The “Crab” Braille Duplicator

Machine, Stereotype

Accession Number: 2006.60.1

Description: Aluminum table pierced with two sets of columns of holes for the sliding plate holder; nickel silver plates screwed to the sides of the table number the rows of the two columns in braille (not completely consistent with American Braille), the left side numbered 1-20(interline), the right 1-27(interpoint); heavy forged steel carriage bolted to bottom of the table; aluminum writer with keys in a "crab" arrangement, three round aluminum keys on each side on long angled arms; nickel plated rulers screwed onto carriage in front and back of writer, front ruler is graded in arabic numerals 1-36, lower ruler in braille 1-36; two bakelite padded keys, front left is carriage release, key on writer is space bar; wound spring and cotton tape arrangement on left side of carriage; machine had five plate holders when found, two unpainted steel, one unpainted aluminum, and two aluminum enameled black; one of the unpainted holders is for interline, the other four are interpoint.

Height: 6

Width: 16.5

Depth: 18

Date Made: ca. 1968

Maker: Matrix

Place of Origin: Coventry, England

Collection: APH Collection

History/Provenance: APH Collection

Credit Line: APH Collection, 2006.60

Subjects: Embossing (Printing) Printing and writing systems Tactile printing process Braille printers Braille Embossing presses Stereotype machines

Dimension Notes: overall

Made: Coventry Gauge & Tool Company, Royal National Institute for the Blind

Material: Aluminum, steel, Bakelite, nickel

Updated: 04/21/2016