American Foundation for the Blind braille typewriter.

Previous Next Writing Exhibit Page Home Search
Record 99/164
Copyright Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind
Image
Enlarge Image
Image
Enlarge Image
Date ca. 1935
Description Highly polished on the outside and lacquered. Black type stenciled on the front reads "American Foundation for the Blind Inc. New York, N.Y." The serial number is #52469.
Dimension notes 18 x 46 x 24 cm.
Made L.C. Smith & Corona Typewriters
Material Aluminum, steel
Object ID 1993.9
Object Name Braillewriter
Provenance/History The Foundation Writer was developed by AFB in their experimental shop in 1932. The Foundation contracted with Smith & Corona to manufacture their machine. AFB had purchased the braillewriter and stereograph making departments from Cooper Engineering in Chicago in the late 1920s. They discontinued the production of the old Hall Braillewriter, and decided to redesign the writer completely. Their machine featured a carriage return and line-space lever, a back space key, and margin stops similar to those found on standard typewriters. The keyboard resembled that of the Hall. Most of the writer's housing and parts were constructed from polished aluminum and stainless steel, giving it a streamlined "modern look." Production ended in 1947 after a total production of around 2,000 machines.
Search Terms Braillewriters
Subjects Aids for the blind and visually handicapped.
Braillewriters.
Instructional aids, tools, and supplies.
Mechanical Writing.
Title American Foundation for the Blind braille typewriter.
Image Courtesy Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind. Note: use of some materials may be restricted, please call before publishing in any format.

For more information contact the museum at 502-899-2365    museum@aph.org
Last modified on: April 02, 2010