Taylor Slate

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Record 2/76
Copyright Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind
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Collection APH Collection
Artist Taylor, William
Date ca. 1960
Description This device consists of a rectangular aluminum type frame, 432 octagonal cells are stamped in the top in an 18 x 24 grid, with a recessed compartment at one end for holding the extra type when the frame is in use; top is riveted and braised into the frame; a black treated canvas or paper is between the top and the base to serve as a sound buffer; (100) pieces of yellow plastic type.
Dimensions H-12 W-7.5 D-0.625 inches
Dimension notes 30.5 x 18.7 x 1.5 cm.
Year Range from 1956
Year range to 1970
Made American Printing House for the Blind
Material Aluminum
Object ID 1992.75
Object Name Slate, Arithmetic
Place of Origin Louisville, KY
People Taylor, William
Provenance/History The main purpose of this device is to aid in the teaching and working of problems of long division, multiplication of large numbers, subtraction, and addition.
The Reverend William Taylor became supt. of the Yorkshire School for the Blind in 1836. While at the school he developed his "Ciphering Tablet." His calculating board is mentioned in the 1882 annual report of the British & Foreign Blind Association in essentially the same form as the model produced at APH. Although difficult to master, it possessed several advantages over its main rivals which used raised numbers, since each piece of type could be used it represent all ten numbers and the operatives, there was significantly less time wasted searching for a particular number. APH introduced its own Taylor Slate in 1938/1939, made from stainless steel. By 1953, the type was available in both lead and plastic. In 1956, APH began making the frame from anodized green aluminum, which changed to golden aluminum in 1969. The product was discontinued by 1972. Taylor slates were made by several manufacturers, including RNIB, AFB, and APH.
Search Terms APH instructional aids, tools, and supplies
Subjects Aids for the blind and visually handicapped.
Algebra.
Arithmetic.
Blind.
Education.
Instructional aids, tools, and supplies.
Mathematics.
Slates.
Title Taylor Slate
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