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Mechanical Slide & Rotary Adders
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J. Louis Troncet Arithomgraphe 1889

Read: History of Addiators and the Magic Brain Calculator brand of slide adder made in the United States. (need author's name).
Convienient References rechnerlexikon.de (Germany)
Kees Nagtegaal's MechaniCalculator in The Netherlands.

 Slide Adders are a flat mechanical hand-held mechanical calculator that is used principally for addition and subtraction and for the most part were pocket-sized. They were sometimes assembled onto the back side of a closed body slide rule. The invention of the slide adder was described by Abaque Rhabdologique of Claude Perrault, a Parisian doctor, in about 1669. The Frenchman Caze (1720) and the Russian Kummer (1847) build the first commercial calculators based on this principle. Louis Troncet (1889) was one of later producers. J. Louis Troncet of France's first version was called the Arithmographe.

One of the most popular versions of the slide adder was the Addiator, which was newly designed by Carl Kübler (born 1875) and manufactured in Germany as Addiator GmbH. Küubler using the original patents by Otto Meuter. Introduced in 1920, over 100,000 units were sold in the first year, and versions of this device remained in production as late as 1975.

Otto Meuter (1892-1970) was constructor in the addiator-factory. He left Addiator and produced, with the aid of Jean Bergmann, the calculators Pro-Calculo and Correntator. In 1928 he founded Werkstatt Otto Meuter in Berlin and produced the first Produx machines. After World War II Otto's son Claus went to Bremen (West-Germany) and Luzie Meuter (the ex-wife of Otto) started producing calculators in East-Germany under the name Record LM.

Addiators feature a novel carry mechanism, the Addiator could be used to add or subtract, but addition and subtraction required two different control panels. In early versions of these devices, the two panels were provided by flipping an overlay on the front or by having the addition function on the front and the subtraction function on the back (later models had two separate panels on the front). The addiator is comprised of three components, the body containing multiple slides used for calculation, a stylus, and a handle to reset the addiator. The calculations are performed by inserting the tip of the stylus in notches in the metal plates in the addiator. There are other variations involving dials or tables as shown in the gallery. The narrow versions of Addiators were incorporated on the back of some models of Faber-Castell slide rules, and others. Note, although there were many other manufacturer's of slide adders, the name Addiator (by the German firm of the same name) has become synonymous amongst collectors of these devices just like Xerox for a photo copy and Kleenex for tissues.

This page has four sections - click the pictures to jump to the desired section


Addiators/Troncets
Slide Rules with Addiators
on back
Rotary Adding Machines
Addiator Besuch
Factory Tour

Addiators/Troncets


One of the best sources of history on Addiators is Friedrich Diestelkamp's website www.addiator.de in German and
Non-Decimal Calculators in English which descibes the above evolution of sizes.


Meuter Produx Standard Calculator (1930)
ISRM 13.00.00.60
Mueter Produx Standard Calculator (c1930) Size: 5,5cm x 11,5cm x 0,2 cm
This metal instrument is painted gold with black lettering. It has eight metal slides on the bottom. It holds a metal stylus. Seven columns reveal the slides and eight holes show results. At the top, the columns are shaped for subtraction, at the bottom for addition. When numbers are entered, the bands extend beyond the base of the adder. Moved inward they zero the display.

Otto Meuter (1892-1970) was constructor in the addiator-factory. He left Addiator and produced, with the aid of Jean Bergmann, the calculators Pro-Calculo and Correntator. In 1928 he founded Werkstatt Otto Meuter in Berlin and produced the first Produx machines. After World War 2 Otto's son Claus goes to Bremen (West-Germany) and Luzie Meuter (the ex-wife of Otto) started producing calculators in East-Germany under the name Record LM. Ref: mechanicalculator.com In ISRM shadow box display case


Produx Original Calculator (c1935)
ISRM 2022.08.16.01
Produx Original Calculator (c1935) Size: 5,5cm x 11,5cm x 0,2 cm
This metal instrument is anodized gold color with black silkscreening. It has seven digits minus(-) on the top and add (+) on the bottom. It holds a metal stylus. Seven columns reveal the slides and eight holes show results. A handle at the top clears the display.


