so, i am asking myself what some of you would consider the machine-
least-likey-to-be-bot. i can see it now, wheels churning in small
minds, constipated grimaces as thot is attempted. there is a certain
element here, i hestitate to say it, that is neo-con rumsfeldian with
fascist leanings, and i know what these hard-asses are thinking.
they are thinking that the last thing they would buy is a linotype
saw. hah! i say to them "hah!"

i peeked into uncle henry's. bad, bad idea. i jotted down a phone
no. never, ever do that, really. i called and left a message -
whoa, might as well invite the devil over for afternoon tea. guy
calls me back. i agree to go see him. wrong! wrong! wrong! he is
advertsing flat belt machinery. hey, what can it hurt to go see
him? right?

it is way out in the deep forest near the village of w. paris, not
far from norway, poland, denmark, mexico and china. mainiacs had a
way when naming towns. down dirt roads. turn at the stump. if you
see the pond you've gone to far.

big old metal bldg. he builds cars. at least that is what it looks
like is going on; maybe it's a chop-shop. an oxy-acetylene torch in
one hand, a beer in the other, cig dangling from his lips, an ashen
countenance - quick, call chas. dickens; i think he wrote about the
children who work here changing tires. i look at him; he must be the
guy on the phone.

he shows me shapers, huge muthas, horizontal mills, monster drill
presses. all this stuff he gets in trades for this and that. then
he shows me the breidenbach model c cost cutter. oh, is this a sweet
little saw. lovely mass. so nicely made. fence appears to adjust a
thousandth of an inch at a time. it is in such nice shape. really
neat sliding table. the motor hums like honeybees. all is silk and
cream. and then i realize it comes with 21 asst. blades and a supply
of linotype. glory, glory, glory!!!

a hunnert and 75 dollahs later i leave wondering just what in the
hell i have done. maybe i will turn to making jewelry boxes. but it
really is a lovely machine. don e., auburn, me. wondering...