Accession No
3725
Brief Description
calculating machine, by Aktiebolaget Facit, Swedish, 1900-1960
Origin
Sweden; Atbidaberg
Maker
Aktiebolaget Facit
Class
calculating
Earliest Date
1900
Latest Date
1960
Inscription Date
Material
metal; plastic; rubber
Dimensions
length 203mm; height 145mm; breadth 185mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Donated, 01/05/1989.
Inscription
‘FACIT
MADE IN SWEDEN’ (front)
‘MADE BY
AKTIEBOLAGET FACIT
ATBIDABERG
SWEDEN’ (back)
‘BLOCK & ANDERSON LTD.
LONDON & CAMBRIDGE
- ALSO AT -
BIRMINGHAM. MANCHESTER. GLASGOW. SHEFFIELD
NOTTINGHAM. NEWCASTLE. LIVERPOOL. CARDIFF
SOUTHAMPTON. BRISTOL. BELFAST’ (metal plate on back)
Description Notes
Green-coated metal calculator with a rubber base. Three levers on the right hand side and one on the left. Three sets of digit drums. Plastic-coated metal numerical keys at front; also three other keys for shifting the readout.
Condition good; complete
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:40586
Images (Click to view full size):
