The American Foundation for the Blind developed this new model in their experimental shop in 1932 and contracted with the typewriter manufacturer to produce the machines and continued production until 1947. It's sleek silver look was a change of look from the previously manufactured Hall Braille Writer, and improvements included a carriage return, the ability to add spaces between lines and a back space key. It was found in the Braille and Talking Book Library in South Yarra, Victoria, Australia and was used by either staff or volunteers at Vision Australia Library.Stainless steel braille writer in the shape of a typewriter. The braille writer consists of a heavy moulded machine with 6 black plastic keys.On front of writer: "American Foundation for the Blind Inc. New York." "Manufactured for the Foundation by L.C. Smith & Corona Typewriters, Inc." On back: "Licenced by Underwood Elliot Fisher company/ Serial no. 5-2422.braille equipment, assistive devices

The Stainsby Braillewriter was utilised by Braille tutors and volunteers as well the blind and visually impaired. Stored in a brown cardboard lockable case and this complete kit consists of a metal Braille writing machine; a long slim rectangular device with carriage and six silver keys and a bell, a metal board to attach Braille writer, a metal hinged Braille paper clamp and an instructional booklet. Henry Stainsby (1859-1925), Supt. of the Birmingham Royal Institution for the Blind, (later General Secretary of the British & Foreign Blind Association) along with Birmingham manufacturer Albert Wayne, introduced their portable brailler writer around 1903. An "improved" version, featuring aluminum parts and a paper clamp allowing accurate interpointing or interlining, was announced in "Outlook for the Blind" as early as 1927 and available generally by 1933 in the RNIB catalog. By 1978, RNIB sold the Improved Stainsby in a number of formats, including a large version available with interlining and inter-pointing board, and a small version with a folding board. Both large and small models came in ordinary and reverse keyed versions. Silver Brailler, rectangular with six silver keys and a bell, with paper board and clip, in cardboard suitcaseM8839 M88 (Brailler) M 8839 (Board) On the outside of the suitcase an address label reads "Braille Library, 31-51 Commercial Road, South Yarra". braille equipment, assistive devices

The Tellatouch was developed in the American Foundation research laboratory and resulted from one of the first AFB research projects, a major effort in the mid-1940s to help deaf-blind people. The device helped end social isolation for hundreds of deaf-blind children and adults. The Tellatouch provides a means of communication between a sighted (or blind) person and a deaf-blind person who can read braille. The keyboard has three rows of ten keys each and a standard braille keyboard on the fourth row. At the rear of the machine is a round metal plate with the braille cell in the center. The deaf-blind person rests a finger on the braille cell. Pins rise to form the equivalent of the letter key that is struck. The body of the device covered in beige vinyl, with a hinged lid at the front which lifts up to reveal the keyboard. The lid is secured with a metal latch at the front.Beige vinyl machine with leather carry strapbraille equipment, assistive devices

Braille hand frames and styluses were the primary way to produce Braille for over a century. The stylus was used to make a separate indentation for each dot, and the hand frame to keep dots within the same cell. Braille rows are produced from right to left. The process was very time consuming. Volunteer transcribers for the library could take an average of ½ hour to produce one page of Braille using this method. For example: “Oliver Twist” required approximately 600 sheets equating to 300 hours of work! This wooden slate, which was used to make the system portable, served as a firm base needed to sustain puncture pressure. The frame can also be slotted into both sides of the slate, thereby ensuring that the lines of Braille were straight across the page. The metal clasp at the top of the frame held the wooden which kept paper from slipping. In this example, the Rules of Membership for the Victorian Braille Writers were attached to the board.1 wooden back board with metal hand frame and stylus156 carved into wooden framebraille equipment, victorian association of braille writers

This portable braille writer was made for the Royal Institute for the Blind, England. It embosses a roll of paper tape. A folding arm, which extends 29 centimetres beyond the width of the braille writer, holds the tape. The braille writer has six conventional keys and a spacing key. The bottom of the wooden carrying case serves as a base and is lined with green felt. It was manufactured by J.M. Glauser and Sons, who produced several braille writers in the period 1930-1950.Metal portable braille writer in a wooden box "JMG No. 17" is stamped on top of the machine.braille equipment, assistive devices

