Musée de la mécanographie de Bourg-en-Bresse
Association-run museum in Bourg-en-Bresse on typewriters, calculating machines and accounting machines spanning several centuries, with guided tours.
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About the museum
The collection grew out of the passion of Jacques Béthoux, a mechanic specialising in office machines, who gathered obsolete office equipment. A first exhibition of typewriters took place in 1980, and the collection was then shown several times, notably at the Médiathèque in 2004. The founding meeting was held at the tourist office in November 2007.
The association running the museum was founded on January 16, 2008. In July 2016 the museum moved from rue Bourgmayer to larger premises at 47 boulevard Victor-Hugo.
The museum displays around 300 machines and also tells the story of calculation from prehistory onwards. Visitors can see 19th-century American typewriters, including one from 1896, a German machine without a keyboard, an Italian Valentine, Swiss calculating machines, a Heliot Fischer accounting machine still in working order, and genuine Chinese abacuses. Guided tours are given by former mechanics.
Highlights
- Around 300 typewriters, calculating and accounting machines
- 19th-century American typewriters, including one from 1896
- Valentine, Italian typewriter
- Heliot Fischer accounting machine still in working order
- Swiss calculating machines MADAS, Burroughs, National and Olivetti
- Guided tours by former mechanics
Permanent exhibition
- Collection de mécanographie – Around 300 typewriters, calculating and accounting machines are on display, along with the history of calculation from prehistory.
- Founded
- 2008
- Operated by
- Association du musée de la mécanographie
- Visitors per year
- approx. 2,000 (2022)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2Visitors with disabilities |
| Children & teens | €3€3 for children over 10. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €2 |
| Groups (4+ people) | €4 per personGroups of four people and more: €4 per adult, €3 per child over 10 and €2 per person with a disability. |
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum's website does not give details on accessibility; it only offers a reduced rate for people with disabilities.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum's website does not mention Wi-Fi for visitors.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The museum recommends about 1 hour 30 minutes for the visit, with a guided tour by former mechanics. Group bookings are made with the Bourg-en-Bresse Agglomération tourist office at +33 4 74 22 49 40. |
