Object ID:
2017.22.1
Title:
BD-3 Braille Terminal
Creator:
Triformations Systems Inc.
Description:
Portable braille embosser mounted in a brown plastic suitcase; pebbled faux leather finish with real stitching on the plastic case, hinged with locking arms, rim of case lined with brushed aluminum trim, chrome-plated rotating latches and carrying handle hardware; embosser table within is plastic, covered with a walnut woodgrain pattern vinyl; embossing head is mounted under a brown cover in lower left; 8.5" gray plastic spool of paper tape mounts onto aluminum hub in upper right and feeds around a spring-loded aluminum feeder bar; indicater panel mounted behind the embossibg head has an female RCA input jack, on/off power toggle switch, red indicator light; gray power cord emerges from table above the indicator panel; embossed label below carrying handle on case reads, "TRIFORMATIONS SYSTEMS, INC./BRAILLE TERMINAL BD-3"; serial #00048 on tag on back of case.
Dimensions:
H-14.5 W-19 D-60 inches
Date:
ca. 1975
Made by:
Triformations Systems, Inc.
Place of Origin:
Stuart, Florida
Provenance:
Obtained by the donor's brother, Howard Goldstein, in 1976, while attending the University of Connecticut pursuing an MS in Computer Science. It was connected to a Teletype Model 33 teleprinter, producing braille on paper tape as the teleprinter produced print. According to Goldstein, he did not use the BD-3 very much. He found moving from the teleprinter keyboard to read the tape was too awkward and slow. It was faster to have someone read out the output of the teletype than use the BD-3.
The BD-3 was Triformation's first braille embosser, released in 1971. It was described as a "braille verifier," producing braille copy on paper tape as regular copy was typed, either by a teletype as used by Goldstein, or a computer terminal. It weighed 15 pounds and cost $1850. Triformation's full sheet embosser, the LED-120, became available in June 1974, and although much more expensive, $9,000, it was much more popular. The BD-3 was the first commercially available digital braille embosser in the U.S.
The BD-3 was Triformation's first braille embosser, released in 1971. It was described as a "braille verifier," producing braille copy on paper tape as regular copy was typed, either by a teletype as used by Goldstein, or a computer terminal. It weighed 15 pounds and cost $1850. Triformation's full sheet embosser, the LED-120, became available in June 1974, and although much more expensive, $9,000, it was much more popular. The BD-3 was the first commercially available digital braille embosser in the U.S.
Credit Line:
Gift of David Goldstein, 2017.22.
Click to Enlarge
BD-3 Embosser
BD-3 Embosser case
BD-3 Embosser
BD-3 Embosser case