Children's arithmetic and counting set, boxed (bead counters, number/operator tiles, and stencil-ruler)

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Children's arithmetic and counting set, boxed (bead counters, number/operator tiles, and stencil-ruler)

Entry/Object ID

2025.11.8

Description

A boxed numeracy-teaching kit in a shallow cream/tan tray. Components: (a) two horizontal bead-counting rails set in a white plastic base — an upper row of green beads and a lower row of orange beads (approximately ten per row); (b) loose white square tiles bearing molded, color-filled characters — numerals in dark red (0, 6, 9; the 6/9 tiles reversible) and operator symbols in blue/teal (right-pointing arrow "→", equals "=", multiplication dot "·", multiplication sign "×"); and (c) a translucent amber plastic stencil-ruler with an embossed centimeter scale (1–14), die-cut numerals 0–9, and a lower row of die-cut arithmetic symbols. Used together to teach counting and to build simple arithmetic statements.

Acquisition

Accession

2025.11

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Made/Created

Place

Country

Poland

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Notes

Maker: Unidentified. Date: No date present.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

On the stencil-ruler (all embossed/molded): "MADE IN POLAND"; "WZÓR PRAWNIE ZASTRZ." — abbreviation of Polish wzór prawnie zastrzeżony, "design legally protected / registered design"; diamond trademark with lettering ("BO / CI"), flanked by arrows; centimeter scale 1–14; die-cut numerals 0–9 and arithmetic symbols. On the tiles: molded numerals (red) 0/6/9; molded operators (blue) "→", "=", "·", "×".

Materials

Material Notes

Materials: Translucent amber plastic (stencil-ruler; specific polymer unconfirmed — likely polystyrene or cellulose acetate); white and colored plastic (tiles, beads, bead base); cream/tan tray frame (wood or molded plastic — undetermined). Technique: Injection-molded plastic components; numerals and symbols formed as molded cut-outs (ruler) and molded, color-filled characters (tiles); beads threaded on fixed rails; embossed lettering and scale.

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

use

Place

Country

Poland

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Notes

production

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

August 25, 2025

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 18, 2026