Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26

benefit to mankind. the demands for this will
probably far outs:rip that of the crossword
puzzle invention, but it will be over a period OF
greater time. :s....
Typewriters for the blind have been in use
during the past 10 years. The most eficient
were produced in the United States and Eng
land. But the new machine just put into use
in Paris for the first time has sufficient I'M
provements to almost deserve the name OF a
new invention. Previous typewriters for the
blind used roller and printed upon one side
OF the paper only. In printing such writing Al
Braiie, consisting entirely of raised points upon
the paper. if mistake was made, it could not
be corrected, for the rolling back Of the paper
faattened out al the dots, thus spelling the
entire line or lines.
Furthermore. as Brail;e requires much more
space than ordinary writing. it was important
that both sides OF the paper could be utilized II
possible. This is now done by the improved
typewriter. For. instead Of q roller, frame Is
used. This frame consists OF two metal bars as
right angles to the keys. The keys pass along
the frame. When the page is filled, the frame
In turned over. The frame is so spaced that
while writing is done upon one side, it leaves
sufncient space for the wide BTaille letters on
the other side, thus effecting q great saving in
space Another Improvement Is that the motive
power to move the frame is supplied by heavy
iron pendulum. The pendulum, held by q
strong cord, never goes out Of order, which was
found to be an improvement the spring In
former machines for the blind which were MT
quite 50 effective the spring IN an ordinary
typewriter, due to the difference in construc-
ton OF the two machines
The perfection of radio has created a revo-
luton In the life of man. Far-distant outpoStS
Of the world, lonely farm homes the bedrooms
of invalids have been brought in touch with the
worlds greatest artists. Those who are blind
have been perhaps the chief beneficiaries
through radio and within the last four years
American haS kant nm
with the progress of events, until by 1928 they
were publishing radio sections in their news
papers in six languages and during the Spring
OF 1923 began issuing radio programs for Italy
France and Belgium. A still further advance
came when the organization of the Paris head
quarters, in cooperation with French radio cor
porations, solved the problem of supplying in
formation and material with which blind per-
sons could build their own radio sets. The
radio companies supplied the framework, tina
dlas of which had raised letters Naturally
the instructions had to be more than just
printed directions, even in Braille. So after
much experimenting, whole complete diagram
was evolved on p: pcr which could be followed
by the blind person desiring to make his own
radio set. -.~.-
THIS, with tn additional ordinary written
instructions. was sufficient and at the time
OF writing the new invention had been found
satisfactory by several blind people interested in
radio. The franz when given to the blini is
OF course, bare of wiring
In the last four years ls.00o0Q pages OF
Braille have been published at the Paris head.
quarters. this due to rapid mechanical IMPROVE
ments completed at the plant The latest in
vention to be ms ailcd Is "roto BrailIe press"
In the old-fashioned press the zine plates upon
which were punched th> dots forming the spe-
cial words read b. the blind were placed IN .
press In nat. upright position The plate
then stamped the dots upon specially heavy
paDer, enc Sh>ct tim The old machine