Accession No

4605


Brief Description

“Magic Brain” Stylus calculator with instruction leaflet, Japanese, 2nd half 20th Century


Origin

Japan


Maker


Class

calculating


Earliest Date

1950


Latest Date

1980


Inscription Date


Material

metal (brass, white metal, tin); plastic; paper


Dimensions

breadth 80mm; 143mm length; thickness 8mm instructions height 227mm; breadth 95mm


Special Collection


Provenance

Purchased on 05/12/1991.


Inscription

‘Magic-Brain
Calculator’ (front of calculator)
‘MADE IN JAPAN’ (back of calculator)


Description Notes

“Magic Brain” Stylus calculator (4605.1) with instruction leaflet.(4605.2), made in Japan, 2nd half 20th century.

Mechanical calculator with moulded plastic casing and painted tin front plate. Eight holes at the top reveal the result of the calculation to two decimal places. Beneath these are seven columns numbered 1 - 9 in both directions, with a toothed red scale which can move to adjust the number in the window. Metal stylus for moving scales held by plastic clips at the side of the calculator. Metal bar at top for clearing numbers.

The paper instructions tell the user how to clear the machine, add, subtract and multiply, also claiming that it aids division too.

Condition good; complete.


References

Mikey McGovern; 'Pocket calculating devices'; Explore Whipple Collections online article; Whipple Museum of the History of Science; University of Cambridge: https://www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whipple-collections/calculating-devices/pocket-calculating-devices


Events


FM:40351

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