Produced by General Electric (GE) for American Printing House for the Blind in Kentucky, this player has dials to control tone, volume, speed, side and buttons to record, rewind, forward, play, pause and stop tape. Handling both 2 and 4 track tapes, these players were targeted towards the vision impaired, as it allowed greater freedom to adjust recording styles to suit individual listeners. Plastic rectangular brown audio player with buttons for navigational controls, a handle and black vinyl carry pouch.audio equipment, assistive devices

Oscar Picht invented this braille writer in Bromberg, Germany, where he was the Director of the Provincial School for the Blind. Seven keys facilitate the typing of Braille. All in a wooden box with a metal handle on the front and a hook and eye on either. The box looks handmade and was the property of Alfred W Phillips of Ascot Vale in 1934.Steel Brailler, black with gold decorative lines in a wooden box Picht - the makers' name is painted on the front. Alfred W Phillips 1934 Ascotvale - is written above the paper on lid From P M Govett Hartwell - is written on the upper right side of lidassistive devices, braille equipment

The first tape based talking book machine from the late 1950s, produced by Clarke & Smith, that allowed the listener to hear up to 20 hours of recordings. Although bulky (each tape cartridge alone weighed over 2 kgs), the MK1 was the first magnetic, multi-track tape produced and considered quite novel for it's time. The cartridge designed to be played on the Clarke & Smith MK1 Talking Book player came in it's own separate container. Each cartridge houses the complete mechanism, track change linkages, replay heads and tape spools, which are stacked on top of each other within the housing. When one track was finished, the user was required to lift the metal cassette, turn it over, and replace it on the turntable. The bulky cartridges were distributed by post or train in strong 'Globite' cases made with reinforced corners and strapped. The costs associated with talking book players were high and individuals/groups/service clubs were asked to sponsor a machine to help those who could not afford to buy or rent one. In this example, a plate attached to the lid indicates who raised the funds: "This talking book/is presented to you/by Tallimba Branch/ of CWA of NSW." Please note: despite images, there are no cartridges with this model.Metal talking book machine housed in a brown wooden carry case. There are two plastic knobs on the front facing right hand side, and an electric cord extending from the back of the case. To the left of the knobs is a speaker grille. Also includes talking book cartridge 'The darling buds of May'.audio equipment, clarke and smith

The original Hall Braille writer was modelled on the typewriter and was the first successful mechanical point writer. Frank Haven Hall, Superintendent of the Illinois Institution for the Blind, introduced his invention to the public on 27 May, 1892 at Jacksonville, Illinois. It was manufactured by Harrison and Seifried, Chicago, ca 1892. The carriage moves one space to the left as the keys are released. The styli in the embossing heads are controlled by the keys as are the bars on a typewriter. The styli operate from the back so that letters appear in the normal position for reading. Braille writers enable all dots in a Braille cell to be created simultaneously. This model was found in the Braille and Talking Book Library in South Yarra prior to the staff departure in 2000. Presumably used by either staff or volunteers at the library.Braille writer with a key board like a piano with black wooden keys on an ivory board. The body is made from heavy cast iron with a black lacquer.Painted in gold on top of the machine: "The Hall Braille Writer / patent pendingbraille equipment, assistive devices

Henry Stainsby (1859-1925), Supt. of the Birmingham Royal Institution for the Blind, (later General Secretary of the British & Foreign Blind Association) along with Birmingham manufacturer Albert Wayne, introduced their Shorthand Braille Writer, circa 1910-1940. Used at the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind. These machines were often supplied with a case, to deaden the sound when in use. The machine was designed to take down verbatim reports from dictation. As the strip of paper passes automatically through the machine, no time is needed to adjust the paper or the machine for each line. Speeds of 80 - 140 words per minute can be obtained.Contained in a dark blue case which folds down to reveal the keys, this portable Braille writer has six flat keys in front and a space key, attached to a marking device at the back. A roll of thin white paper is mounted on an attachment to the side of the machine, and the paper is threaded along a channel at the top of the machine and comes out the other side in a continuous roll. A red round rubber guard is just behind the keys. Royal National Institute for the Blind label attached.braille equipment, royal victorian institute for the blind

