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Summit Burroughs Adding Machine

American History Museum

Adding Machines, Summit Burroughs (right) and Burroughs (left).
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  • Adding Machines, Summit Burroughs (right) and Burroughs (left).
  • Adding Machines, Summit Burroughs (right) and Burroughs (left).

    Object Details

    Description

    The Burroughs Adding Machine Company, long a manufacturer of full-keyboard adding machines, faced stiff competition from less expensive ten-key adding machines. In response, the firm introduced its own versions of the machine, based on the British Summit. This is an example.
    This electric printing adding machine will add nine-digit-numbers up to nine-digit totals. A tenth key in the printing mechanism is for symbols. The machine has a brown metal case, 11 white number keys arranged in a block (for British currency), a white zero bar, a column of four black function keys, a black bar, and a black correction key. The function keys are labeled ST, T, -, and R. The place indicator is above the keyboard. The printing mechanism, paper tape, and motor are toward the back of the machine. Part of the case lifts off to give access to the ribbon and printing mechanism. A serrated edge provides for tearing the paper tape, and knobs on the right and left advance the tape. A ribbon and brown cloth-wrapped cord are in place. The machine is marked in back of the keyboard: Burroughs. It has serial number 1085. It is marked on a red tag: PATENT DEPT. (/) #331. It is marked on a white tag: SUMMIT BURROUGHS STERLING (/) #1985. A metal tag attached to the object reads: DONATED TO (/) The Smithsonian Institution (/) by (/) Burroughs Corporation.
    Compare to 1982.0794.76, 1982.0974.77, and 1982.0794.84.

    Location

    Currently not on view

    Credit Line

    Gift of Burroughs Corporation

    date made

    ca 1950

    ID Number

    1982.0794.85

    accession number

    1982.0794

    catalog number

    1982.0794.85

    Object Name

    adding machine

    Physical Description

    metal (overall material)
    paper (overall material)
    plastic (overall material)

    Measurements

    overall: 22.2 cm x 26 cm x 43 cm; 8 3/4 in x 10 1/4 in x 16 15/16 in

    See more items in

    Medicine and Science: Mathematics
    Adding Machines
    Science & Mathematics

    Data Source

    National Museum of American History

    Subject

    Mathematics

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-17aa-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

    Record ID

    nmah_690117

    Discover More

    Burroughs brand adding machine.

    Ten Keys & Fewer

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