Accession No
2989
Brief Description
calculating machine, by Brunsviga, German, 1945 (c)
Origin
Germany; Braunschweig; Kastanienalee 71
Maker
Brunsviga Maschinenwerke AG
Class
calculating
Earliest Date
1945
Latest Date
1945
Inscription Date
Material
metal
Dimensions
length 420mm; breadth 230mm; height 171mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Transferred from Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, 25/02/1983.
Inscription
‘BRUNSVIGA’
‘BRUNSVIGA
MASCHINENWERKE AG.’
‘Stammhaus
BRAUNSCHWEIG. KASTANIENALEE 71
Made in Germany’
Description Notes
Dark green metal casing, metal base.
Later model of 2941.
Condition
References
Events
Description
Calculating machine
A calculating machine could be any machine that adds, subtracts, multiplies or divides. Before about 1820, they were solely produced as marvels and were not sufficiently developed to be of practical use. Direct multiplication was only possible in 1895, and had immediate time-saving application, particularly in the work of insurers and astronomers.
Numbers were represented digitally, with various different methods of entry. Earlier examples usually used rotating wheels with pins protruding. The pins were linked to a weight which fell and registered the number. Later examples were key driven.
18/10/2002
Created by: Saffron Clackson on 18/10/2002
FM:44640
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