A 'Brunsviga' adding Machine used to educate people who were blind or vision impaired in arithmetic during in the early 1900s. The firm Grimme, Natalis & Co (GNC) was established in 1871 to build sewing machines and domestic appliances at Braunschweig (Brunswick) in Germany. In 1892 engineer Franz Trinks was instrumental in securing the manufacturing rights to the Odhner calculator patents. The first machines were built according to W.T. Odhner's 1890 design, and were distributed under the brand name "Brunsviga". Trinks continued to develop and refine the Brunsviga calculator over a period of almost 30 years. The brass rotor disks are 71mm in diameter, with the nine setting levers spaced on 9mm centres. The moving carriage has 10 places in the counter register and 18 in the accumulator, but the tens-carry mechanism only covers 10 of the 18 places. The carriage is positioned manually by releasing a latch and moving the assembly by hand to the required position. The registers are cleared by a full turn of the large wing nuts on either end. The mechanism is very basic, with no safety interlocks and no added features.Metal machine on wooden base.Brunsviga Patent Braunschweigoffice equipment and supplies, royal victorian institute for the blind

A talking book player that allowed the user to change the tone and speed of cassettes played in it. Designed to handle both 4 track and 2 track cassettes, these players were the perfect solution to having both commercial (2 track) and recordings for the blind (4 track) materials without needing separate players. Tonal changes in particular were sometimes required by older listeners, as aging reduces the ability to distinguish high pitch sounds. Speed variability also allowed those who read faster to increase narration, and to slow down reading patterns for listeners with acquired brain injury or other conditions that affected cognitive processing of language.Blue plastic rectangular talking book player with buttons for navigational controls and 5 buttons.Model tbci serial no 8017. Machine number: 8157audio equipment, royal victorian institute for the blind

This black wooden antique hinged book magnifier was typical of the elegant way that Victorian age designers combined both practicality and style into the salon. Folded down, this box would sit on a side table until required, whereupon it would expand to allow the user to read items in their hand. A platform designed to hold reading materials would be elevated into position, and the magnifier allowed for three different levels of height. On top of the magnifier are engraved decorations - one of a bow and the other of a globe, telescope and scroll.1 wooden box with fold out top and inset glass magnifier.assistive devices, equipment

An annual tactile art exhibition held by the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales encouraged artists to create artworks that were meant to be touched by admirers. In 1999, more than 230 artists submitted entries, with then 66 finalists showcasing their work at Customs House. This program provides information on each of the 66 works selected for exhibition, as well as an information and advertising leaflets from Robert Mac G Design, who created the three prizes for the winning artists. Most works were available for purchase, as indicated on the 'Opening bid for silent auction' sheet, with all proceeds going towards providing services to the 15,000 clients of RBS.1 v. unpaged with list of opening bid prices and three leaftletsroyal blind society of new south wales, fundraising

A plastic moulded yellow Labrador puppy in white harness with raised nose sits on a blue hollow drum, waiting for coins to be inserted into its head. On the drum, a paper label reads "please help me become a .... seeing eye dog 1800 037 773". A golden Labrador puppy and the Seeing Eye Dogs Australia logo of a paw print with an eye in the middle completes the wraparound label. This type of fundraising tin is designed to stand on counters and be secured to a desk via the metal chain at the back of the collection box. 1 plastic money collection box with metal chain attachedseeing eye dogs australia, fundraising

Various playing cards with large print numbers and suit types. Playing cards with red and white design with numbers and suit in large print. recreation equipment, games

Also known as Peg solitaire or Brainvita, this one player game was a favourite in the court of Louis XIV. This board is based on the English design with peg holes in the shape of a cross. European boards are circular with peg holes placed to the edge. Regardless of shape, the game is played the same. Pegs are placed in the board, leaving an empty spot in the middle. Using this space, a player must move any peg left, right, up or down over an adjacent peg, thereby landing in the space and removing the peg that has been passed over. Pegs are progressively moved (and removed) from the board until the single remaining peg is placed in central spot initially left vacant. RNIB Catalogue no: 9197. 1 wooden board in blue box 32 black pegs, 1 green peg and 1 printed/Braille booklet. recreation, games

A 52 playing card set with moon type designed by the leading firm of playing card manufacturers in England during this period - Thomas de la Rue & Company. Playing cards with red, black and white design with moon type at top left-hand and bottom right-hand corners in orange metal hinged box. recreation, games

A 52 playing card set (plus two jokers) with Braille designed by the leading firm of playing card manufacturers in England during this period - Thomas de la Rue & Company. Playing cards with red, black and white design with braille embossing at top left-hand and bottom right-hand corners in (red or blue) metal hinged box. recreation equipment, games

This wooden board has two differently designed sides: one with four strips running the length of the board and the other with seven strips of wood running across the width of the board. These strips and various ridges around the edge and in the 'lanes' assist players as they play card games. The attached booklets describe the sides as Squares (4 strips) or Streets (7 strips), which could be used to play a variety of card games described. On the Squares side: Carpet, Count Nogo, Frames and Poker Patience and on the Streets side: Triangles and Henley could be played in addition to the traditional game of Patience. The board was designed to be used with a distinct sized card (RNIB no. 9087) that could fit between the strips. Wooden board with card dividers with accompanying printed and braille booklet. recreation equipment, games

