2009.24.7

Moon Script-Writing Apparatus

Moon, William

(a) Wooden writing board, solid wood with side pieces joined to main board with tongue-and-groove joint; side pieces each pierced with series of holes, separated by 1/2" intervals; hinged wooden paper clamp on top, secured by rotating leaf-shaped brass latch; (b) brass writing frame: open frame with pegs in base which engage holes in writing board; letter writing guide moves across grooves in frame, spring engages sawtoothed notches in top of frame; hinges allow flaps on the letter guide to open, with flaps up, guide makes angular marks, with flaps down, guide makes rounded shapes; stamped on lower bar of frame, "MOON BRIGHTON".

H-11 W-10.375 D-0.875 inches

ca. 1875

Moon, William

Brighton, England

William Moon (1818-1894) had lost his sight by 1839 and had moved in with his widowed mother in her home in Brighton, England. When the local blind boys he taught found the embossed systems of Frere, Lucas, and Alston difficult to master, Moon invented his own system of raised letters in 1844. Moon type was based upon simplified forms of the Roman alphabet, but varied from it as necessary to improve legibility. Moon established the Moon Printing Works in Brighton. This artifact suggests that Moon continued to experiment with other tools and writing systems for blind students. Label from AFB suggests that "this is a somewhat awkward writing aid, and the resulting script awkward to read."

AFB Migel Memorial Library Collection, 2009.24