Wood Cased Comptometer, S/N 4698
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:18719367 | Maker: Felt & Tarrant |
The Comptometer’s place in history is significant: introduced in 1887, it was the first key-driven mechanical calculator that was commercially successful, and it worked so well that it was in continuous production – with many improvements along the way – until the mid-1970s. Between 1887 and 1903, all Comptometers were built in wood cases; steel cases were used after that. There were approximately 6500 wood-case Comptometers built. With its serial number of 4698..., this is one of the later ones.
This Comptometer appears to be in very nice mechanical condition for its age. It adds and carries, but some of the keys are sluggish and several keys in the 4th column don’t add their full value when pressed. The clearing mechanism works well, but here’s a tip: after you push the lever down and start to turn the knob, release the lever. If you keep holding it down, the sharp snap from nine to zero on the dials is energetic enough to make most of the wheels overshoot zero and go to 1. Note: being an early Comptometer, this one adds on the downstroke of the keys, not the on the upstroke as on all later models.
This Comptometer 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. Buyers within California will be charged 7.25% sales tax.
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.
This Comptometer appears to be in very nice mechanical condition for its age. It adds and carries, but some of the keys are sluggish and several keys in the 4th column don’t add their full value when pressed. The clearing mechanism works well, but here’s a tip: after you push the lever down and start to turn the knob, release the lever. If you keep holding it down, the sharp snap from nine to zero on the dials is energetic enough to make most of the wheels overshoot zero and go to 1. Note: being an early Comptometer, this one adds on the downstroke of the keys, not the on the upstroke as on all later models.
This Comptometer 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. Buyers within California will be charged 7.25% sales tax.
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.
