Alan Thorpe, the only certified repairer in the UK of Perkins braille typewriters, is retiring due to retirement. These 6kg analogue machines are crucial for teaching blind children to read and write. Thorpe, who has been blind since the age of 15, does all the repair work by himself, repairing intricate machines with levers, springs, rollers, and chains. He hopes to recruit an apprentice to take on his business.
The machines were first designed in 1951 at Perkins School for the Blind in Boston, Massachusetts. Thorpe tries to avoid the expense of importing parts from America and tries to keep costs down as much as possible. He admits that the machines are not designed to be repaired by blind people and struggles to replace miniature springs without sighted help. He also has assistance from his wife Sandra, who is also blind, and their guide dogs Velvet and Darcy.
Thorpe is hoping to recruit an apprentice to take on his business. If he cannot find someone suitable, he suggests the Royal National Institute of Blind People, which is celebrating 200 years since Louis Braille invented the embossed type, could help provide a repair service. Another customer from a school for visually impaired pupils with more than 100 Perkins machines is alarmed, as the service he provides will be a huge loss to the VI community when he retires.
For more information contact: http://www.eyecan.org.uk
