2009.6.14

Beginner's Abacus

American Printing House for the Blind

Black plastic rectangular frame with recessed area in center ; red felt glued to bottom of recession; two steel rods, each holding nine (9) round moveable white plastic beads, run between short sides of the frame; cast into frame "APH".

H-2.624 W-5.625 D-1 inches

1999

American Printing House for the Blind

Louisville, KY

APH Collection

In 1962, Carson Nolan, APH president, and June Morris, APH vice president, led an APH project in which 150 abacuses were made at APH and tested for use by blind students at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA and in Cincinnati public schools. Fred Gissoni traveled to the schools to train instructors and students in use of the abacus, which was based on Terence (Tim) V. Cranmer's design and which would later be produced as the Cranmer Abacus at APH. After 12 weeks of testing, it was found that the students using the abacus had an increase of 4 grade levels in their mathematical skills. The simplified beginner's version was introduced in the 1999 catalog. The instruction manual, copyright 1997, was written by Karen Poppe.

APH Collection, 2009.6.