Arithma Addiator 6-Digits Decimal
ISRM 18.04.06.146 		Arithma Addiator 6-Digits Decimal (c1960)
Made in Germany by Addiator Gesellschaft of Berlin
Distributed in the U.S.A. by Harrison Home Products, 8 Kingsland Ave., Harrison, N.J.
Dimensions:16cm x 4cm. Range: 9999.99
Addiator is a trade name of Addiator Gesellschaft of Berlin, which manufactured very popular, small, hand-held, stylus operated, mechanical calculators of the same name starting in 1920 and many variants continued through 1982. Most Addiators are composed of sheet-metal sliders inside a metal envelope, manipulated by a stylus, with an innovative carry mechanism, doing subtract ten, carry one with a simple stylus movement. The results are cleared by pulling on handle.
Donated by the Leroy Hausler Collection.
Arithma Addiator 6-Digits Decimal
ISRM 22.07.06.77 		Arithma Addiator 6-Digits Decimal (c1960)
Made in Germany by Addiator Gesellschaft of Berlin
Distributed in the U.S.A by Harrison Home Products, 8 Kingsland Ave, Harrison, N.J.
Dimensions:16cm x 4cm Range: 9999.99
Addiator is a trade name of Addiators are composed of sheet-metal sliders inside a metal envelope, manipulated by a stylus, with an innovative carry mechanism, doing subtract ten, carry one with a simple stylus movement. The results are cleared by pulling on handle. This one is all decimal.
Donated by Cindy Tate, Bozeman, Montana, Victor B. Tate Collection.

Addfeet Junior Addiator with Fractions
ISRM 13.00.00.63 		Addfeet Junior Addiator 6-Digit with Fractions (c1965)
Made in Western Germany by Addimax Addiator (Addiator Gesellschaft) of Berlin
Dimensions:16cm x 4cm Range 99999.Eighths
Distributed by Alexander Drafting Equipment
. Addiators are composed of sheet-metal sliders inside a metal envelope, manipulated by a stylus, with an innovative carry mechanism, doing subtract ten, carry one with a simple stylus movement. The results are cleared by pulling on handle. This specimen has eights in the last digit. 0, 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8,3/4. 7/8

Addiator Universal Standard Model
ISRM 13.00.00.03 		Addiator Universal Standard Model(c1965)
Made in Western Germany by Addimax Addiator (Addiator Gesellschaft) of Berlin
Distributed in the U.S.A. by Harrison Home Products, 8 Kingsland Ave., Harrison, N.J.
Dimensions:16cm x 4cm Range 9999.99
Addiators are composed of sheet-metal sliders inside a metal envelope, manipulated by a stylus, with an innovative carry mechanism, doing subtract ten, carry one with a simple stylus movement. The results are cleared by pulling on handle. This specimen has decimal digits
Ebay photo for reference. ISRM specimen is in shadow box.


Fractomater Addiator Feet-Inches Calculator
ISRM 22.03.01.101 		Fractomater Addiator Feet-Inches (c1920-30)
Made in Western Germany by Addimax Addiator (Addiator Gesellschaft) of Berlin
Large Format Dimensions:11cm x 17cm x 8cm
Gift of Philip Stanley, Worchester, Massachusettes
Addiators are composed of sheet-metal sliders inside a metal envelope, manipulated by a stylus, with an innovative carry mechanism, doing subtract ten, carry one with a simple stylus movement. The results are cleared by pulling on handle. Distributed by Alexander Drafting Equipment


