| Collection |
KSB Collection |
| Credit line |
Gift of the Kentucky School for the Blind, 1992.312 |
| Date |
1933-1946 |
| Description |
Braille typewriter is of cast aluminum alloy, highly polished on the outside and lacquered; black type stenciled on the front reads "American Foundation for the Blind Inc. New York, N.Y."; on the back of the machine is "Licensed By Underwood Elliott Fisher Company." |
| Dimensions |
H-6.75 W-18 D-9.5 inches |
| Dimension notes |
overall |
| Made |
L.C. Smith & Corona Typewriters, Inc. |
| Material |
Aluminum, hard rubber |
| Object ID |
1992.312 |
| 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. |
| Subjects |
Aids for the blind and visually handicapped.
Braillewriters.
Mechanical writing. |
| Title |
Foundation Writer |
|
