Marchant Model ERB8 Calculating Machine

This full-keyboard, electric non-printing pinwheel calculating machine has eight columns of black and white color-coded plastic keys, with a red clearance key at the bottom of each column. The underlying keyboard is painted green. Between banks of keys are metal rods for decimal markers.

Right of the number keys are red plastic ADD and CLEAR keys, as well as an unmarked red key. When the add key is depressed, the keyboard clears after each operation. Above the clear key are subtraction and addition bars. Right of these is a black lever for use in division. Left of the number keys is the switch for turning on the motor.

In back of the keyboard is a movable carriage with 12 windows in the result register. Behind this are eight windows for showing digits entered, a lever that may be set at multiplication or division, and eight windows for the revolution register. Two black keys next to the carriage clear the result and revolution registers. A metal carriage shift handle is at the front, and the motor is at the back. The machine has a gray cord.

A metal tag attached to the left side of the machine reads: MARCHANT. A metal tag attached to the bottom has the serial number: ERB8-3221. A metal tag attached to the top of the motor at the back of the machine reads: MANUFACTURED FOR (/) THE (/) MARCHANT (/) CALCULATING (/) MACHINE CO. (/) SIMPLICITY (/) ACCURACY (/) SPEED. It also reads: WESTINGHOUSE ELEC. & MFG. CO. A paper sticker on the front reads: For Sales, Service & (/) Supplies (/) FRANK E. WILBER CO. (/) 591 Market St. (/) San Francisco (/) Phone GArfield 1-0115.

The style of the MARCHANT label on the side of the machine indicates that it dates before 1933. The model ERB was introduced in 1926, but only with six and nine banks of keys. It later was offered with an eight-bank capacity (as in this machine), as well as a ten-bank capacity. The model ERB8 sold in 1930 and 1931 for $425. By June 1935 it was superseded by the EER.

Reference:

Marchant Math-Mechanics, vol. 6, 1940. p. 96.

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