Addiator Currency Calculator Pound-Shilling-Pence
ISRM 22.03.01.102 		Addiator Currency Calculator Pound-Shilling-Pence (c1920-1930)
Made in Western Germany by Addimax Addiator (Addiator Gesellschaft) of Berlin
Large Format:Dimensions:11.5cm x 18cm x 10 mm.
Addiators are composed of sheet-metal sliders inside a metal envelope, manipulated by a stylus, with an innovative carry mechanism, doing subtract ten, carry one with a simple stylus movement. The results are cleared by pulling on handle. Distributed by Alexander Drafting Equipment


Tower 9 Nr5817 Pocket Calculator
ISRM 21.12.16.01 		Tower 9 Nr5817 Pocket Calculator (c1955)
Made in WesternGermany by Addimax Addiator (Addiator Gesellschaft) of Berlin
9-digit 999,999,999
Medium Format:6mm x 8.5cm x 13cm.


Addimult Sumax-E (Addiator)
ISRM 18.12.30.14 		Addimult Sumax-E(c1950)
Made in Western Germany
Two-sided addiator. Dimensions:13cm x 8.2cm
Addimult Rechenmaschinenfabrik H.-W. Kübler
Other designations were, for example, Perfect, Quick Ad, Ritz, Rolls Record, Sears, Sumat or Tower
In shadow box display
Gift of Peter D. Eickenberry Collection.


Kalkometer Pocket Adding Machine
ISRM 14.07.02.72 		Kalkometer Pocket Adding Machine
Made in USA. c1958 - $2.98
8 columns, 999,999.99
Material: Metal and plastic
Reset lever at top. Stylus in sleeve.
Dimensions overall: 0.8cm x 8.2cm x 14cm; 5/16" x 3-1/4" x 5-3/4"
Gifted by Ed Millis, Texas
Instructions



Omega Pocket Adding Machine
ISRM 22.07.06.57 		Omega Pocket Adding Machine
Made in Hong Kong for WESCOSA, Campbell, CA. Designed by T.H. Ramsy Copyright 1964 - $2.95
9 columns, 9,999,999.99
Material: Metal
Reset handle pull lever at top. Stylus on side (missing).
Dimensions overall: 0.5cm x 5.5cm x 16.5cm
Gifted by Cindy Tate of Bozeman
Ve-Po-Ad Adding Machine (1925)
ISRM 13.00.00.57 		Ve-Po-Ad Adding Machine
Marked as Distributed by Lyons Associates, Chicago, Illinois. Sold for $2.95 c1925

Belonged to Atticus Cleo Shadburn (1889-1954) US Navy Lieutenant Commander. Buried at the Golden Gate National Cemetary, San Bruno, California.
Donated by granddaughter Dorthy Cobb and husband Dick Cobb.
Ve-Po-Ad Adding Machine
ISRM 13.00.00.58
 Ve-Po-Ad Adding Machine (originally A02)
Reliable Typewriter and Adding Machine Company. Chicago, Illinois.
In shadow box display case


Wizard_Calculator Machine (1959)
ISRM 21.06.10.42 		Wizard_Calculator Machine
Marked as Distributed by Thoresen, Inc 585 Water Street, New York 2, NY

Made in Germany
Gift of Bob Dehn Collection.
Wallet and Manual



Addiator Calculex
HSRC 52591
 Addiator Calculex
This is basically a multiplication table.used to obtain percentages.of values.
Archive - Hermann's Slide Rule Catalog

Magic Brain Calculator (Generic)
ISRM 12.03.16.03
Magic Brain
Made in Japan

Compact Calculator (Addiator)
ISRM 13.00.00.62
 Compact Calculator (Addiator)
(Same as Magic Brain) Made in Japan

Chadwick Magic Brain Calculator
ISRM 16.07.06.01
 Chadwick Magic Brain Calculator
Made in Japan
Gift of Bert Kolts, Estes Park, Colorado.

PIC German Calculator
ISRM 13.00.00.61
PIC German Calculator
In ISRM shadoe box Display

Midget Adding Machine
ISRM 12.03.16.04
 Midget Adding Machine
Note:Ve-Po-Ad variant
Note: In in Cardboard Folder
12 x 7,7 x 0,3 cm, USA (Missing Stylus). This was a low-cost version of Ve-Po-Add.

