Made from a large, heavy, irregular shaped piece of stone. One fascia has been cut lengthwise at an oblique angle & polished. On this face are 2 bronze medallions. One shows 2 hands and the other, 'Braille Book of the Year' is written in Braille. This award was presented for the first time at a presentation dinner on the 3rd May 1974 to Mr. Keith Dunstan. Mr. Barrett Reid of State Library, Dr. Stephen Murray - Smith from Melbourne University and Mr. Lloyd O'Neil, publisher formed the literary panel.1 stone block with 2 bronze medallions, one inlaid with hands and the other with BrailleBraille Book of the Year (in Braille)braille and talking book library, awards, sculpture

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 Braille Lite harnessed the advantages of a computer to write in Braille and provides responses either in Braille or synthetic voice. Weighing around a kilogram, it was considered a lightweight notebook that also could be connected to other computers and stored Braille in it's inbuilt hardware. 1 beige rectangle with 7 raised buttons, a long space bar and refreshable braille display in black, held in a black plastic carrying case + printed instruction bookBraille Lite (R) Sticker attached over 'Blaze Engineering'.braille equipment, stephen jolley

Four people retrieving Braille from the shelves to pack into cane storage baskets for dispatch. A woman is taking a book off the shelf, another is annotating a piece of paper whilst a third woman looks at the spine of a book. A man in a dust coat is also handling a book. Book shelves line the walls and cane baskets are stacked upon the floor.1 B/W digital image of people sending braillebraille library of victoria, braille

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

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

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 Bertha 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

In 2001 RBS and RVIB worked on a joint project to assist sighted people to learn Grade 1 Braille. This CD-ROM was produced to enable people to be able to learn and practice at home.1 CD-ROM with text and BrailleNot all keyboards are suitable for use with this program. To gauge usability launch Notepad or Wordpad and press the s, d, f and j, k, l keys simultaneously. If all six letters appear your keyboard can be used as a virtual brailler. Minimum system requirements: 32MB of Ram; Pentium 166mhz; Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0; Quicktime Browser plugin and Macromedia Flash plugin (included in installation). NB: Video may take one minute to load. Display: At least 800 x 600, high colour (16 bit). Installation: The CD-ROM will automatically run the setup procedure. For best results run the program from your hard drive. If the setup fails to start automatically, double click My Computer or Windows Explorer, double click the CD-ROM drive icon, then double click the setup icon. This CD-ROM is a joint project by the Royal Blind Society and Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind.royal blind society of new south wales, education, royal victorian institute for the blind

Circular shaped pocket watch in a silver case, with black hour and minute hands. Numerals written in black with raised markings at each number.Metal clock with Braille and printed numbers'17 jewels' and 'faB' on clock faceassistive devices, braille

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 metal Braille frame with four lines of Braille windowsPerkins Model 140 RVIB sticker has been attached to the back of the framebraille equipment, assistive devices

Two sighted women sit in an outside porch at the Braille Library in South Yarra, transcribing the books in front of them into Braille, using a stylus and frame. This image shows sighted volunteer Braille transcribers. At this time all Braille was manually transcribed using a hand frame and metal stylus. These volunteers worked at Australia's first Braille Library created by the Victorian Association of Braille Writers.Black and white image of two Braille writersbraille equipment, victorian association of braille writers

Female sitting next to a Perkins Brailler reading a Braille book. In the background are Braille volumes and possibly a machine that binds loose sheet together. Most likely this room she is sitting in was used by transcribers.Digital image of female reading Braillebraille books, royal victorian institute for the blind

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 metal Braille frame with two lines of Braille windows and 4 small prongs to keep frame positioned correctly.braille equipment, assistive devices

This kit was designed to help children understand about Braille through a series of activities and exercises. It consisted of 2 books and a plastic ruler (which is missing). Learn about Braille book - which provided a brief history of Braille, how it is used, alphabet, numbers and introduction to Grade 2. The Bee Book - a print Braille book where children can feel the words and the diagrams.1 plastic case with 2 booksLearn about Braille kit RVIB logo Image of Bee Braille (printed)royal victorian institute for the blind, education

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

Private Elmer Glew was an original ANZAC who was blinded at Gallipoli in World War 1Item belonged to an original ANZAC from the districtA wooden base with brass implementsPresented to Private E Glew by the Victorian Association of Braille Writers 17th November 1917anzac, gallipoli, braille, grew, dingley village

