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Vintage mechanical calculator.
Fullsize image: https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/h...r_fullsize.jpg
https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/h...calculator.jpg
Previously:
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...896#post108875
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...166#post115788
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...6452#post83701
Looks like an old Friden.
We had 3 Marchant hand crank models, converted with a motor hung off the carriage, and 2 smaller electric Monroe models at our lumber yard in Pleasant Hill, CA in the 60s. We did not replace them till the mid-late 70s! Folks would come in just to see the clerks clattering away, shifting the carriage...thanks for the memories...again..
JimAttachment 30352
When I was a kid, my friend's dad had one with the hand crank in his home office. We spent hours pushing the buttons on that machine. As I recall the bigger the number you keyed in the harder it was to turn the crank, but the more gratifying the noise was when you turned it.
Friden maybe, Burroughs was my impression with that little ten-key off the side.
Either way no match for more elegant and compact Comptometer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comptometer
Attachment 30351
This wikipedia photo identical to what my Aunt used, tallying AR's/AP's well into the full size desk electronic calculator era. Worked there 50+ years, retired and took The Comptometer home and did a little home business with it. It has been serviced but NEVER required repairs, used 5 [and probably a few 6] week days; by her only.
This machine, despite all the keys can outrun another skilled operator on a digital. I think the trick lies in dual numbered keys, instead of separate = + - % X /.
Due that operational design, requirement is better than average mathematics skills, to enact proper sequences.
Used to move these beasts around from desk to desk at my father's office as a kid. Heavy monsters. It took mechanical geniuses to design these things and really sharp techs to keep them working.
I remember when all the banks had them at each teller station.
Yep, I remember that also, scary things is, soon to come will be the question, "Grandpa, what is a teller?"Quote:
Originally Posted by VinnieL
I was once in the control room of a large facility (visitor, not the time I was programming the controls) and they had one of those calculators. I entered a non-terminating division and hit GO. It was a clunking and click'n and a clack'n away when one of the operators can running over a pulled the plug. He thought I'd broken it.
sorry.
I have a very old manually operated many digit dial calculator, very nice (and works without batteries!).
