1990.8.1-2

Marburg Braille Writer

The Blista includes a back space lever, a carriage release lever, and right and left margin stops; keyboard has six keys and space bar; writer and the case weigh 14 pounds; wooden platen roller; finished with grey-green enamel; black wooden keys with cream colored enamel tops; black and gold transfer label, "Blindenstudienanstalt Blista Marburg-Lahn-Germany"; "Blista Marburg-Lahn-Germany" is stamped in metal; serial# 5902; wooden case is covered with paper on the interior; black fabric on the exterior; metal handle with a black gloss enamel; steel latch and angled top; key in case; serial #5902.
.1 - braillewriter
.2 - case

ca. 1966

Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt (Blista)

Marburg, Germany

APH bought 100 unassembled Marburg Braille Writers in 1950 and sold them for $57.00 as an experiment. This machine was essentially an up-to-date version of the Picht writer. It accommodated sheets of paper up to 11 inches with a maximum of 41 cells per line.
The German Blind Study Institute (Blista) was founded by Dr. Carl Strehl (1886-1971) 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.

APH Collection, 1990.8