“The Adder” Adding Machine
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:43754 | Maker: The Adder Cash Register Syndicate Ltd. |
The Adder is at heart a simple column adder, designed to compete with other column adders like the Adix. It is robustly constructed to say the least: the bottom, sides, and back are cast iron, and the top cover is nickel-plated brass. The keycaps and levers are stamped steel. It was patented in 1902 and first produced in 1908 by The Adder Cash Register Syndicate Ltd., in London. By 1925 it had been gone from the market “for some time” according to Martin.&nb...sp; This one is serial number 783, and the patent number, which is quite hard to read (and photograph), appears to be 24868-902.
The keys on this Adder have a great feel, and the weight of it keeps it solidly planted on your desk while adding. That’s the good news. The bad news is that you need a flashlight to see the result wheels because they appear to be made of celluloid which has severely darkened. Also, the middle wheel seems to be stuck on 9; carries from the first wheel don’t work once it hits 9, and since the second wheel doesn’t move, neither does the third. The “Zero” key does not work, it feels completely jammed.
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. 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.
The keys on this Adder have a great feel, and the weight of it keeps it solidly planted on your desk while adding. That’s the good news. The bad news is that you need a flashlight to see the result wheels because they appear to be made of celluloid which has severely darkened. Also, the middle wheel seems to be stuck on 9; carries from the first wheel don’t work once it hits 9, and since the second wheel doesn’t move, neither does the third. The “Zero” key does not work, it feels completely jammed.
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. 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.
