Perkins Brailler FAQ

Where can I buy a brailler?

• Within the United States:
  You can buy a Perkins Brailler online at our website: www.perkinsproducts.org.
  If you are a school or organization, you can purchase on quota through APH (American Printing House). If you are an individual, you can buy through Perkins or through any of our authorized resellers who may be located closer to you. Check with the Commission for the Blind in your state because often they will make a one-time purchase for an individual.
• Within Canada:
  You may also contact Perkins Products directly.
• Around the world:
  You may purchase braillers and other Perkins Products through the local reseller in your region, listed online or through Perkins Products by emailing perkinsproducts@perkins.org.

Standard Perkins Brailler

How do I load the paper into the brailler?
It is important to load the paper properly into the brailler, otherwise it will appear to be jammed and will not work.

• Move the carriage lever to its the left hand side of the brailler (starting position).
• Depress the line spacer until it will not depress anymore
• Pull the pressure roller levers towards you to open the drum
• Insert the paper from the back into the rounded roller drum and ensure that the paper is aligned to the left hand side of the brailer
• Push the pressure roller levers away from you to secure the paper
• Roll the paper all the way in till the feed knobs stop turning
• Hit the line spacer once
• Begin to braille

I have heard that the Perkins Brailler is not made in the United States anymore. Is this true?
Almost all the components of the Perkins Brailler are designed, engineered and manufactured in the United States at Howe Press. The components are then assembled at the Howe Press plant or shipped to assembly plants in India and South Africa. Quality standards are developed and overseen by Howe Press and implemented equally across all Perkins Brailler locations. All braillers are guaranteed for one full year and we expect them to last for decades if properly maintained.

Unimanual Brailler

What is a unimanual brailler?
A unimanual brailler is designed for someone with the use of only one hand. On this brailler, the keys will remain depressed on the left hand side and not spring back until each braille letter is complete (there is a locking mechanism which holds the keys down).

Brailler Starter Kits

What does the starter kit contain?
Braille paper (100 sheets, 11in x 8½in, heavy grade), Dymo tape holder (slide into brailler, carriage in the middle first), 1 roll of dymo tape, brailler, and soft case.

Electric Perkins Brailler

Why would I buy an electric brailler?
There are a number of advantages offered by an electric brailler.

• It is significantly faster to produce braille on an electric brailler than on a standard brailler
• It is much easier to depress the keys, so it is easier to braille for a longer period of time.

Therefore, a child or adult who has weak fingers, whose hands are not fully functional or who has arthritis will braille quicker and more comfortably on an electrical brailler.

Will the electric brailler work as a manual when it is not plugged in?
No, the keys will not depress when it is not plugged in.

How is the new electric brailler different from the old one?
The new Perkins Light-Touch Electric Brailler now operates on universal power and can utilize the electrical current in many parts of the world. It also comes in blue rather than gray.

Is the electric brailler covered under the US federal quota system?
Yes.

Does it work on any type of electrical power in every country?
Yes, with the correct adapter.