Object ID:
2006.19.3
Title:
Taylor Arithmetic Slate
Description:
Cast aluminum rectangular body with textured surface on interior; open compartment at top with raised lip; stainless steel table stamped with octagonal starburst holes in 18x24 grid, riveted inside raised lip of body with brass pins; black adhesive tape pads on base.
Dimensions:
H-11.875 W-7.875 D-0.5 inches
Date:
ca. 1960
Made by:
[unknown]
Collection:
APH Collection
Provenance:
The main purpose of this device is to aid in the teaching and working of problems of long division, multiplication of large numbers, subtraction, and addition. Set of type originally consisted of 225 separate, identical pieces of type, molded from hard yellow vinyl plastic, or lead type. At one end of type are two dots placed along one side, at the other a solid raised bar along one side. By placing the type into the octagonal holes in the frame, the digits 0-9 and the mathematical signs of operation can be represented.
The Reverend William Taylor became supt. of the Yorkshire School for the Blind in 1836. While at the school he developed his "Ciphering Tablet." His calculating board is mentioned in the 1882 annual report of the British & Foreign Blind Association in essentially the same form as the model produced at APH. Although difficult to master, it possessed several advantages over its main rivals which used raised numbers. Since each piece of type could be used to represent all ten numbers and the operatives, there was significantly less time wasted searching for a particular number. The tools and dies used to produce this slate were donated by the Connecticut School for the Blind in 1937. APH introduced its own Taylor Slate in 1938/1939, made from stainless steel. By 1953, the type was available in both lead and plastic. In 1956, APH began making the frame from anodized green aluminum, which changed to golden aluminum in 1969. The product was discontinued by 1972. Taylor slates were made by several manufacturers, including RNIB, AFB, and APH.
The Reverend William Taylor became supt. of the Yorkshire School for the Blind in 1836. While at the school he developed his "Ciphering Tablet." His calculating board is mentioned in the 1882 annual report of the British & Foreign Blind Association in essentially the same form as the model produced at APH. Although difficult to master, it possessed several advantages over its main rivals which used raised numbers. Since each piece of type could be used to represent all ten numbers and the operatives, there was significantly less time wasted searching for a particular number. The tools and dies used to produce this slate were donated by the Connecticut School for the Blind in 1937. APH introduced its own Taylor Slate in 1938/1939, made from stainless steel. By 1953, the type was available in both lead and plastic. In 1956, APH began making the frame from anodized green aluminum, which changed to golden aluminum in 1969. The product was discontinued by 1972. Taylor slates were made by several manufacturers, including RNIB, AFB, and APH.
Credit Line:
APH Collection
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Taylor Arithmetic Frame
Taylor Arithmetic Frame