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

Room sign for 'Presenters' in white lettering, with a burgundy coloured background. Most likely used at Enfield studios. A braille label 'Reserved for Presenters' is attached to the right-hand side of the sign.Burgundy coloured sign with Braille attachedPresentersroyal blind society of nsw, nameplates

Example of a Braille magazine imported from the United States for readers in Australia. Better Homes and Gardens was produced by the National Library Service in Braille and exported to Braille libraries around the world. Magazines were costly to produce in-house, as they often held timely information that were not as relevant to the reader by the time that the transcription and embossing process was finished, and each issues required the process to be restarted each time a print issue was created. Working from the magazine itself, rather than an electronic file, and with no automated process yet developed, this issue in 1974 would have been scribed by hand and manually checked before being sent to the large embossing and binding machines for distribution. 1 Braille volume of Better Homes and Gardens magazineBetter Homes and Gardens February 1974 Part IIIbraille library of victoria, braille books

Alfred Wayne & Co. produced a number of braille writers over the years, including The Visible. Alfred Wayne (1854-1926) was listed as a 'manufacturer of small novelties in metal and steel' in the 1901, however by the 1911 census he had turned his company into a 'manufacturer of apparatus for use of the blind'. Together with Henry Stainsbury, they produced a number of braille typewriters as well as the more well know crab design of the Stainsby-Wayne brailler.Cast iron Brailler. The body of the Braille writer is painted in black with silver and gold painted inscriptions. Seven metal oval keys are situated at the front of the machine. The roller for turning the paper is made from turned wood.Marked: Painted on front of machine: "The visible/manufactured by/Alfred Wayne/Handsworth/Brimingham. Englandbraille equipment, assistive devices

Created to meet the growing need for Braille users to access computers, and the creation of talking terminals, Clarke and Smith released the Brailink in 1982. Fitting the unit into a briefcase style for portability, it allowed Braille users to read the screen via the refreshable Braille display located above the QWERTY keyboard as well as record data on to either of the cassette recorders for use with other computers.CPU with keyboard, Braille display and two miniature cassette recorders inside a vinyl caseCS Brailinkbraille equipment, clarke and smith

This pocket watch is believed to have been owned by Tom Marks, a past president of the AFB, and is an example of how Braille could be integrated into everyday items at the early part of the 20th century. Braille numbers are located on top of each printed number. Steel metal watch with copper trims. Sixty minute markers on white face and black numerals of the clock face. Minute and hour hands are of blue anodised material. Embedded seconds dial, sixty divisions marks with blue anodised sweep hand.Metal pocket watch with raised Braille numbers on facetom marks, assistive devices

Versabraille system is a self-contained braille information system for use with audio cassettes for reading and writing braille. The controls include an eject button, variable audio speed and volume sliders, braille control keys for writing, editing, and audio record/playback, a 20-character braille display with text advance bar, text backup key, text access keys for chapters, pages, paragraphs or words, a place indicator, an "add new chapter" key, and a pair of buttons with unknown function. The unit takes ordinary audio cassette tapes. On the back is a 24-contact IB/P connector, a pair of connectors of unknown function, and a power connector for the included 120V power adapter. Light brown coloured plastic square object with brown covering box and transformer with cord Versa Braille system Tele Sensory Systemsbraille equipment, equipment

"RVIB is grateful for Mrs Janet Conn for her generous support of our work with children who are blind or vision impaired. Mrs Conn's donation was made in loving memory of her late husband, Mr Charles Conn. June 1999." Beneath this script is the Braille text of the above. Digital image of plaque with writing and BrailleRVIB is grateful for Mrs Janet Conn for her generous support of our work with children who are blind or vision impaired. Mrs Conn's donation was made in loving memory of her late husband, Mr Charles Conn. June 1999.royal victorian institute for the blind, janet conn, rvib burwood school

A set of UNO cards with printed instructions and a single Braille page. On the box is marked 'Braille UNO game 26787'. This set was used by Tilly Aston members when on holiday. UNO playing cards with braille embossed on top left-hand and bottom right-hand corners in red cardboard box recreation equipment, games