Addiator Adding Machine (Original Design)
ISRM 13.00.00.59
Addiator Adding Machine (Original Design)
two-side (+)(-), 17.5cm x 11.5cm
In shadow box display

Addiator Saldo-Maschine
REF
Addiator Saldo-Maschine, System Kübler-Meuter
Friedrich Diestelkamp Collection, Germany

Tasco Pocket Arithmometer c1940
ISRM 17.04.01.01
 Tasco Pocket Arithmometer
13,6 x 7,5 x 0,5 cm, Bright Metal
Gift from Peter Turk of Canada.

TASCO Arithmometer Adding Machine sold by Tavella Sales - Popular Science Jan, 1948 - pg34
Tasco took over production of the Gray Pocket Arithmometer in the early 1940s, and their adder has a chrome finish as shown. Earlier, in the 30s, Gray's design had a dull gray nickel finish . The Gray design in turn seems to be based on the even earlier German Trick Slide Adder made by Mercedes, in Mehlis, Germany.
Patents:DE242665 von Mercedes, 1911, DE268729 Ergänzung für Pound Sterling, 1913, GB191316444 Improvements in or relating to Calculating Apparatus 1914.

Gray's Pocket Arithmometer c1930
REF
 Gray's Pocket Arithmometer
13,6 x 7,5 x 0,5 cm, Bright Metal
Archive - Ebay photo
Tasco took over production of the Gray Pocket Arithmometer in the early 1940s, and their adder has a chrome finish as shown. Earlier, in the 30s, Gray's design had a dull gray nickel finish . The Gray design in turn seems to be based on the even earlier German Trick Slide Adder made by Mercedes, in Mehlis, Germany.
Patents:DE242665 von Mercedes, 1911, DE268729 Ergänzung für Pound Sterling, 1913, GB191316444 Improvements in or relating to Calculating Apparatus 1914.

Mercedes Trick Pocket Arithmometer c1930
REF
 Mercedes Trick Pocket Arithmometer
13,6 x 7,5 x 0,5 cm, Bright Metal
Archive - Hamman Collection
Tasco took over production of the Gray Pocket Arithmometer in the early 1940s, and their adder has a chrome finish as shown. Earlier, in the 30s, Gray's design had a dull gray nickel finish . The Gray design in turn seems to be based on the even earlier German Trick Slide Adder made by Mercedes, in Mehlis, Germany.
Patents:DE242665 von Mercedes, 1911, DE268729 Ergänzung für Pound Sterling, 1913, GB191316444 Improvements in or relating to Calculating Apparatus 1914.

Picma Unis Elpe' France
REF
 Picma Unis Elpe' France
Archive photo

Soviet Addiator
REF
 Soviet Addiator
Archive photo

Accurator Pocket Calculator (Hong Kong)
REF
 Accurator Pocket Calculator (Hong Kong)
Archive photo

Soviet Addiator
REF
 Soviet Addiator
Archive photo

Slide Rules with Addiators on Back



Faber-Castell 1/54A Darmstadt with Addiator
ISRM 13.08.12.07 		Faber-Castell 1/54A Darmstadt with Addiator
Made in Germany
Front Scale (extended)
27cm, lg // K, A [ B, C1, C ] D, P || sin/cos, tg/ctg
Back Slide: [ CF, CIF, C ]
Well (Channel): Inch scale 12 to 22-5/8 inches
Note: The stock is 12" long. When you extend the slide, the reading of the left edge of the slide on the inch scale in the well gives the overall length of the stock and slide.
Cursor (wrap around edges): 7 hairlines/gauge marks A-B Scales: s, kW, HP. C-D Scales: kW, s, HP. Lg, sin, tg scales
Back: Mechanical Addiator for addition and subtraction. Instructions.
Note: The Stylus for the Addiator is mounted in a bored hole at the left end of the stock.
Original Owner/Location: J.W. Hand of Christchurch, New Zealand.
Gift of Phillip Rodley, Upper Hutt, New Zealand.


