Writing : Braille Slates, Braillewriters, and Writing Guides
Object ID:
2001.211.110
Title:
Braille slate
Description:
Board slate; aluminum board has furrows, pins, and a wooden top-hinged frame; brass guide has 2 pegs on back to fit holes in frame; 2 lines of 22 cells; grade 2 English braille on front left side of guide reads "links" (German for "left"). "Blindenstudienanstalt Marburg An Der Lahn!" --front of guide.
Dimensions:
H-11 W-7 D-0.5 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 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.
Credit Line:
Museum Purchase, 2001.211
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