New Hall Braillewriter

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Record 240/297
Copyright Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind
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Credit line Gift of the Louisiana Instructional Materials Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 2005.40
Date ca. 1950
Description New Hall Braillewriter; cast aluminum frame, crackled black finish; six black rubber keys with a square steel space bar in middle; chrome plated keyboard plate; steel carriage, black enameled wood platen roller with black plastic knobs and a zinc paper bar, black rubber spring loaded roller on top of platen; adjustable paper guide on bar at back along with a plated end of line bell; four black rubber feet; serial number 1052; black fiber board carrying case with steel reinforced corners and black plastic handle; bracket inside case secures writer during transportation; written in chalk inside lid, "Bobbie Andrews".
Dimensions H-5.5 W-15.5 D-10 inches
Dimension notes Case is 11.5 x 17 x 6.5"
Year Range from 1949
Year range to 1951
Made American Printing House for the Blind
Material Steel, aluminum, rubber, fiberboard, plastic
Makers mark THE NEW HALL BRAILLEWRITER/MANUFACTURED BY THE AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND/#1052.
Object ID 2005.40.2
Object Name Braillewriter
Place of Origin Louisville, KY
Provenance/History Designed to be rugged, light and simple, suitable for school use, the New Hall was the result of APH research that tested existing writers for durability, simplicity, and cost. Many standard, commercial typewriter parts were used to keep costs low and simplify repairs. The New Hall was a modernized version of the classic, original 1892 Hall Braillewriter. Research proved that the original Hall Braillewriter had great merit and APH engineers decided to simply update the original Hall design with additional features. A line spacer, back spacer, margin regulator and carriage release were added. The frame was cast in one piece and the carriage welded into one unit. The placement of the die box made it possible to write to the very bottom of the sheet. It was named the New Hall Braillewriter to keep Frank Hall's name associated with the appliance that he gave to the blind. The machine sold for $52.50 in 1950.

Item belonged to the Louisiana Instructional Materials Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Search Terms Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired
American Printing House for the Blind
Subjects Blind.
Mechanical writing.
Aids for the blind and visually handicapped.
Instructional aids, tools, and supplies.
Braillewriters.
Title New Hall Braillewriter
Used Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired
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