Burroughs Model 9 Adding Machine

This full-keyboard manually operated printing adding machine has seven columns of color-coded number keys, with nine keys in each column. To the left of these are three rows of black keys with a key for each month and additional red number keys for days. To the right of the central number keys is a column of five keys for subtotal, total, non-add, repeat, and error. There is a lever below these marked “-” at the top and “+” at the bottom. The crank on the right has a wooden handle.

At the top is a wide adjustable carriage with a ribbon and printing mechanism in front of it. The rightmost type bar is for symbols. The next seven type bars are for totals, subtotals, etc. The three leftmost type bars are for days of the week and months. The machine has a serrated edge above the platen for tearing the end of the paper tape, an adjustable paper guide behind the platen, and a dowel mounted at the back to hold a roll of paper. The ribbon and its spools are covered, with screws holding the spool containers in place. The serial number, stamped on the keyboard below the keys, is: 9A67626.

The machine was used at the Freda Fish Corporation, a family-owned wholesale and retail fish business in New York City. The motto of the business was “We handle anything that swims, clings, or crawls.”

References:

Office Machines Research, Inc., section 3.21.

Accession file.

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