Description: The first Picht Braillewriter, or Schnellschreibmaschine, was invented by Oscar Picht (1871-1945) working with machinist Bruno Ruppert in 1899 while teaching at the State School for the Blind in Berlin, Germany. The prototype was imperfect and not suitable to mass production, according to "Der Blindenfreund." The second design, which became the inspiration for generations of German braillewriters, was created by Richard Schuff in his workshop in Steglitz, and was available by Easter 1901. It was further refined by the typewriter firm Herde & Wendt, whose name appears on many of the early machines. Picht was the director of the Provincial School for the Blind in Bromberg, Germany, from 1910-1920, and returned to Berlin to head that school from 1920-1933. He held multiple German braillewriter patents. Herde and Wendt began manufacturing their version in Berlin in 1903.
Height: 5.375
Width: 15
Depth: 8.625
Date: 1901