A 52 playing card set (plus two jokers) with large print numbers and suit types. Playing cards with red and white design with numbers and suit in large print in paper packet. recreation equipment, games

A 52 playing card set (plus two jokers) with large print numbers and suit types. A fact card is included about the death of Wild Bill Hickok during a game of poker. The Aviator brand of cards was released just after the first trans-Atlantic flight in commemoration of the crossing. Playing cards with with red and white design with numbers and suit in large print in paper packet. recreation equipment, games

A 52 playing card set (plus two jokers) with large print numbers and suit types. Playing cards with black and white design with numbers and suit in large print in paper packet. recreation equipment, games

Designed to create an impression on paper, the slate allows users to create Braille by guiding the stylus into the correct alignment to produce Braille, through the applied use of pressure that creates a depression on one size of the paper and a raised dot on the alternative side. In this example, the frame has two hinges which allow it to sit over the paper edge, and a single line of Braille could be written.2 metal Braille frames for single line usagebraille equipment, assistive devices

Designed to create an impression on paper, the slate allows users to create Braille by guiding the stylus into the correct alignment to produce Braille, through the applied use of pressure that creates a depression on one size of the paper and a raised dot on the alternative side. In this example, the frame has two side hinges which allow it to sit over the paper edge, and four lines of Braille could be written.1 plastic Braille frame with 4 lines of 28 cells with side hingebraille equipment, equipment

Designed to create an impression on paper, the slate allows users to create Braille by guiding the stylus into the correct alignment to produce Braille, through the applied use of pressure that creates a depression on one size of the paper and a raised dot on the alternative side. In this example, a postcard sized frame fits over a notebook of the same size, and allows the user to fill the page without re-positioning the slate.1 metal Braille frame and 1 vinyl covered metal ring binder with braille pagesbraille equipment, equipment

Celebrating the International Year of the Volunteer, Vision Australia Foundation wished to acknowledge the volunteers and day program members who inputted ideas into the design of the centre's banner. Special thanks to the following for their contribution to the stitching, painting, tapestry, applique and embroidery: Margit Arends, Alice Austin, Judith Edwards, Pamela Harris, Shirley Reid, Margaret Isaacs, Gwenda Johnson, Helen Malone, Catherine Newton and Mary Tams.1 cream sheet with grey and black writingvision australia foundation, volunteers

This timepiece uses Braille to indicate the position of the numbers, which the wearer could then use to orient themselves and tell the time from the metal hands. The 12 position is indicated by three dots, with the 3,6,9 positions by two dots. The user would start with a finger at the centre of the face and work outwards to the end of each hand to determine position and hence be able to figure out the time. Since the watch is designed and made for touching, the metal hands are particularly robust.Silver pocket watch with Braille to indicate number position. Clock face = "Algex in Cabloc 17 jewels Swiss made" On back watch sticker "Ali".assistive devices, braille

Designed to signify bequest donors, the Iris Club badge consists of a light and dark blue Iris flower with dark centre and green stalk.1 metal pin depicting an iris attached to white cardboard'Iris Club' 'Vision Australia Foundation'vision australia foundation, badges

Beige satin scroll with names of donors printed upon it rests inside a brown wooden box. To view the scroll, turn the handles up or down. List of names represents people who donated to an appeal (date unknown). Box was designed to be mounted on a wall.Wooden box with satin scroll of printed namesRoyal Blind Societyroyal blind society of nsw, fundraising

Rose pink satin scroll with names of donors printed upon it rests inside a brown wooden box. A plastic cover protects the scroll, and printed upon this is an image of the stone archway (from the first building housing the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution) as well as the words 'The Presidents Club'. To view the scroll, turn the handles up or down. List of names represents people who donated to an appeal (date unknown). Box was designed to be mounted on a wall.Wooden box with satin scroll of printed namesThe Presidents Clubroyal blind society of nsw, fundraising

A bearded man uses a white cane and sonic guide to help him navigate around the streets of Strathfield. The sonic guide consists of a pair of heavy black spectacles with three sensors built into the bridge of the glasses. The glasses are attached by a cable to a control box which is designed to be clipped onto the wearer's belt or clothing. The control box has two switches and a volume setting, and assists the user in determining objects in their path and their distance to them.2 B/W photographs of man using sonic guide and white cane"5156-220" and '5156-224" on back of photographsroyal blind society of nsw, white cane, orientation and mobility

The Asylum and School for the Blind, designed by Crouch & Wilson, was built on St Kilda Road in 1868, and later became the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind. This photograph was most likely taken in the late 19th century, with white posts and wire fencing sectioning the driveway from the garden..B/W photograph of RVIB St Kilda Road buildingroyal victorian institute for the blind, crouch & wilso