Object ID:
2001.211.99
Title:
Upward-writing braille slate
Creator:
Barr, Ruth
Description:
Hinged pocket slate; lightweight brass; 4 lines of 27 cells; pins in bottom; cells on bottom frame are raised rather than the recessed dots seen in downward-writing slates; stamped "Orbit Products, Inc. Box 123 Manchester Mo. 63011" --front of top plate.
Dimensions:
H-1.75 W-8.75 inches
Date:
ca. 1969
Made by:
Orbit Products
Place of Origin:
Manchester, MO
Provenance:
This upward writing slate required the use of a hollow stylus. Instead of punching paper into recessed hollows and raising dots on the back of the paper, the hollow stylus shaped the paper over the raised metal dots of the braille cell. The advantage of this method of writing is that braille could be written left to right and no reversal of characters was necessary. It was invented around 1961 by an occupational therapist, Ruth Barr, in St. Louis, Missouri, and by 1969 was being manufactured by Orbit for $3.00 a set.
Part of a slate collection that belonged to David Ronecker (1918-2001). He was blind since birth, attended the Missouri School for the Blind, worked in Texas as a medical technician for the armed forces, and was an avid collector of slates. His nephew, Charles Zinser, acquired the slate collection after his death.
Part of a slate collection that belonged to David Ronecker (1918-2001). He was blind since birth, attended the Missouri School for the Blind, worked in Texas as a medical technician for the armed forces, and was an avid collector of slates. His nephew, Charles Zinser, acquired the slate collection after his death.
Credit Line:
Museum Purchase, 2001.211
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Braille slate
Braille slate