Calcumeter 7 - Dial Adder / Adding Machine

The Calcumeter is a dial-type adder that was invented by James J. Walsh of Elizabeth, N.J., who received a patent for it in 1901. The Calcumeter was first manufactured by Morse & Walsh Company in 1903 and 1904, but by 1906 was produced by Herbert North Morse of Trenton.  Morse was apparently the businessman, while Walsh was the inventor.  The Calcumeter was offered with anywhere from 5 to 12 wheels.  Initially it did not have a clearing mechanism, but Walsh invented ...and patented one in 1908, a “reset” wheel that took the place of the right-most adding dial.  With the introduction of the reset wheel, the Calcumeter was rebranded (and stamped) “The Standard Desk Calcumeter”.  This Calcumeter does not have the reset wheel, but that isn’t a definitive indication that it’s an early one as the buyer could choose whether to have a reset wheel or one more column of adding capacity.  The brand marking stamped on the end of the Calcumeter however, is definitive: Morse & Walsh Co.  Also, the front is marked with the early model name, “The Calcumeter”.  That dates this Calcumeter to 1903 or 1904.  The Calcumeter has no provision for subtraction, only addition.  Construction is mostly of brass, with a nickel plated case.  It is quite robust and very well made.  In operation, the Calcumeter is unusually smooth compared with other dial-type adders.  This is due in large part to its “stored energy” carry mechanism.  Turning the dials slowly winds up a spring (you don’t even notice it), and when a carry is required the energy of the spring is used to add one to the column on the left.  Compared to every other wheel adder that doesn’t have stored energy carry (Lightning, Calculator Corp.), the Calcumeter is unbelievably smooth and easy.  Multi-column carries are also easy.  By all accounts the Calcumeter was quite successful, selling over 100, 000 units by 1910.  The fact that it cost 1/10 the price of a Comptometer no doubt helped the sales quite a bit.  However, there were even cheaper adders on the horizon, and by 1920 the Calcumeter was gone.   
This Calcumeter is gorgeous, and looks almost new.  It comes with the original instruction booklet, which also looks new, and in the original box with the original stylus.  
This adding machine 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.


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