Oscar Picht
Berlin, 1907
metal, wood
bought off from Musar Ćiril, 1956
inv. no.: 474
The Picht writing machine was constructed by Oscar Picht in Berlin in 1907. The machine works by allowing a blind person to select a Braille letter with their right hand while using their left hand to operate a lever that prints a black letter on paper. Oscar Picht, an engineer, had previously designed various mechanical devices in his youth. After becoming a teacher for the blind, he became increasingly interested in technical aids for writing in Braille. His goal was to create a machine that would enable quick and easy writing without it being too costly.
Picht built his first model of a writing machine for the blind in 1899 and patented several models of Braille-writing machines, keeping pace with the trends of contemporary technology. He was awarded a Gold Medal at the international typewriter exhibition in Venice in 1907 for one of his inventions.
The Typhlological Museum acquired this device for its collection from Ćiril Musar in 1956.
Picht writing machine
Oscar Picht
Berlin, 1907
metal, wood
bought off from Musar Ćiril, 1956
inv. no.: 474
The Picht writing machine was constructed by Oscar Picht in Berlin in 1907. The machine works by allowing a blind person to select a Braille letter with their right hand while using their left hand to operate a lever that prints a black letter on paper. Oscar Picht, an engineer, had previously designed various mechanical devices in his youth. After becoming a teacher for the blind, he became increasingly interested in technical aids for writing in Braille. His goal was to create a machine that would enable quick and easy writing without it being too costly.
Picht built his first model of a writing machine for the blind in 1899 and patented several models of Braille-writing machines, keeping pace with the trends of contemporary technology. He was awarded a Gold Medal at the international typewriter exhibition in Venice in 1907 for one of his inventions.
The Typhlological Museum acquired this device for its collection from Ćiril Musar in 1956.