Herbert Permillion
Herbert Lloyd Permillion III | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 3, 1943 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | December 27, 2022 (aged 79) |
| Occupation(s) | Service technician, business proprietor |
| Known for | Proprietor of California Typewriter Company; featured in documentary film California Typewriter |
Herbert Lloyd Permillion III (May 3, 1943 – December 27, 2022) was a service technician specializing in IBM typewriters and the proprietor of the California Typewriter Company, a distinguished typewriter repair establishment located in Berkeley, California. He gained recognition through his appearance in the documentary film, California Typewriter.
Biography
Originating from a family of jazz musicians in New Orleans, Permillion's father performed as a big-band trumpet player. His family subsequently relocated first to Oakland, California and then to Berkeley, California. After completing his education at Berkeley High School in 1961, he commenced employment at Pacific Bell that same year. In 1967, he became a repair technician for IBM.
In 1967, Permillion entered into his first marriage, which produced two daughters named Candace and Carmen; the couple divorced in 1978. He later wed Juanita Daley, who died in July 2022.
Permillion purchased the California Typewriter Company in 1982, originally situated on Shattuck Avenue, before moving it to a property he owned on San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley.
Throughout Permillion’s tenure, the California Typewriter Company served as an essential hub for aficionados of typewriters even as the devices fell out of mainstream use. Despite facing financial difficulties, he sustained the business until its closure in 2020.
Recognition
The 2016 documentary film California Typewriter, directed by Doug Nichol, highlighted Permillion along with his family, staff members, and the broader community influenced by his management of the California Typewriter Company.