Rasmus Malling-Hansen advertising the writing ball in Illustrirte Zeitung, 1881-1886.
Research, illustrations and publication by Sverre Avnskog.
Transcription, comments and translation by Jørgen Malling Christensen.
Sverre Avnskog found several advertisement in this important German magazine from the period 1881-1886, and Dieter Eberwein assisted in deciphering the text, which was blurry due to the low resolution of the images.There were advertisments in the issues from 1881, 1884, 1885 and 1886.
We have previously published an article with examples of the rather intensive advertising campaign for the writing ball, which Malling-Hansen conducted in Danish daily newspapers from December 1879 until the end of December 1880 (article in Danish). This new documentation shows us, that Malling-Hansen extended his advertising efforts to German media. The two examples we show here are from 1881, respectively 1886. Malling-Hansen used the same text in 1881 and 1884, but changed it in the advertisements in 1885 and 1886. Below is the transcription of the texts and a translation into English.
I think Sverre is correct in pointing out that the way the 1886 advertisement was formulated has contributed to the widespread misunderstanding, at the time and later, that Malling-Hansen invented the writing ball as a tool for the blind and the deaf-mute.
- - - - -
Illustrirte Zeitung nr.2008, 1881-12-24.
Die Schreibkugel.
Von Malling Hansen, Pfarrer an dem Taubstummen-institut, Schnellscreibmaschine; Goldmedaille Pariser Weltausstellung 1878.
Prospekte bei
Ritzau’s Bureau, Kopenhagen, K.
The Writing Ball
by Malling Hansen, pastor of the Institute for the deaf-mute, speed typewriter; gold medal at the Paris World Exhibition 1878.
Brochure at
Ritzau’s Bureau, Copenhagen, K.
Illustrirte Zeitung 1886.
Die Schreibkugel.
von Malling Hansen, Pfarrer an dem Taubstummen-Institut, Schnellschreibmaschine; unentbehrlich für Blinde under Personen mit defekten Gliedern. Goldmedaille Pariser Weltausstellung 1878.
Prospekte bei
Ritzau’s Bureau, Kopenhagen, K.
Karl Korbl[1] in Chur[2] empfiehlt die Maschine besonders für Blinde.
The Writing Ball
by Malling Hansen, pastor of the Institute for the Deaf-Mute, speed typewriter; essential (JMC:a must-have) for the blind and for persons with handicaps (of the limbs) (JMC: probably meaning: of hands and/or arms). Gold medal at the Paris World Exhibition 1878.
Brochure at
Ritzau’s Bureau, Copenhagen,K.
Karl Korbl in Chur recommends the machine particularly for blind people.
[1] JMC: I cannot find any information about this person. Is the spelling correct? I have also searched on ‘Korbi’ and ‘korbel’. Since he is mentioned as a person recommending the writing ball, I take it that he must, at the time, have been a rather well-known figure in European or German circles, dealing with teaching for the blind.
SA: It is often very difficult to decipher names that is blurry like this, and when I make a search on Google for the name Karl Korbl, I get no hits. I wrote an email to the Swiss Federation of the Blind with a request if they might be able to recognize the name, but they could not help. To me it seems that the name very well could be Karl Køchl, and this name gives many hits on Google. The Køchl family was from Austria, and consisted of musicians, historians and educators. But unfortunately I cannot decide whether this name is the correct interpretation of the name in Malling-Hansen's advertisement.
[2] JMC: Chur is the main town of the Swiss Canton Graubünden. Population in 1860: 4 000, in 2021: 40 000.
- Den første annonsen jeg fant, var i denne utgaven av Illustrirte Zeitung fra 1881.
- Slik så annonsen fra 1881 ut. Den samme teksten ble også anvendt i annonsene i 1884.
- Denne annonseteksten ble brukt i 1885 og 1886.
- Illustrirte Zeitung fra 1885.
- Illustrirte Zeitung fra 1886.
