WRITING-MACHINES FOR THE BLIND. 



651 



other toothed. As each pin can be disposed in the holes in sixteen 

 different ways, it is easy to see that the system has considerable 

 capacity. But the blind find it difficult to adjust the pins. A 

 case has been made for working in vulgar fractions, in which 

 metallic figures are set in square holes ; but the apparatus can 

 hardly be called a practical one. M. Oury has devised a modifi- 

 cation of Taylor's tablets which has advantages over both of 

 these instruments (Fig. 5, No. 2, 2'). M. Mauler's writing- 

 machine consists essentially of a horizontal plate, having on its 

 circular border a series of keys, each of' which bears one of the 



Fig. 7. — A Blind Man writing with the Mauler Machine. 



signs of the Braille alphabet and the corresponding letter of the 

 ordinary alphabet, the two systems being arranged upon two 

 concentric circlets. The plate, turning around a vertical axis, 

 may be fixed at any position for the moment by means of a spring 

 working into a notch. A frame, which turns upon a horizontal 

 axis, supports two rollers upon which the paper is wound, and is 

 moved by a lever which the writer holds in his left hand. Upon 

 this lever slides a little tampon tipped with India-rubber, which 

 may be fixed at will immediately over the line of either of the 

 alphabets of the plate. When the writer has brought the letter 

 he wants in front of him, and has fastened it for the moment in 



