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DOUBLE ARCHED ABACUS

Beads on Frames
1960s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

*The equipment though designed in the 1930s was not manufactured until the late 1950s or early 1960s and was sold as 'Abbatt Developmental Toys for Assessment & Training' in England where Morgenstern and his family had settled in the late 1930s. This was probably the first range of commercially produced toys designed for the disabled.
Base; rectangular block of 3/4in. plywood with the top and sides varnished; on the base are mounted two metal hoops and slotted onto the poles are ten balls each with a hole drilled through the centre; the balls are painted blue; orange; green; yellow and red. The Abbatt catalogue describes the Beads on Frames Toys as follows: The
beads of these toys are large and easily held by the child; who moves them along the wire. The teacher observes how he does this. Does he use one hand only or does he steady the frame with one hand and move the bead with the other? By encouragement; co-ordination of hand and eye can be developed.

Object details

Object type
TitleDOUBLE ARCHED ABACUS (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
wood and metal
Brief description
Beads on Frames; English; 1960s
Physical description
*The equipment though designed in the 1930s was not manufactured until the late 1950s or early 1960s and was sold as 'Abbatt Developmental Toys for Assessment & Training' in England where Morgenstern and his family had settled in the late 1930s. This was probably the first range of commercially produced toys designed for the disabled.
Base; rectangular block of 3/4in. plywood with the top and sides varnished; on the base are mounted two metal hoops and slotted onto the poles are ten balls each with a hole drilled through the centre; the balls are painted blue; orange; green; yellow and red. The Abbatt catalogue describes the Beads on Frames Toys as follows: The
beads of these toys are large and easily held by the child; who moves them along the wire. The teacher observes how he does this. Does he use one hand only or does he steady the frame with one hand and move the bead with the other? By encouragement; co-ordination of hand and eye can be developed.
Dimensions
  • Height: 31.75cm
  • Width: 30.16cm
  • Depth: 47.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
MADE IN ENGLAND; stamped on the underside
Object history
References: Part of a range designed for children with learning disabilites by Milan Morgenstern based on his observations of children at the Theodor Heller Foundation in Vienna in the 1930s.

Given by the son of the designer; already displayed at BGM as part of the exhibition 'A Tribute to Marjorie Abbatt' in 1989. See additional notes. See 'Abbatt Developmental Toys' catalogue
Production
Made by: designed by Milan Morgenstern; manufactured by Paul and Majorie Abbatt Ltd
Collection
Accession number
B.921-1993

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Record createdApril 17, 2000
Record URL
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