Writing : Braille Slates, Braillewriters, and Writing Guides
Object ID:
2001.211.16
Title:
Braille slate
Creator:
Lehrmittel Verlag, Blindeninstitut Wien
Description:
Hinged pocket slate; dark gray zinc alloy; 4 lines, 26 cells; brass pins in bottom plate.
Dimensions:
H-1.75 W-7.5 inches
Date:
n.d.
Place of Origin:
Hamburg, Germany
Provenance:
The Musee Valentin Hauy in Paris has near duplicates of this design marked "Menzel/Hamburg". Their documents suggest the slate was originally designed by a teacher--who was himself blind--named Menzel at the Institution for the Blind in Hamburg, Germany around 1910.

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 slate collector. His nephew, Charles Zinser, acquired the collection after Ronecker's death.
Credit Line:
Museum Purchase, 2001.211
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Austrian slateAustrian slate
Austrian slateAustrian slate