Faber-Castell 63/91R with Addiator (1944)
ISRM 20.03.01.55 		Faber-Castell 63/91R with Addiator (Feb.1944)
Made in Germany. Wood stock, celluloid laminate. Aluminum framed cursor No scale labels.
Front Scale: 14cm // A [ B, C ] D \\ 5.5cm
Back Scale: [ sin, lg, tg ] (must reverse slide to perform trig functions)
Back: 6-digit addiator.
Gift of Philip Stanley Collection


Faber-Castell 67/22Rb Disponent de bolsillo w/Addiator
ISRM 20.03.01.56 		Faber-Castell 67/22Rb Disponent de bolsillo w/Addiator dc964 (1964)
Made in Germany
Front Scale: 14cm // -50% 0 +100%, DF(Cap./Int) [ CF(Dias), CI(p%), C(Dias) ] D (Int.), Sh/d, £
Back Scale: [
Gift of Philip Stanley of Worchester, Massachusettes


Faber-Castell 67/54 RB Darmstadt/Addiator
ISRM 07.02.12.01
Faber-Castell 67/54 RB Darmstadt/Addiator
Made in Germany - Slide rule fron. addiator back
Front Scale
14cm // L, K, A [ B, CI, C ] D, P, S, T
Back Slide: [ LL1, Ll2, LL3 ]
Cursor: Multiple hairlines
Note: The slide was found accessible by a puppy (see teeth marks)
Donation of Russell Fox, Anchorage, Alaska


Faber-Castell 67/87b Rietz with Addiator
ISRM 22.03.01.54		 Faber-Castell 67/87b Rietz with Addiator
Made in Germany - Date Code 53 (1953)
Front Scale: 14cm // K, A [ B, CI, C ] D, L \\ 5.5in
Back slide: { sin, sin/tg, tg ] (reverse slide to use trig functions)
Multiple hairlines
Back: 6-digit Addiator
Note: Stylus for addiator on side of rule.
Well Promo: La Casa del Ingeniero S.A. Lima. Distribuidores
Gift Of Philip Stanley


Faber-Castell 67/87b Rietz with Addiator
ISRM 13.10.07.06		 Faber-Castell 67/87b Rietz
Made in Germany - Date Code 865 (Aug 1965)
Front Scale
14mm // L, K, A [ B, CI, C ] D, ST, T
Back slide: blank
Multiple hairlines
Back Addiator
Note: Stylus for addiator kept in zippered hardcase.


Faber-Castell 67/98Rb Elektro w/ Addiator (1956)
ISRM 20.03.01.53 		Faber-Castell 67/98Rb Elektro w/ Addiator dc6-56
Made in Germany
Front Scale(extended): 5in // LL2, A(Amp,KW) [ B(Yd,HP), CI, C ] D, LL3, Dynamo/Motor%, Volt
Back Scale: [ S, L, T ] (reverse to use)
Back: 6-digit Addiator Multiple hairlines
Original owner: R.W.J. (initials written on stock).
Gifted by the Philip Stanley Collection


P266 Alco Personal Calculator 		Alco Personal Calculator
Made in Japan - Aluminum Addiator and Slide Rule
Front Scale
Mechanical Addiator (+ / -)
Back:
A [ B, CI, C ] D


P154 Faber-Castell 63/98R
Elektro with Addiator 		Faber-Castell 63/98R Elektro
with Addiator Hybrid
Made in Germany
Front Scale
14cm // LL2, A(KW) [ B(PS), CI, C ] D, LL3 \\ 5.5in
Back scale: [ Sin, Lg, Tg ]
Well scale: Dynamo/Motor n=%, Volt
Original Owner/Location: M.Bachmann/Germany

Rotary "pocket" adding machines



Add-A-Mite Circular Pocket Calculator
ISRM 16.07.06.01
 or
1.6MB PDF
Add-A-Mite Circular Pocket Calculator
Made in USA by Monogram of California, 2500 18th ST. San Francisco 10, Calif.
Aluminum and steel construction, circa 1940-1950, Patent Pending
Front Scale: Mechanical Adder (+ / -) $0-$25
Note: Knob zeros dollar digits. Rotating indexing lever CCW adds cents, CW subtracts cents
Gift of Bert Kolts, Estes Park, Colorado.


