| Credit line |
Museum Purchase, 1999.30. |
| Date |
ca. 1905 |
| Description |
Original Stainsby-Wayne Braillewriter; nickel plated steel writer in a steel framed carriage, screwed to a wooden bed; pegs on the bottom of the bed adjust the writer's position up and down a folding wooden board with a hinged paper clamp at the top; (a) writer has six "dot" keys angled away from the user on both sides, keys are "reversed" (keys arranged for writing braille in reverse as on a slate); space key on right, two carriage release levers in middle back ; die-plate is grooved; margin bell on left, mounted directly to serrated rack, separate bracket to right holds the bell hammer wire; "1738" stamped on space key arm.; (b) wooden tablet board is hinged in middle to allow lower section to bend closed when unit is in storage, constructed with pine center dadoed to hardwood side pieces; two columns of 18 holes, hinged hardwood paper clamp on top with brad teeth in both top and bottom, brass catch locks clamp closed. |
| Dimensions |
H-3 W-13.5 D-14.5 inches |
| Dimension notes |
3 x 13 1/2 x 2 1/4 in. (braille writer}; 14 1/2 X 12 x 1 1/4 x in. (wooden board) |
| Year Range from |
1900 |
| Inscription text |
The Stainsby-Wayne Braille-Writer, 1738 |
| Year range to |
1920 |
| Made |
Stainsby-Wayne |
| Material |
Nickel, steel, brass, wood |
| Makers mark |
THE STAINSBY-WAYNE BRAILLE-WRITER |
| Object ID |
1999.30a-b |
| Object Name |
Braillewriter |
| Place of Origin |
England |
| People |
Stainsby, Henry
Wayne, Albert |
| Provenance/History |
Henry Stainsby (1859-1925), Supt. of the Birmingham Royal Institution for the Blind, (later General Secretary of the Britisg & Foreign Blind Association) along with Birmingham manufacturer Albert Wayne, introduced their portable brailler writer around 1903. Stainsby and Wayne had patented a much different braille shorthand machine in 1899-1900. The National Institute for the Blind, Stainsby and Arthur Howlett received a patent for an "improved" machine in 1922. |
| Search Terms |
Royal National Institute for the Blind
British and Foreign Blind Association
Birmingham School for the Blind |
| Subjects |
Braillewriters.
Mechanical writing.
|
| Title |
Stainsby-Wayne Braille-Writer |
