Musée de la Machine à Écrire

About the museum

The museum grew out of a family workshop: Charles Perrier repaired typewriters from the 1930s, and his son Jacques took over the business. Because particularly quirky old machines had already been displayed in the shop, customers came to imagine that the company was a kind of typewriter museum. This became reality when father and son rented a former workshop room on the Avenue des Oiseaux and opened the first museum there.

As the collection grew, the museum moved several times: first to Avenue de France 73 with around 400 machines, later to a large basement at Avenue de France 20, where over 800 machines found room and where slam evenings, concerts and readings also took place. In 2016 a supporting association was founded to help Jacques Perrier with the management. Today the museum is at street level on the Rue des Terreaux.

The collection comprises more than 1,000 typewriters, 150 calculating machines, accessories, documents, advertising, prototypes and tools, of which around 250 pieces are on display. One focus is machines by Paillard Hermes, once the flagship of industry in northern Vaud. They show how typewriters changed office work and, in particular, women's employment in the 20th century.

Highlights

• Collection of over 1,000 typewriters and 150 calculating machines
• Focus on Paillard Hermes from northern Vaud
• Typing bar with five working machines to try out yourself
• Café in the same room and museum shop
• Guided tours by appointment

Operated by

Verein des Musée de la Machine à Écrire

Admission & discounts

Visiting the museum is currently pay-what-you-wish (admission at your own discretion).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Museum space, café and toilets are accessible to people with disabilities.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations

In the typing bar, visitors can type for themselves on five working typewriters.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

The Café du Mécanoscriptophile shares the space with the museum (drinks, snacks); museum shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The café's hall can be rented for events, colloquia and birthdays; booking via the Café du Mécanoscriptophile.

Plan your visit