De Luxe Adder / Adding Machine
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:60559 | Maker: J. H. Bassett & Company |
The De Luxe Adder appears to be an up-market version of The Bassett Adder. It is a continuous band type adder, with perforated celluloid bands sliding over a wood core. The outer shell is tin-plated steel on this late model, and it appears to be permanently mounted in a leather-covered wood case. The earliest models of the Bassett Adder had paper cases, later ones had the metal cases. The early ones had almost no provision for carry – you had to remember that ...if you pulled down on a number that was above the black bar (placed on the band at 10-hole intervals) you had to add one to the column to the left. The later ones, like this one, have a red flag (see the fourth picture) that appears at the bottom of a column when you need to add one to that column. This is definitely an adder, not an adding machine. The Bassett Adder was advertised as early as 1911, but the earliest ads I can find for this “De Luxe” version are from 1917. An ad from Feb 1917 is shown in the pictures. Advertisements in “System, The Magazine of Business” and “System on the Farm” show that in 1917 the De Luxe Adder was sold by both the De Luxe Adder Sales Co. as well as directly from the manufacturer, J. H. Bassett & Company. Both companies were in Chicago but at different addresses. Early Bassett Adders had “Patent Pending” printed right on the case, but no patent was ever issued. Perhaps that’s why there were at least 4 copies of it under different brand names, appearing almost immediately after the Bassett entered the market. The Bassett Adder was made from 1909 until the end of the 1930s.
This De Luxe Adder is in outstanding condition. None of the perforations in the celluloid bands have been torn through by a stylus! Also, I cannot find any scratches (from a mis-placed stylus) on the metal face of the adder, indicating that it was used very little, if at all. It works perfectly, with all the bands sliding smoothly and all the red carry flags popping up as designed. You will never find one in better condition.
Now, ahem, I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but before you think, “I’m going to have a lot of fun with this”, let me remind you that those sliding, perforated bands are made of 100+ year old celluloid. I had to test it so that I could report its condition, and I was nervous the whole time. Everything worked, the bands don’t seem to have shrunk or gotten brittle, but “100-year old celluloid”, was going through my mind the whole time. I moved the bands slowly and carefully. I’m sure the winning bidder will be a person who understands all this, but…I had to say it.
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.
This De Luxe Adder is in outstanding condition. None of the perforations in the celluloid bands have been torn through by a stylus! Also, I cannot find any scratches (from a mis-placed stylus) on the metal face of the adder, indicating that it was used very little, if at all. It works perfectly, with all the bands sliding smoothly and all the red carry flags popping up as designed. You will never find one in better condition.
Now, ahem, I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but before you think, “I’m going to have a lot of fun with this”, let me remind you that those sliding, perforated bands are made of 100+ year old celluloid. I had to test it so that I could report its condition, and I was nervous the whole time. Everything worked, the bands don’t seem to have shrunk or gotten brittle, but “100-year old celluloid”, was going through my mind the whole time. I moved the bands slowly and carefully. I’m sure the winning bidder will be a person who understands all this, but…I had to say it.
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.
