Minot Typewriter Company –

Gene Sloan started Minot Typewriter Company in 1936 in a small building on the site that is now occupied by the Midwest Federal Building. The business had a franchise with L.C. Smith Co. In 1941 Gene joined the Navy. George Osdoba, then a mechanic for Office Specialties, Co., took up where Sloan left off. In 1942 he changed the name to Minot Typewriter Agency but soon changed it back to Minot Typewriter Co. During the war there was very little merchandise to sell so 95% of the business was repair and service work. In 1944, Truman Graves left Gaffaney’s in Grand Forks to join Osboda. Minot Typewriter was at R.C. Allen, Underwood-Olivetti and Steelcase franchises.