Homemade Device Aids Blind Person in Writing
The Height of the Letters is Gauged by a Guide Wire
To assist my father in writing, notwithstanding his blindness, I made the machine shown in the illustration. It has been in use two years, and proved thoroughly practical. It consists of a board, ¹⁄₂ by 11 by 13³⁄₄ in., on which the paper is held by a clip. Two stops, A, insure a good alinement of the sheet. A T-square, B, slides in a groove at the left side; the upper edge is beveled. At a distance of ³⁄₄ in. from this edge is stretched a brass guide wire, C, by means of which the height of the script is gauged. The wire is supported on brass strips, D. When the line is written, a pin, E, set in one of a row of holes in the groove F, is raised, the T-square moved, and the pin inserted in the next hole below, giving the correct spacing. As the wire does not touch the paper, either ink or pencil can be used. The board consists of four pieces, glued, and fastened with screws, as detailed.—Arthur E. Tremaine, Brookline, Mass.