Braille is a system of touch reading and writing for blind persons in which raised dots represent the letters of the alphabet Braille is read by moving the hand or hands from left to right along each line. Residents of Moorabbin Shire used these cards at social gatherings. In the early 1800s Charles Barbier, who served in Napoleon Bonaparte’s French army, developed a unique system known as “night writing” so soldiers could communicate safely - without lamps- during the night. Louis Braille, born Coupvray, France 1809 lost his sight at a very young age, 1819 he was enrolled at the National Institute of the Blind in Paris.and began to modify Charles Barbier’s “night writing” code in an effort to create an efficient written communication system for fellow blind individuals. . He spent the better part of the next nine years developing and refining the system of raised dots that has come to be known by his name, Braille. The code was now based on cells with only 6-dots instead of 12 ..Braille died in 1852 but his code spread around the world France 1854, USA 1860 , and blind individuals from all over the world benefit from Braille’s work daily. Today, braille code is transcribed in many different languages worldwide.Blind individuals from all over the world benefit from Braille’s work daily and these cards were used by residents of Moorabbin ShireCardboard pack of ordinary playing cards with braille imprints left top of each card. Pack is incompleteFront: PLAYING / CARDS / for the BLIND / To be obtained from the / NATIONAL INSTITUTE / FOR THE BLIND / Great Portland Street / LONDON W1. Hand written : O'Dean Lounge braille louis, barbier charles, visually impaired, braille playing cards, braille, library, braille sheet music, braille ketboards

Used to raise both funds and awareness, this matchbooks were produced with colourful illustrations on the front (a lamp shining above the octagonal Braille Library building) and rear (a female brailling at home). Inside a message 'As a Thank-Offering for my sight I give this gift to the Honorary Treasurer, Braille Library, S.E.1', as well as matches printed alternately with 'Braille Library' and 'South Yarra'.1 book of red headed matchesThe Light That Never Fails Free Lending Library For The Blind, Commercial Rd, S. Yarra The Victorian Association of Braille Writers Braille is a series of tiny raised dots by which the blind can readfundraising, marketing

A rare example of an Australian colonial bookmark and also an early Braille bookmark as the name of the recipient is added in Braille.card stitched to burgundy silk ribbon printed around perimeter with T Gifford in Braille on card.school for the blind, adelaide, international exhibition, gifford, 1887, braille

44 cards (A-I) featuring four members of the Doctor, Musician, Painter, Carpenter, Barber, Scientist, Gardener, Tailor and Motorist families. Produced by RNIB, these cards were designed for various kinds of players with both print and Braille upon each card. 36 playing cards with Braille across top of card in red box Catalogue No. 9086recreation, games

A set of Skip-Bo cards with printed instructions. On the box is marked 'Brailled Skip-Bo Card Game 10509'. This is an example of how popular card games can easily be made accessible by the use of Braille for those without vision. Skip-Bo playing cards with braille embossed on top left-hand and bottom right-hand corners in white cardboard box recreation equipment, games

Articles include Sir Rohan Delacombe agreeing to become patron, staff rest room and kitchen added, improved lighting in the Hall, increase to 119 transcribers, resignation of Doreen Ross and appointment of V Wearne as Librarian, Mr and Mrs Woods have moved out of the flat - which is now occupied by Mrs Weir, thanks to Wesley College boys and their teacher Mr Rush looking after the garden, as well as Miss Haley who makes canvas bags in which volumes are dispatched, approach to Free Library Service Board for some financial assistance, and Ivan Molloy's speech to the Ballarat branch on the Home Teaching Service.32 pages of text with drawingsbraille library of victoria, corporation records

Articles include the addition of a talking book service to the library, 50 years of service celebrations for Alice McClelland, a talking book funds sub-committee has been convened, a planning sub-committee has also been created to evaluate the future needs of the Library in the next 5-10 years, and the Reservoir, Altona, Sixty-Niners and Benalla Auxiliaries continue to raise funds.25 pages of text with drawingsbraille library of victoria, corporation records

A gold bronze plastic case with zip containing 3 braille set squares with 3 pins and perforator. Set squares made from yellow plastic. Marked: Chinese inscriptions on the set squares. 3 orange set square with Braille, 3 red tipped pins and an orange perforatorassistive devices, association for the blind

Designed by Nimoka (Nippon Moujin Youga Kaihatsu), it was produced between 1979-2005. A heavy Braille writer for its size, the Apollo provides a standard typewriter style albeit with the oblong keys sitting to the left hand side of the brailler. The design easily fits within a small musical instrument style case, and consists of a rectangular shaped structure made out of metal base with black coloured keys and a grey coloured soft plastic cover. Underneath a battery compartment (which powers a bell) is kept closed with a capped screw.Black and green metal object with covering boxApollo Brailler Mark-II (Serial number) 834400braille equipment, assistive devices

