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.Black metal typewriter which has seven keys and a small reel of paper415 Stainsby-Wayne Embossed Shorthand Typewriter Patented * Alfred Wayne * Birm, ENGbraille equipment, royal victorian institute for the blind

Letter to an unidentified Life Member asking for assistance in organising fundraising events to support Special Blind Appeal. The letter continues on to a second page, however this is missing. This is an example of a joint appeal between the RVIB and the AAFB, who usually preferred to work independently.1 photocopied letter with illustrations at topTop left hand corner is a lighthouse with the words 'Education and Maintenance of Blind Children, Industrial Professional Training Etc of Blind Adults, Homes Etc for Aged and Infirm Blind' written on the tower. The light that shines towards a female child and an adult male who are both wearing blindfolds, contains the wording 'Special 50,000 (pound) appeal for the Blind Children & Adults of Victoria". To immediate left of the people is written "Blind/and seeking the light/your generous donation will help them find it'. To the right of the rocks upon the which the lighthouse stands "Kindly address donations Hon. Treas. of Blind Appeal, The Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Cr. Harold Luxton M.L.A., Town Hall, Melbourne". Underneath the lighthouse against the left edge of the paper "Institutes participating in this appeal - The Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind and the Association for the Advancement of the Blind - these organisations care for the blind of Victoria from the cradle to the grave. Please address all correspondence S.W,. Hedger, Secretary Blind Appeal, Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, St Kilda Road, Prahran, S.1. Vic, Phone W 6500. Blind Appeal Enquiry Office: Nicholas Building, 5th Floor Swanston Street, Melbourne, Phone F 6418."royal victorian institute for the blind, association for the advancement of the blind, fundraising

Founded by T.R Armitage MD in 1868, the British and Foreign Blind Association was the forerunner of the Royal National Institute for the Blind and provided transcription courses to those wishing to become proficient in Braille. Under the patronage of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen, this certificate was awarded to "Miss Minnie H Crabb having satisfied the Examiner of the British & Foreign Blind Association in Braille Writing Examination in Grade II is hereby awarded the Certificate of the Association." Signed by A.H. Henry, Examiner and Edwin Easton, Secretary and awarded on 25th September 1908. Cream page with red seal in bottom left hand cornerRed seal reads: The British & Foreign Blind Association. Founded 1858. Incorporated 1902. A picture is located within the seal but this is not discerniblevictorian association of braille writers, minnie crabb

243 pages with illustrationsnon-fictionMemoir of blind activist and poet, Tilly Aston.tilly aston, association for the advancement of the blind