This tactile map of Europe was created in 1939, and brailled by the Queensland Braille Map and Model Club. Cut and mounted by G. Vann with geographical inforamtion provided by Miss E Southern. The Queensland Braille Map and Model Club was a volunteer organisation which produced tactile maps from the 1920s to the late 1940s. These were sent as presents to schools, organisations and missions for people who were blind or vision impaired around Australia, New Zealand, Syria, India, Canada, Papua New Guinea and Africa. Due to free postage of Braille obtained by Tilly Aston and her compatriots, the maps were transported gratis within Australia and at a cheap rate overseas. When this map was made, East Prussia, Danzig and the Levant States were all separate countries. Some information about each country (name, area in sq miles and population) is written on a small door on the right hand side, which can be opened to reveal the same information in Braille. At the base is a braille and handwritten note "Information about maps gratis from Miss E Southern "Kingsley" George St, Brisbane. "For lending to the Blind" is written at the base of the wooden frame.1 paper attached to wooden mount with metal labels, on the right hand side a small door with country information on the front and opens to reveal the same in Braille. queensland braille map and model club, r.f. tunley

This small Braille teaching cube attached to a keyring can be used to make the shapes of Braille characters. The surface of cube is studded with large black rivets and when the three main parts of it are rotated, the shapes of a single braille character can be seen and felt. The cube features raised dots in 3 independently revolving sections. These can be turned to form different Braille letters for teaching purposes. 1 bright yellow Braille keyring cube with black dots on itbraille equipment, education aids and 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 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

Female sitting at a table reading a Braille book. Behind her is a wall but nothing else in the room is featured.Digital image of woman reading Braillebraille books, royal victorian institute for the blind

To recognise the achievements of those who undertook and completed a transcription course, this certificate was awarded to "a duly qualified Braille writer", by the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales, incorporating the Braille Writers Association of NSW. These volunteers were involved in the expansion of the library as they created Braille from the print version of texts. 27/5/1954 - Iris E. Brangwin, President: A. Maxwell, Hon. Secretary: Paul A Cullen.White page with black writing and profile of Louis Brailleroyal blind society of nsw, iris brangwin

Circular shaped pocket watch in a gold case, with silver hour and minute hands. Numerals written in black with braille markings. Metal clock with Braille and printed numbers'Hymoser Incarbloc' on face of watchbraille and talking book library, assistive devices

Vinyl banner used by the Braille & Talking Book Library at various events to advertise their presence.1 white banner with blue writing and tiesBraille & Talking Book Librarybraille & talking book library, advertising

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

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

American Printing House pocket brailler consisting of a rectangle shaped structure made out of a brown coloured plastic with 7 keys and 3 buttons and a mustard coloured vinyl cover with attached handle and a power cord. Braille letters are achieved by punching the various keys. Serial number: Louisville 1354.Brown coloured plastic rectangular Brailler with covering vinyl bag with handle.braille 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! 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

An older girl sits on a garden bench surrounded by younger girls, as she reads from a Braille book. Believed to be Tilly Aston, this image demonstrates the power of story, regardless of it's medium, as well as the work of the RVIB School in educating children, and was often reproduced.High quality image of Braille reader in gardenroyal victorian institute for the blind, tilly aston

This map was produced by Richard Francis Tunley and given to the Victorian Braille Library for use by it's patrons. Mr Tunley was a prolific Braille map maker as well as producing other items for blind and vision impaired children, advocated for compulsory education for blind and deaf children and established the Queensland Braille Map and Model Club. Leading by example, his maps were treasured by those who used them and were an outstanding piece of craftsmanship. In this example, the metal cylinder sits on a wooden base and can be turned via a handle in the wooden top or rotating the sides. A brailled red metal plate occupies the bottom third, and large continents have a metal plate, cut to shape, upon which braille country/continent names are placed. Major rivers are traced through raised lines in the metal continental plates, twisted wire traces shipping routes with associated brailled metal plates, raised metal pins in some major locations and more explanatory plates sit in various oceans.1 metal cylindrical map with tactile markersCommercial & Strategic Map of the British Empire Presented to the Victorian Braille Librarybraille library of victoria, r.f. tunley