The St Dunstans braille writer was modelled on the German Picht model, which enabled the writer to read what was written immediately by place the embossed character upwards of the carriage. Named after the organisation, it used a different finger technique than the Stainsby-Wayne machine that was predominantly available, and was lighter to carry.Black and silver Braille typewriter, with six keys and a large key (space bar) in front. At the back of the keys is a roller arrangement (similar to a typewriter) where paper is placed.St Dunstans Mark II. Ser. No. 575braille equipment, assistive devices

This Easiplay 2 model was produced by CSI (Clarke & Smith Industries) using a combination of overseas and locally made parts; however demand for compact discs was increasing by this time and the players were not financially viable. After the death of John Clarke in 1997 and the subsequent loss of it's major contract with RNIB, the company was wound up in 2004.Plastic rectangular grey coloured audio player with buttons for navigational controls, power cord and 3 buttons Clarke + Smith Model 1322 Serial number 9701-0011audio equipment, clarke and smith

Tatrapoint Standard is a manual braille writer designed for use by individuals who are blind or have low vision. It is manufactured in the Slovakian republic. This mechanical, six-key brailler uses normal braille paper on a roll. It has a robust design, and is quiet, safe, and easy to operate. Features include adjustable left and right margins, a bell that rings five cells before the end of the line, carriage release and backspace keys, and built-in Dymo tape clips for embossing dymo tape. Precise paper transport allows exact readjustment for corrections in previously written text.Blue metal body with 7 keys and silver metal scrollbraille equipment, assistive devices

A plastic device to enable a sighted person to communicate with a person who is Deaf-Blind in either standard Braille or Moon. The centre radius of the disc has the ordinary alphabet printed in black. Moving outwards from the centre, are the corresponding letters embossed in Braille, then on the outer edge are the corresponding letters in Moon. The user moved the indicator arm around the disc until the desired letter and corresponding symbol was positioned under the cut-out in the centre of the arm. The deaf-blind person could then touch the disc to determine the letters being communicated. Numbers and punctuation are not included.White plastic disc with black indicator armbraille equipment, assistive devices

A small, writer for note paper or index cards, designed by an East German company production started in 1980 and continued in the former DDR until 1989.Metal braille machine with red base and 7 white wood keysMechanische Werkstatt fur Blindenhilfsmittel der DDR 7033 Liepzig Burgauenstrabe 9braille equipment, picht

Braille hand frames and styluses were the primary way to produce Braille for over a century. The stylus was used to make a separate indentation for each dot, and the hand frame to keep dots within the same cell. Braille rows are produced from right to left. The process was very time consuming. Volunteer transcribers for the library could take an average of ½ hour to produce one page of Braille using this method. For example: “Oliver Twist” required approximately 600 sheets equating to 300 hours of work! Various metal hand frames accompanied by a metal stylus with wooden handle. Some include a wooden slate, which was used to make the system portable as a firm base was needed to sustain puncture pressure. The frame can also be slotted into both sides of the slate, thereby ensuring that the lines of Braille were straight across the page. Transcribing maths was an extremely complex task and a metal grid was utilised to reproduce graphs and diagrams.1 wooden hand frame with metal grid and metal and wooden stylus, 1 metal maths grid with metal pegs in metal container inside a brown suitcase and numerous sheets of Braille paperT.C. Coughlin 5 doz sausage rolls Wilmington Southend is written inside the lid of the suitcasebraille equipment, james murphy