Hewig Graphic Calculator
ISRM 14.09.21.08 		Hewig Graphic Calculator - For Addition And Subtraction
Made by Hewig Company, New York. Made in U.S.A. Pat. Applied For.
Note: A search of the US patent Office shows no record of a patent being issued.
Construction: Cardboard with riveted disks. Size: 22cm x 6.5cm x 3mm
Front: 6 dials.
Back: Instructions
Unlike other rotary calculators, this aid requires the operator to carry the sum to the left manually. There are no interconnecting gears. Gift of Edward T. Wright of Odenton, Maryland.


Sheradco Fraction Of An Inch Adding Machine
ISRM 14.07.02.71 		Sheradco Fraction Of An Inch Adding Machine
Made by Sheradco, Inc. Detroit. Made in U.S.A. Pat. 169,941

Construction: Stamped Aluminum disks. Size: 4-1/2inch [11.5 cm] diameter
Front: Fraction selector (Fractions)
Back: Black
Gift of Ed Millis, Dallas, Texas.


Ken+Add Machine Co. 4-Digit Rotary Adder (c1956)
ISRM 22.07.06.58

Internal Mechanism by Nathan Zeldes. US Design Patents USD163135 & USD163136 (PDFs) 		Ken+Add Machine Co. 4-Digit Rotary Adder c1956 (2nd Version)
Designed by Kenneth R. Pangburn c1949 of Kenco, Inc.Duluth, Minn; Later Ken, Inc of Minneapolis, Minn. His design Patents were This version was made by The Ken+Add Machine Company in St. Paul, Minnissota.
Size: 3/8 Thick x 2-1/2 x 5-1/8 in. Case is stamped aluminum, The mechanism itself is made of steel.
Front: 4-wheel 10-digit dials (Dollars and cents) rotated with included stamped sheetmetal stylus.
Back In metal snap clamshell case
Gift of CindyTate of Bozeman, Montana
Note: Mechanism is identical to the 7-digit Lighting Calculatot/Adding machine.
More info at Jaap's Mechanical Calculators Page
A c1950 specimen at the Math History Smithsonian Manufacturing address at that time was P.O.Box 2, Duluth, Minn. It has longer cylindrical stylus with a fancier knurled bright Aluminum case.and a "Magic Slate" on the inside cover.


The Calculator Corp. Adding Machine,
Wood Desk Frame 1915-1922 (1st version)
ISRM 15.08.13.01

1916 and 1919 ads.
The Calculator Corp. Adding Machine
Wood Desk Frame 1915-1922 (1st version)
Originally designed by Walter Richard Bonham. Made later by The Lightning Calculator Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Machine Size: 1/4 x 10-1/2 x 2-1/4 in oval shaped. It is constructed of steel and brass with a gunmetal finish. Green felt back.
Front: 7-wheel 10-digit dials rotated with a stylus kept in the side of the wood stand (missing)
This U.S. dollar oriented analog adding machine adds up to 99,999,.99 or $99,999.99 using 7 dials. As a dial crosses over from 9 to 0 the digit to the left rotates one increment. Results are seen in the little round windows above the dials. The first version did not have a reset lever.
Jaap's Mechanical Calculators Page
Gift of Ralph Alter
Note: The Calculator Corp. Adding Machine from 1915-1921 it was made in Grand Rapids and was oval in shape.."The Lightning Calculator" was a mechanical calculator made from 1921 till 1940, also in Grand Rapids. From 1946 till 1959, "The Lightning" was made in Los Angeles and called the Lightning Adding Machine. See Bob Otnes paper JOS Vol.11, NO.1


