General 599 Adding Machine

This printing electric adding machine has a gray plastic case, a block of ten number keys, TOTAL, SUB-(/)TOTAL, -, and X keys to the right of the number keys, and two larger keys, one at each side of the keyboard. One may enter numbers up to nine digits long and print ten-digit totals. The place indicator is above the keyboard and a printing mechanism is toward the back, with a place for a narrow paper tape ,and a plastic serrated edge for tearing it. There is no paper tape. There is a gray cord.

The machine is marked: General (/) 599. It is also marked: 521824. It is also marked: ; GENERAL GILBERT (/) CORP. It is also marked: PAT. NO. 2,667,304 (/) OTHER PATENTS PENDING (/) 110-120 VOLTS A.C.D.C. .8 AMPS(/) MADE IN U.S.A.

Remington Rand adding machine 1982.0474.01 has a “General” cover.

U.S. Patent 2,667, 304 was granted January 26, 1954, to Robert S. Wallach of Bernardsville, N.J., and Torkel E. Torkelson of Baldwin, N.Y. They assigned the patent to Associated Development and Research Corporation of New York, N.Y.. According to Chris H. Bailey’s Two Hundred Years of American Clocks and Watches, the William L. Gilbert Clock Corporation of Winsted, Conn., began to manufacture adding machines in 1953. In 1957 it was taken over by General Computing Machines Company and the name changed to the General-Gilbert Corporation. In the 1960 Moody’s Manual, the General-Gilbert Corporation is listed on p. 2504 as at 276 N.Main St. in Winstead, Conn., with O. Williams as as president. It is said to be a maker of clocks and timing devices. In the 1962 and 1967 Moody’s Manual, on p. 1764 and 2794 respectively, the General Gilbert Corporation is listed at the same address with R. S. Wallach president. In 1962, it is said to be a maker of adding machines and clocks. The clock division was sold in 1964, according to Bailey. The General Gilbert Corporation is not listed in Moody’s Manual for 1972 or 1977. Because it is marked with the name of General Gilbert Corporation, this adding machine was made between 1957 and about 1972. Because it lists a patent number from 1954, it probably was made before 1970, hence an approximate date of 1965.

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