Object Details
distributor
Portable Adding Machine Company
maker
Portable Adding Machine Company
Description
This manual adding machine has seven columns of nine plastic keys each, and a steel case painted black. There is a repeat/error lever on the left, and total/subtotal, non-add and non-print keys on the right. Numbers are set by pressing keys, and entered by turning a handle on the right side of the machine. The printing mechanism, black ribbon, and paper tape are at the back. The machine prints seven-digit totals. It has four rubber feet.
The machine is marked on the top: The (/) Portable. It is marked on the front: PORTABLE ADDING MACHINE CO. (/) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A. It is marked on a piece of paper pasted to the bottom: Guarantee (/) The Portable Adding Machine is fully guaranteed (/) against defective material and workmanship for (/) a period of one year from date of sale. (/) PORTABLE ADDING MACHINE CO. (/) B.E.Harris (/) President.
It was designed by Glenn J. Barrett, manufactured by the Corona Typewriter Company of Groton, New York, and sold by the Portable Adding Machine Company of Chicago. It was introduced in October 1924 and cost $65.00. By 1928, this machine was sold as the Corona by the Corona Typewriter Company.
Compare 2000.0221.01.
References:
E. Martin, The Calculating Machines (Die Rechenmaschinen), trans. P. A. Kidwell and M. R. Williams, Cambridge: MIT Press, 1992, p. 333.
J. H. McCarthy, The American Digest of Business Machines, Chicago: American Exchange Service, 1924, p. 52.
Business Machines and Equipment Digest,Chicago: Equipment Research Corporation, 1928, sec 3-2, p. 4.
Between 1923 and1933 Glenn J. Barrett of Grand Rapids, Michigan, took out a variety of U.S. patents for adding machine mechanisms which he assigned to the Portablee Adding Machine Company.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Victor Comptometer Corporation
date made
1925
ID Number
MA.323608
accession number
250163
catalog number
323608
Object Name
adding machine
Physical Description
paper (overall material)
steel (overall material)
rubber (overall material)
plastic (overall material)
wood (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 20 cm x 24.6 cm x 34 cm; 7 7/8 in x 9 11/16 in x 13 3/8 in
place made
United States: Illinois, Chicago
place distributed
United States: Illinois, Chicago
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Mathematics
Adding Machines
Science & Mathematics
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Subject
Mathematics
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmah_690313