Accession Number: 1999.28.1-2
Description: (.1) Braillewriter: black-enameled cast steel frame--note that frame is roughly cast in places, decorated on sides and top with gold pinstriping and floral details; splayed keypad with long rectangular wooden keys on steel key arms; on front edge of each key is a braille cell made of brass dots with one dot missing to indicate the dot produced by that key; the two middle braille keys have shortened arms leaving room for wooden spacing key in the middle of the braille keys; carriage is made of nickel plated steel, flat toothed bar on front engages with space bar, eleven inch wide wooden main roller with a slot down length to hold edge of paper, a secondary and smaller steel and hard rubber paper roller mounted above wooden roller; both are advanced by a large knob with a knurled edge on right, with a wire spring mounted to engage in holes in the knob and control advance one line at a time; bar on back of carriage has six holes on left side to set margins; line end bell under carriage on right, return spring under carriage on left; black plate above the keys has gold stencil in delicate script "Schreibmaschine fur Blindenschrift, Picht Steglitz"; stamped on margin set bar, "2515". (.2) Case is oak with black enameled-steel handle on front and a brass hook-and-eye latch on each side; hinged lid; wood frame with rotating wood tabs glued to the inside bottom keeps braillewriter secured; woodcut print of the braillewriter is glued to the inside of the lid, "Schnell-Schreibmaschine fur die Bunktschrift der Blinden, Oskar Picht, Bromberg, Direktor der Blindenanstalt"; lower left-hand corner is printed "H. Dittmann, Bromberg. 970 16."
Date Made: ca. 1915
Maker: Picht, Oskar
Place of Origin: Dresden, Germany
Credit Line: Museum Purchase, 1998.28
Subjects: Assistive technology Braillewriters Mechanical writing
Dimension Notes: 4 3/4 x 12 1/2 x 9 in.
Made: Herr Otto Vierling
Material: Steel, wood, nickel, felt
Updated: 05/24/2021