A 30 cm, flexible ruler with marked numbers and Braille. Sticker on the back of the ruler (since lost): "30cm flexible ruler, Cat No 1-03030, American Printing House for the Blind. Louisville. KY 40206-0085. For ages 3 & up. 1 white ruler with black large print numbers, black measurement indicators and brailleassistive devices, aph

This game of strategy was played in the Roman Empire and medieval England. Each player has nine pegs and must use these to first fill the board then move their pieces to create a 'mill' (three linked points). For each 'mill' created, an opponent's piece can be removed. In this version of the game, a rule booklet in Braille is provided with the tactile board and pegs. RNIB catalogue number: 9212. 1 yellow and red board in purple box +1 Braille booklet. recreation equipment, games

With numbers increasing, the 3RPH began printing their own paper badges rather than relying on metal ones. The blank template could then be modified with a name, if desired. In this example, a laminted card is attached to a metal and plastic clip. The front of the badge has a person facing upwards to a microphone whilst sound waves radiate around them. To the right of this symbol are the words 'Association for the Blind', '3RPH 1629' and then 'Radio for the Print Handicapped' above the name of the badge holder. The wearer's name is then embossed in Braille at the base of the badge on a blue background. This badge was donated by Marjorie West.Large badge with white background and black writing and braille at the baseAssociation for the Blind 3RPH 1629 Radio for the Print Handicapped Marjorie West badges, association for the blind

In 1894 the Victorian Braille Writers Association was established in order to create a braille lending library. Such an endeavor also meant a need of space for storage. At first the library was accommodated in the home of Mrs May Harrison before moving to the home of Mrs Dickinson two years later. Eventually, with the help of donors, a space was rented in the Block Arcade to house the 1300+ volumes it held and the yearly increase produced by its braille transcribers. Fortunately in 1918 the Trustees of the Edward Wilson Estate provided 4000 pounds to pay for a new building in Commercial Road. Despite some misgivings from the RVIB at the time, this building was home to both braille volumes and talking books (albums and cassettes) for many years.1 b/w photograph of people on a stageFree Lending Library for the Blind. Senator G. Fairbairn, on behalf of the Edward Wilson Trust, presenting the key of the building to Miss Aston, a Braille reader, representing the Braille Writer’s Association. 26th April 1919. (Label on mount board)tilly aston, braille and talking book library

An honour board recording winners of the Barbara Rutherford Memorial Braille Reading competition. From 1985, the decision was made to expand the children's Braille book collection in lieu of an award. The Barbara Rutherford Memorial Braille Reading competition was created by James and Margaret Rutherford when their daughter Barbara died in 1974, in recognition of her enjoyment as a transcriber at RBS. They donated $1000 to RBS, for the purpose that it be invested and the interest used as prize money, and that it be administered by the Braille Writers Association.Wooden board with plastic letteringThe Barbara Rutherford Memorial National Braille Reading Competition Winners 1975 Merrilyn White 1977 Joan Ryan 1979 Nola Flommersfeld 1981 Katherine Brookes 1983 Katherine Brookes, Josephine Nicholson From 1985 the Memorial has become a Children's Braille Book Collectionroyal blind society of new south wales, nameplates

These three books contain braille printing and may have come from The Victorian Association of Braille Writers and may have been used by Miss Skirrow in South Warrnambool in 1916. This latter information comes from the loose card in one of the books. Braille writing was invented by the French man Louis Braille in 1824 based on the French alphabet. These books are of historical interest and appear to have local significance..1 A hard cover book with a mottled pattern and black bindings containing 42 pages of braille printing. There is one loose card. .2 and .3 as above except for the card and .2 has 32 pages ,.3 has 36 pages .1 L9 55 .2 L9 53 .3 L9 54warrnambool history, vintage braille books

An older female and male sit either side of a desk. The lady holds a pen and a sheet of large print music in front of her, with a small pile of similar sheets to her right. The man holds a pen and looks at sheets of paper (presumably music) whilst sitting next to a box with the title 'Family Fun Box Organ course' to his left. In the background are filing racks, The Australian Hymn book and Braille volumes in various bindings. Over time, the RBS built up a considerable music collection thanks to the work of its dedicated supporters such as Dulcie Magnus.Digital image of two people working together to produce braille music Second century 24royal blind society of new south wales, braille music

Burwood School children undertook reading in various ways, such as Braille, and using aids such as additional lighting and a reading platform. In this example, a boy reads Braille whilst a girl is assisted by a teacher to read from her book. In the background are three posters displaying the wildflowers, environment and another aspect of Australian studies.burwood school, education, braille