Object ID:
2001.211.54
Title:
Braille slate
Description:
Hinged pocket slate; red plastic with rubber on back plate for quiet writing; 9 lines of 21 cells; braille line numbers on front of top plate, along right side; pins in bottom. Prototype of a slate that was never produced.
Dimensions:
H-4 W-6.125 inches
Date:
n.d.
Made by:
Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt (Blista)
Place of Origin:
Marburg, Germany
Provenance:
Item is 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. He was the uncle of Charles Zinser, who acquired the slate collection after Ronecker's death.
The German Blind Study Institute (Blista) was founded in 1916 in the historic university town of Marburg to help treat and rehabilitate blinded soldiers. The institute operated a workshop to produce special tools from its inception. The production of braillewriters based on Oskar Picht's original design moved to the Blista factory after WWII.
The German Blind Study Institute (Blista) was founded in 1916 in the historic university town of Marburg to help treat and rehabilitate blinded soldiers. The institute operated a workshop to produce special tools from its inception. The production of braillewriters based on Oskar Picht's original design moved to the Blista factory after WWII.
Credit Line:
Museum Purchase, 2001.211
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Plastic braille slate
Plastic braille slate