Perkins Brailler

Perkins Brailler

The Perkins Brailler is a "braille typewriter" with a key corresponding to each of the six dots of the braille code, a space key, a backspace key, and a line space key. Like a manual typewriter, it has two side knobs to advance paper through the machine and a carriage return lever above the keys. The rollers that hold and advance the paper have grooves designed to avoid crushing the raised dots the brailler creates. Originally designed in 1951, the Perkins Brailler is still available to purchase in its metal form, but has also been redesigned in a plastic casing. While both of these braillers need servicing from time to time, the newer plastic version has been found to break far more frequently than the original design.

Classroom Applications

  • Literacy
    • Completion of written tasks such as story writing, spelling lists, note recording, etc.
  • Numeracy
    • Very useful when working with maths layout - moving between working out with vertical addition, etc.
  • All subjects where writing is required.
  • The Perkins Brailler is an excellent tool for students when they are beginning to learn braille, helping to create neurological pathways and map the braille keys in the minds eye as they are learnt. This version of the Perkins Brailler is loud and clunky - and requires a reasonable amount of strength to press the braille keys hard enough to emboss onto the paper. As an alternative, the Electronic Perkins Brailler, the Perkins SMART Brailler and the refreshable braille devices are available.

Guides

Below are video guides on how to load and remove the paper in a Perkins Brailler and how to recognise when the end of a line is coming and to return the embossing head to its original start position.