Talk:Blackboard

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I venture to offer an early reference to a 'new invention' in respect of the blackboard: In a prospectus for an undated: MATHEMATICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL LECTURES, ... Mathematical and philosophical lectures, by Mr.$Dowling, at his establishment, No. 23, Devonshire Street, Queen Square. ... The lectures commence on the 10th of September, and they will be continued on Tuesday and Friday evenings, during the winter season. ... - London: E.$Blackader, printer, [1813?] [4] p. (three blank)

This carries the statement: 'Mr. Dowling performs all the problems, and demonstrates them with a piece of chalk on a board painted black, and made for that purpose; and the rapid improvement that his pupils have made since he has adopted this mode of instruction, is the strongest proof he can offer in favor of it'.

Stephen Massil (Library, Sir John Soane's Museum)

That's not an eraser.

That's a regular kitchen sponge. If sponges are ever used for chalkboard erasers it is so rare as to be invisible in all popular media from the time period in which chalkboards were common. Most of my public school attendence was during chalkboard usage and I didn't see anyone use a sponge to erase a chalk board even once. Erasers were made of blocks of thick felt cut into layers and bound together. They appear in every depiction of chalkboards in media, one example is the Simpsons opening titles. Stopchewingyourcuticles (talk) 12:53, 25 November 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Right you are; I've changed the image to show a more typical felt eraser as used in 20th century US classrooms. It was not uncommon for a wet sponge to be used at the end of the day, or as needed, to clear the chalk dust off the board. Just plain Bill (talk) 15:38, 25 November 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@Just plain Bill Thanks very much! Stopchewingyourcuticles (talk) 22:35, 1 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]