Mathematical Table for Use with a Marchant Calculating Machine, Square Root Divisors

Before the introduction of calculating machines that could compute cube roots of numbers directly, calculating machine manufacturers distributed tables to assist in these calculations. This table was developed by employees of Marchant Calculating Machine Company in Oakland, California, for use with its machines.

The table is of heavy paper, printed in black., and includes instructions on how it is to be used to find cube roots to the fifth and to the tenth significant figure. A drawing of a Marchant calculating machine is at the top, toward the left. A mark at the bottom left reads: TABLE 56. Another mark along the bottom reads: PRINTED IN U. S. A. A third mark along the bottom reads: COPYRIGHT 1941 MARCHANT CALCULATING MACHINE COMPANY, OAKLAND, CALIF., U. S. A.

Compare 313984.04, which gives a table for finding cube roots. The table came with Marchant calculating machine MA.334384. The donor, Richard H. Hronik (1911–2003), held a number of patents in transportation engineering and did design work relating to railroad systems built for the Indian government. He went on to work for the firm Melpar as a materials science engineer.

References: D. H. Lehmer, “Review of Square Root Divisors. . .,” Mathematical Tables and other Aids to Computation, 1, 1945, pp. 356–357.

Currently not on view