Locke Adder, Adding Machine, Calculator
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:15587135 | Maker: C. E. Locke Mfg. Co. |
The Locke Adder was a mild commercial success in the early 1900s. Originally patented in 1901, and then later in 1905, adding several improvements, the Lock Adder was sold by mail order for $5. This was at a time when a proper adding machine would cost well over $100. Made mostly out of stamped and formed aluminum, the Locke was light, easy to use, and cheap. It isn’t hard to see the appeal. On the down side, it doesn’t carry and, contrary to Locke’s... advertising, multiplication and division were quite a production. While the sliding bars are used to input the problem, the answer is read on the lower side of the bars, at the far right of the sliding bars window.
Locke Adders were one of the most colorful of the early adders, if not THE most colorful. The sliders jump out at you with their red, green, and yellow bands, and the left and right sides were usually black, bronze colored, or bare aluminum like this one. There was also an especially nice red one. This particular Locke Adder shows quite a bit of wear on the colored portions of the sliders, as if something rubbed against it a lot. There are no instructions with this Locke, but they can be found online.
This adder is from the collection of Robert K. (“Bob”) Otnes, PhD, one of the founding members of the Oughtred Society and the original editor of the Journal of the Oughtred Society. It is being sold by the Oughtred Society on his behalf.
The Oughtred Society was founded in 1991 by a group of slide rule collectors and is dedicated to the preservation and history of slide rules and other calculating instruments. Membership is open to anyone. Further information about the Oughtred Society can be found at: http://www.oughtred.org/.
PayPal is the only accepted form of payment. Starting 01 Oct 2019, Ebay is collecting sales tax for the 34 states that are charging sales tax on Internet purchases.
Shipping will be by USPS Priority Mail. Shipping charges will be somewhat higher for destinations outside the USA.
Oughtred11 is going on winter hiatus now, but we will be back early in the new year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Oughtred Society.
Locke Adders were one of the most colorful of the early adders, if not THE most colorful. The sliders jump out at you with their red, green, and yellow bands, and the left and right sides were usually black, bronze colored, or bare aluminum like this one. There was also an especially nice red one. This particular Locke Adder shows quite a bit of wear on the colored portions of the sliders, as if something rubbed against it a lot. There are no instructions with this Locke, but they can be found online.
This adder is from the collection of Robert K. (“Bob”) Otnes, PhD, one of the founding members of the Oughtred Society and the original editor of the Journal of the Oughtred Society. It is being sold by the Oughtred Society on his behalf.
The Oughtred Society was founded in 1991 by a group of slide rule collectors and is dedicated to the preservation and history of slide rules and other calculating instruments. Membership is open to anyone. Further information about the Oughtred Society can be found at: http://www.oughtred.org/.
PayPal is the only accepted form of payment. Starting 01 Oct 2019, Ebay is collecting sales tax for the 34 states that are charging sales tax on Internet purchases.
Shipping will be by USPS Priority Mail. Shipping charges will be somewhat higher for destinations outside the USA.
Oughtred11 is going on winter hiatus now, but we will be back early in the new year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Oughtred Society.