The Lightning Calculator, Wood Desk Frame
ISRM 15.08.13.01

The Lightning Calculator, Wood Desk Frame 1921-1941 (2nd version)
Originally designed by Walter Richard Bonham. Made by The Lightning Calculator Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Note: This one found its way home to the USA from New Zealand
Size: 3/8 x 12 x 2-1/2 in rectangular. 1st version was an oval shape.
Front: 7-wheel 10-digit dials rotated with a stylus kept in the side of the wood stand
Back (felt removed): shows patent pending stamp
This U.S. dollar oriented analog adding machine adds up to $99,999.99 using 7 dials. As a dial crosses over from 9 to 0 the digit to the left rotates one increment. Results are seen in the little round windows above the dials. The first version did not have a reset lever.
Jaap's Mechanical Calculators Page
Gift of Philip Rodley, Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Note: The Lightning Calculator was a mechanical calculator, made from 1921 till 1940 in Grand Rapids. Previously, from 1915-1921 it was made by The Calculator Corp of Grand Rapids and was oval in shape. From 1946 till 1959 it was made in Los Angeles and called the Lightning Adding Machine. In 1950 it was redesigned to have a clearing lever, and the carry mechanism was changed to allow subtraction. This is the small instruction leaflet included with this last version of the machine, though it seems hardly necessary given that subtraction is now so easy and the basic instructions are written on the front of the machine. See Bob Otnes paper JOS Vol.11, NO.1


The Lightning Adding Machine (1946)
ISRM 20.08.15.29 		The Lightning Adding Machine, c1946 (3rd Version)
Size: 3/8 x 12 x 2-1/2 in. Date inked stamped. Press stamped "Pat. Appl. For" on back.
Made by the The Lightning Adding Machine Company, 543 So. Spring Street, Los Angeles, California
This U.S. dollar oriented analog adding machine adds up to $99,999.99 using 7 dials. As a dial crosses over from 9 to 0 the digit to the left rotates one increment. Results are seen in the little round windows above the dials. The calculator is set to zero rotating the dials backwards.
In shadow box display
Gift of Robert Carlisle Collection, Nederland, Colorado
Instructions (PDF) Note: The Lightning Calculator was a mechanical calculator, made from 1921 till 1940 in Grand Rapids. Previously, from 1915-1921 it was made by The Calculator Corp of Grand Rapids and was oval in shape. From 1946 till 1959 it was made in Los Angeles and called the Lightning Adding Machine. In 1950 it was redesigned to have a clearing lever, and the carry mechanism was changed to allow subtraction. This is the small instruction leaflet included with this last version of the machine, though it seems hardly necessary given that subtraction is now so easy and the basic instructions are written on the front of the machine. See Bob Otnes paper JOS Vol.11, NO.1


The Lightning Adding Machine with Clearing
ISRM 13.00.00.64 		The Lightning Adding Machine, c1950-1959 (4th Version)
Size: 3/8 x 12 x 2-1/2 in. with clearing mechanism added in 1948
Made by the The Lightning Adding Machine Sales Company, 234 West 57th Place Los Angeles 7, California.
This U.S. dollar oriented analog adding machine adds up to $99,999.99 using 7 dials. As a dial crosses over from 9 to 0 the digit to the left rotates one increment. Results are seen in the little round windows above the dials. The calculator is set to zero by pulling on the slide on the left side.
In shadow box display
Instructions (PDF) Note: The Lightning Calculator was a mechanical calculator, made from 1921 till 1940 in Grand Rapids. Previously, from 1915-1921 it was made by The Calculator Corp of Grand Rapids and was oval in shape. From 1946 till 1959 it was made in Los Angeles and called the Lightning Adding Machine. In 1950 it was redesigned to have a clearing lever, and the carry mechanism was changed to allow subtraction. This is the small instruction leaflet included with this last version of the machine, though it seems hardly necessary given that subtraction is now so easy and the basic instructions are written on the front of the machine. See Bob Otnes paper JOS Vol.11, NO.1