To be fashionable, and possibly improve vision at the same time, the pince nez style of glasses became popular. The 'Fits-u' design has a mounting that allowed the bridge to stay solid, whilst the springs in the nose pads allowed for removal (unlike pince nez which had a springs in the bridge). Although complete, this box includes models with different distance dimensions and the height of the bridge, with these figures are etched onto the lenses. An order table is included in the box with the pupillary distance and height so the catalogue number and quality and quantity of each size can be ordered by the dispenser. The pupillary distance is used to design spectacle frames.Canvas box which includes display models of different dimensions of pince nez Handwritten on the back: James Korp Backhouse (?) 1904 Ophthalmic Optician & Optometristassistive devices, american optical company

Braille hand frames and styluses were the primary way to produce Braille for over a century. The stylus was used to make a separate indentation for each dot, and the hand frame to keep dots within the same cell. Braille rows are produced from right to left. The process was very time consuming. Volunteer transcribers for the library could take an average of ½ hour to produce one page of Braille using this method. For example: “Oliver Twist” required approximately 600 sheets equating to 300 hours of work! This wooden slate, which was used to make the system portable, served as a firm base needed to sustain puncture pressure. The frame can also be slotted into both sides of the slate, thereby ensuring that the lines of Braille were straight across the page. The metal clasp at the top of the frame held the wooden which kept paper from slipping. This donation includes the signature of Miss B Yoxon, who was a student that transcribed braille around the 1920's for the Victorian Association of Braille Writers, and the owner of this board and textbook. Some originals of her work and a translated letter from her friend James Grubb accompany the frame. 1 wooden board and Braille paper, with 1 Braille text bookbraille equipment, victorian association of braille writers

The Sound Scriber Dictaphone allowed recordings to be imprinted into a soft disk that could then be replayed later. This was useful for blind stenographers who could transcribe the audio recording. The lid contains a speaker into which sounds are made, the front knob is allows for 'Talk' or 'Listen' and three other dials on the device allow for the tubes to be turned on/off, starting/stopping the turntable and the recording volume to be 'Dictation' or 'Conf". There are two measuring tapes placed near the recording head and the Listen head, which show the minutes in the recording. The large disk that is placed on this machine has been stopped at the 12 minute mark. At the rear of the device are two plugs, one of which is for electrical supply. This model of dicta phone remained popular until magnetic tapes.1 hinged leather case over a metal and wood machineSound Scriberaudio equipment, assistive devices

This device assists blind music teachers to teach music notation to the sighted, by using a braille dial. Created by Percival Mayhew in the 1920-1930's, it consists of a wooden frame with a window, behind which is a sliding list of 63 staff notations and 17 sol-fa tones. To use, the teacher sits behind the indicator (to align the Braille scale of signs) whilst the student sits in front of the window and views the printed version. Black vinyl carry case has been created for transporting device.Wooden board with window for visual display and two double-sided paper cards and black vinyl carry case'The Mayhew Music Indicator' on front.adaptive devices, music teaching

Each column has white dots on it which is used to count numbers. The counting frame can be used as a knitting row counter or to add sums of money. A black rectangle with four plastic movable columns"Brynolf pocket counter made for Royal National Institute for the Blind by Peter Tilling Plastics Ltd" on front of counter. "Royal National Institute for the Blind Brynolf Pocket Counter Catalogue No. 9484" on box.assistive devices, peter tilling plastics

Braille hand frames and styluses were the primary way to produce Braille for over a century. The stylus was used to make a separate indentation for each dot, and the hand frame to keep dots within the same cell. Braille rows are produced from right to left. The process was very time consuming. Volunteer transcribers for the library could take an average of ½ hour to produce one page of Braille using this method. For example: “Oliver Twist” required approximately 600 sheets equating to 300 hours of work! This wooden slate, which was used to make the system portable, served as a firm base needed to sustain puncture pressure. The frame can also be slotted into both sides of the slate, thereby ensuring that the lines of Braille were straight across the page. The metal clasp at the top of the frame held the wooden which kept paper from slipping. Sometimes the board was labelled with organisational labels. In this example, the Rules of Membership for the Victorian Association of Braille Writers was attached, which included the costs of being a transcribing member and the length of the loan period. It is signed by Millicent Ritchie (Hon. Secretary) and Minnie H Crabb (Asst Sec and Librarian) at the base of the sheet.Brown rectangular wooden board with hinged paper clamp and metal hinged guideFree Lending Library for the Blind label is attached to boardbraille equipment, victorian association of braille writers

