Friden Model SVJ Calculating Machine

This is one of the last calculating machines manufactured by the Friden Division of The Singer Company. The full-keyboard electric non-printing machine has a metal frame painted brownish gray (taupe), a keyboard painted brown, and ten columns of brown and tan plastic number keys, with a blank tan clearance key at the bottom of each column. Metal rods between the columns of keys turn to indicate decimal places (in orange).

To the right are two columns of function bars. On the left is a nine-digit register that indicates numbers entered for multiplication. A knob for this register is on the left side of the machine. Below the register is a block of nine white digit keys, with a 0 bar below. These are surrounded by further levers and function keys.

The movable carriage at the back of the machine has an 11-digit revolution register and a 21-digit result register. Plastic buttons above the result register rotate to set up numbers. Ten numbered buttons are under the revolution register. Zeroing knobs for the registers are on the right of the carriage. These registers have sliding decimal markers as well. The machine has a thick piece of felt attached to the base, a rubber cord, and a light tan plastic cover.

A mark on the bottom of the machine reads: MODEL SERIAL (/) SVJ 24448. A mark on the sides reads: Friden. A mark on the cover reads: Friden (/) AUTOMATIC CALCULATOR. A sticker on the bottom reads: FRIDEN, INC. (/) SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.. A mark on the cord reads: SINGER.

Date based on serial number, courtesy of Carl Holm.

Currently not on view