1992.341

Perkins Model B Braillewriter

Black enameled forged steel frame with tinplate housing; splayed seven-key nickel alloy keyboard; rounded keyboard shield under keyboard; bright nickel carriage and paper roller; arched diebox (similar to Hall Braillewriter) in top center; wooden paper roller knobs; weighs approximately 9 pounds; right and left margin stops;enameled in gold above and to right of keyboard on the front "The Perkins Braillewriter, Perkins Institution, Watertown, Mass., Patent Pending"; brailled copper plate on the lower right-hand corner of the keyboard tray; stamped in middle of front bar on carriage, "PERKINS INST./B".

ca. 1910

Perkins Institution

Watertown, MA

The Howe Press at Perkins developed a series of similar machines, Models A through C, around 1907, inspired by the design of the Hall Braillewriter introduced in the early 1890s. The Model C was still for sale as late as 1933.