Braille hand frames and styluses were the primary way to produce Braille for over a century. The stylus was used to make a separate indentation for each dot, and the hand frame to keep dots within the same cell. Braille rows are produced from right to left. The process was very time consuming. Volunteer transcribers for the library could take an average of ½ hour to produce one page of Braille using this method. For example: “Oliver Twist” required approximately 600 sheets equating to 300 hours of work! This wooden slate, which was used to make the system portable, served as a firm base needed to sustain puncture pressure. The frame can also be slotted into both sides of the slate, thereby ensuring that the lines of Braille were straight across the page. The metal clasp at the top of the frame held the wooden which kept paper from slipping.Brown plastic rectangular hand frame with holes evenly spaced on either long side. Hinged Braille metal guide with space for 2 rows of Braille, each 35 cells long. braille equipment, rnib

This portable reading device provided the ability for people to scan printed items and see the enlarged result on a television screen. Weighing almost 9 kilos (with batteries) and able to be used for up to 2.5 hours each time the battery was charged, it was hailed as "particularly robust at low weight". Pictures in the accompanying brochure demonstrate it's use to read a newspaper, in the classroom and on the beach.Electronic reading aid inside black vinyl case, with two brochures and a manual'Dr Krause & Associates, 9 Collins Parade, Hackham, SA, 5163' has been stamped on the brochures and is on a type written label inside the lid.assistive devices, screen magnifiers

This metal frame opens from the side to allow paper to be placed between the two pieces and held into place with a metal clasp on the side. The elastic strands provide a guide to the writer to maintain a straight line of writing, with the beads allowing indication of space between words or sentences. This frame allows those who have deteriorating sight to continue writing hand written notes.1 japanned metal frame with elastic and beadsassociation for the blind, assistive devices

The Apple IIe was one of the first computers to become popular among blind and vision-impaired users due to its Textalker screen reader and Echo II synthesizer.Beige plastic CPU and keyboard audio equipment, assistive devices

This wooden board, which was used to make the system portable, served as a firm base needed to sustain puncture pressure when transcribing. The metal hinge held paper on the board, and a row of holes either side of the board held a frame in place, thereby ensuring that the lines of Braille were straight across the page.1 wooden back board with metal hingeRVIB logo and name attached to board, partially hidden by hingebraille equipment, royal victorian institute for the blind

The Eureka A4 was invented in Melbourne by Milan Hudacek, and designed to capitalise on the growth of IBM PCs. It attached to the PC and allowed blind and vision impaired people to utilise screen orientated programs. It had a sockets for telephone lines, a Braille keyboard, an inbuilt disk drive, speed and volume controls as as well outlets for data ports and headphones. The Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind (now a part of Vision Australia) received both the Eureka Award and the Qantas Rolls Royce Award in 1990 for its participation in the development and promotion of the Eureka A4 computer. It was the first computer of its kind, designed specifically for people who are blind or vision impaired.1 black rectangular box with grey and orange keys with advertising leafletSerial no: 1897braille equipment, assistive devices, milan hudacek

This wooden frame is designed to sit over paper pages. The elastic strands provide a guide to the writer to maintain a straight line of writing, with the beads allowing indication of space between words or sentences. This frame allows those who have deteriorating sight to continue writing handwritten notes.1 wooden frame with elastic and beads and metal cornersassociation for the blind, assistive devices

Wooden braille board with wooden header, hinged with brass hinges and small pins to clamp the paper to the board. Metal frames on each side hold a rod across the front of the board. The rod is fixed to two moveable parts which can go up or down the board as required.1 wooden back board with metal flanges either sideroyal victorian institute for the blind, braille equipment