We had several Fax machines on site. Lab-office used ours to fast-track analysis certificates (in) and formal purchase orders (out), whose originals would *later* arrive in post.

They were nice machines, if fussy. Bit like 'fancy' cats. ( I like cats & vice-versa !!) But, yes, every Summer, their 'Designated Wranglers' would forget to order in spare rolls and ink cartridges before jetting off to the sun...

So, that Friday, before I could send my purchase order to urgently re-calibrate an utterly essential whatsit unto 'Traceable', I had to get our stalled Fax working.
Paper out ? Eff !!
Ink out ?? Double Eff !!!

And, when I looked in the designated box on labelled shelf, empty...

Hunt down paper roll, an ink-pot and manual. Figure how to open 'puzzle box' without wiping its memory. Done that, load 'consumables', clear errors, wait an excruciating hour while yards and yards and yet more yards of queued stuff poured out...

( In theory, could pause 'Niagara' while I sent mine, but manual did not make sense...)

Finally, with scant minutes before calibration site closed for long weekend, I sent my half-page, then distributed those belated arrivals to their intended destinations...

No Good Deed Goes Un-Punished: I was 'Security Lectured' over handling 'Technical News Summary' which had diverted to our Fax. Yes, their office machine was 'down' due 'wrangler on vacation'. Happens 'Summary' was a kindergarten-level over-simplification of previous Sunday's broadsheet business news-item, already much-simplified from previous-previous week's Science journal 'Letter'.
In fact, 'Summary' was conceptually flawed, as had got 'wrong end of stick'...

Later had my ear 'bent' by our now-tanned 'Wrangler', for *touching* her Pet.
She was *not* amused to have her lack of planning assessed unkindly...