2009.6.16

Large Abacus

American Printing House for the Blind

Rectangular black plastic frame with two rectangular cutouts in center; both cutouts lined with red felt; thirteen steel rods run vertically through both cutouts; lower rods each hold four (4) round white plastic moveable beads; upper rods each hold one (1) bead; beads are 7/16" diameter; cast into top frame, "APH"; raised bars and dots on frame divide beads into groups of three.

H-4.5 W-8.25 D-1 inches

1974

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 Cranmer Abacus first appeared in the APH catalog in 1963. The larger version was introduced in 1974.

APH Collection, 2009.6.