Addometer Model C (Feet & Inches)
ISRM 13.00.00.65
Addometers were made in 3 models (as listed in Nov 1928 Popular Science Ad on left).
  • Fractional Decimal Model A counts to 99,999.99 7/8. Ideal for general use.
  • Standard Decimal Model B counts to 999.999.99 (no fractions). Designed for folks who deal in very larg numbers.
  • Lineal Measure Model C counts up to $999,999 feet 11-7/8 inches. Particularly valuable to architects, etc
    		• Addometer Model C (Feet & Inches) c1928.
    "The Portable Adding Machine For Home Or Office"
    Size: 296 x 50 x 15 mm (11.75" x 2.0" x 0.6").
    Made by the Reliable Typewriter and Adding Machine Co., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., 1900s - 1960s.
    In this feet and inches version, there are 5 decimal wheels for feet plus two for inches. The wheel second from the right has numbers to 11 for dealing with inches. The wheel on the right deals with eigths and quarters of an inch. As a dial crosses over to 0 the digit to the left rotates one increment. Results are seen in the little round windows at bottom inside each dial. The calculator is set to zero by pulling on the slide on the right side.

    Internals, photo courtesy of vintagecalculators.com

    Model B and Model C Instructions courtesy of reliquarie.com
    In shadow box display


    Kesling Pocket Adder
    ISRM 08.11.20.03
    		 Kesling Pocket Adder
    The Hart Vance Company
    Made in USA, St. Louis,
    Missouri. US Patent #2,450,668 (shown on left)
    Gift of Shell Thuet in 2007 (See Webpage). Professional Motorcycle race tuner.
    Shell Thuet was inducted in the American Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2001. The Nomination Letter written by Mike Konshak, one of his past racers, who is also the curator of the Slide Rule Museum and also the author of Shell Thuet's Biography. Shell built and tuned winning Indian Scouts, Enfield's and Yamahas. See also his Pickett 800-ES

    The pictures (left to right) are from 1946, 1953, 1963 and 1975. Shell Thuet passed away in Victorville July 8, 2011 at age 98.


    Sterling 565 4-Digit Dial-A-Matic Adding Machine
    ISRM 04.10.09.01         		Sterling 565 4-Digit Dial-A-Matic Automatic Adding Machine
    Made in USA by Sterling Plastics, Mountainside, NJ.
    Patents(on back side): US 2,797,047; Canada 556,754; UK 773,099.
    Front: Four dials - Thousands, Hundreds, Tens and Units


    Sterling 566 4-Digit Dial-A-Matic Adding Machine and Pencil Box
    REF         		Sterling 566 4-Digit Dial-A-Matic Adding Machine and Pencil Box
    Made in USA by Sterling Plastics, Mountainside, NJ.
    Note: This unit slits in two and rotates about the rivet to get access to the pencil box.
    Front: Four dials - Thousands, Hundreds, Tens and Units
    Archive - ebay photo


    Sterling 567 5-Digit Dial-A-Matic Adding Machine
    REF         		Sterling 567 5-Digit Dial-A-Matic Automatic Adding Machine
    Made in USA by Sterling Plastics, Mountainside, NJ.
    Front: Five dials - Ten Thousands,Thousands, Hundreds, Tens and Units
    Archive - David Riches collection, UK


    Sterling 568 6-Digit Dial-A-Matic Adding Machine
    ISRM 14.09.08.07         		Sterling 568 6-Digit Dial-A-Matic Automatic Adding Machine
    Made in USA by Sterling Plastics, Mountainside, NJ.
    Front: Six dials - 100 Thousand, Ten Thousands,Thousands, Hundreds, Tens and Units
    Gift of Edward Wright, Odenton, Maryland

    Addiator Factory Visit (Addiator Besuch)

    Promotional brochure for Addiator customers. Gray box, 1x folded, with a photo insert card. (reproduced here from rechnerlexikon.de)