1992.4

Large Improved Stainsby braillewriter, combined model

(a) Large size Improved Stainsby Braillewriter, combined model; reversed keys (keys arranged for writing braille in reverse as on a slate); chrome plated steel mechanism screwed to aluminum bed plate; pins on the bottom of the bed plate lock into corresponding holes in the board; sliding carriage with bell on left; six spring loaded point keys, space bar on right, two small carriage release levers on right; (b) aluminum alloy interpointing board, rectangular with rounded corners, holes punched in two columns of 27; black aluminum strip at top with holes pierced for the paper clamp; thick red fiber pad screwed to base; (c) aluminum alloy interlining board, rectangular with rounded corners, holes punched in two columns of 18; black aluminum strip at top with holes pierced for the paper clamp; thick red fiber pad screwed to base; serial no. on all three pieces 5519, writer designated "MK-3".

ca. 1950

J. M. Glauser and Sons; Royal National Institute for the Blind

London

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 more 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 interpointing board, and a small version with a folding board. Both large and small models came in ordinary and reverse keyed versions.

APH Collection, 1992.4