped, always send
it in the container especially designed for shipping. Wrap the Braille writer
in a plastic bag to protect it from the Styrofoam inserts required for padding.
(The Styrofoam breaks up, freeing little chunks to migrate into the most
sensitive Braille writer parts.) 6. Mailing regulations under FREE MATTER FOR
THE BLIND do not allow anything to be shipped with the Braille writer. Send
letters, money, etc. in a separate envelope, regular mail.
In addition to our local agencies, John repairs for
people all over the country (individuals and other agencies). Always call him
before sending a Braille writer for repair. He currently has a large backlog
(as well as a full-time job and a family). Contact John Ireland at (303) 480-0706.
Braille
Writer Repair Services
From the
Editor: The
following is not a comprehensive list, nor can I vouch for the quality of the
services listed. I did contact each individual or agency to confirm that they
were still in business and wanted to be listed in a national publication. I�m
sure I missed some fine repair services, but such omissions were not
intentional. The purpose of this list is simply to help parents and school
districts locate repair services. The task of comparing and evaluating the
quality of the services, costs, turn-around times, etc. I leave entirely up to
the reader.
Phil Collins
Collins Business Equipment
4331 San Pablo Circle
Yorba Linda, California 92886
(714) 993-4568
Call and ask for price quotes. $30 flat rate for minor
repairs and cleaning, parts and shipping additional.
Warren Layland
415 Peach Grove Lane
Santa Barbara, California 93105
(805) 687-5789
Ackley Appliance Service
4301 Park Avenue, #540
Des Moines, Iowa 50321-3400
(H): (515) 288-3931 (W): (515) 281-5102
www.braillerman.com
The Selective Doctor, Inc.
P.O. Box 28432
Baltimore, Maryland 21234
(410) 668-1143
A repair service for all IBM typewriters and Perkins
Braille writers. The service does work for the Maryland School for the Blind
and other organizations in Maryland, but accepts Braillers for repair from all
over the country. Please call before shipping a Braille writer. All equipment
must be insured by the postal service.
The Lareau Braille Writer��� Repair
Service��� Mary Ann Lareau��� 27 Gilbert Street��� Waltham, Massachusetts 02453��� (781) 899-3745
Please call or write for price quotes.
Bernadette Dressell��� 2714 Ruberg
Avenue��� Cincinnati, Ohio
45211-8118��� (513) 481-7662;��� e-mail: [email protected]
Cleaning and repairing Perkins Braillers since January
1998, Bernadette Dressell has been trained and certified by Howe Press where
Perkins Braille writers are manufactured. She has all parts in stock, and she
can normally guarantee a two-week turnaround. Please call or write for price
quotes.
Howe Press of Perkins School����
for the Blind��� 175 North Beacon
Street��� Watertown, Massachusetts 02172
(617) 924-3490; fax: (617) 926-2027
Howe Press, the manufacturer of the Perkins Braille
writer, also services and repairs Braille writers, sells a repair manual and
Brailler service tools, carries a complete line of parts and assemblies for
repairing Perkins Braillers, and provides specialized training classes for
qualified persons to learn Brailler repair. To use the repair service, send a
letter to Howe Press Service and Repair noting your name, address, Brailler
serial number (on bottom of machine), and nature of the problem. Return the
machine in the original shipping carton if possible, but DO NOT ship it in the
carrying case. Also, NEVER use Styrofoam peanuts for packing. You will receive
an estimate of the repair costs. The average repair job is about $60. Upon
receipt of payment your machine will be repaired and returned to you.
American Printing House���� for the
Blind (APH)��� Repair Service��� 1839 Frankfort Avenue��� Louisville, Kentucky 40206��� (800) 223-1839
APH charges one flat rate, $150, for all work and
parts for machine repair. However, if only cleaning and very minor repairs are
needed, APH will refund an appropriate amount. Turnaround time, if payment is
received with the machine, is about 3 days. Credit card number information may
be called in to the toll number above, or mailed with the machine.
Arizona Perkins Braille Repair Service���
The Foundation for Blind Children
1235 East Harmont Drive
Phoenix, Arizona 85020
(602) 678-5810
The Arizona Brailler Repair Service (ABRS) is a
co-operative enterprise between the Arizona Instructional Resource Center of
the Foundation for Blind Children and the Arizona State Prison. The cost for labor
is $30, with a 6-month warranty on labor. Parts are extra. Usual turnaround
time is under 4 weeks, somewhat longer if unusual parts need to be ordered from
Howe Press. Special care should be given to safe packing, preferably in the
original box and packing material. Any insurance is to be paid by the machine
owner.
Braille Writer