SCM Marchant Model TKM or Tenkeymatic Calculating Machine

By 1960 the Marchant Calculating Machine Company had been absorbed and was part of SCM (Smith Corona Marchant) Corporation. When the company wished to introduce a ten-key printing electric calculating machine, it decided to import and rename a machine made by the German firm of Hamann. Dubbed the SCM Marchant TKM, or Tenkeymatic, it sold from about 1960.

This example of the machine has a blue-gray frame, ten keys for entering numbers, and three registers. The register at the top of the machine (Register I) has nine number dials that indicate the number set up most recently using the keyboard.

The two other registers are adjacent to and above the keyboard. On the left is an eight-digit register that serves as a revolution counter (Register II). Right of it are the 16 windows of the result register (Register III). In division, the result register shows the remainder. In front of the registers is the block of square white plastic digit keys, with the zero bar below. To the right are gray plastic addition and subtraction bars, carriage shift keys, a “DIV” key, and a key with an arrow pointing up. To the left of the digit keys are gray plastic keys used in multiplication and clearance.

Levers between the registers shift decimal markers. A knob on the left side of the machine controls the termination of division according to the number of orders set. A metal handle slides out from the bottom front so one can carry the machine. There are two rubber feet. The other two are missing. The machine has no cord.

The block of number keys is marked: 7 8 9 (/) 4 5 6 (/) 1 2 3 (/) 0; MARCHANT; TENKEYMATIC; SCM; WA [. . .] GTON UNIFIED (/) SCHOOL DISTRICT (/) 5357.

References:

SCM Marchant, Tenkeymatic Service Instruction Book, 1960 (1984.3084.63.3).

“1964 Marchant Calculators and Adding Machine, Price List,” 1963, p. 12. (1984.3084.90). This reference lists the capacity of the machine as 8x9x16. The Government Services Administration price for the Tenkeymatic was $475 plus tax. It is listed as foreign-made.

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