Calculating Machines

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What's this site all about?

The history of mathematics goes a long way back with devices and methods of calculation. Starting with the ancient Abacus, the slide rule and the logarithms, the mechanical calculating machines, the electromechanical calculators and finally the electronic computer.
This site deals mainly with the mechanical calculating machines from a collector's point of view. I hope you enjoy this site and find it as useful as many other cyberspace citizens have.

Table of Contents:

Breaking news: Newsweek covers "Calculating Machines" web page.

Latest feature: Operate an 1885 "Felt" adding machine. This Java applet will enable you interactively to operate the machine the way it was used.

• A chronological description. This includes an historical review of the subject (1623 - 1970), the inventors and their machines.
• Classification and pictorial view. In this section I have made a brave attempt to classify most of the machines. It includes dozens of color photographs.
• Advertisements from the good old days. These advertisements (1937 - 1954) seem rather outdated nowadays (;-). See what a "computer" ad looked like. Many color photographs !!
• The early devices: Abacus, Slide Rule.

Scoop: The untold story of the Controversial Replica of Leonardo da Vinci's Adding Machine

References:

• Organizations/Societies/Periodicals: A listing of collectors magazines on the subject.
• Books: The books (in print) which give an extensive coverage of calculating machines.
• Other Sites of Interest. Cyberspace has many other sites dealing with calculators and the history of computing.

For the frequent visitors:

• The Calculating Machines mailing list.
• TYPENKORB No. 93 (June 1996) English summaries.
• ETCetera #35, June 1996 - The article and picture "Just another Printing Calculator?"
• Curta IACC spring 96 #12 - The article and picture "The Amazing Curta"
• Pocket Cash Registers The smallest calculating machine ever, amazing, by Larry Wilhelm.
• Recollections from the Marchant calculator company , by Ernie Jorgenson

The Calculating Machines Home Page is maintained by Erez Kaplan, who welcomes comments, questions, items for sale or just chat about the subject.

Last Update: Version 7.3 Aug-6-2003
Site established Oct 23, 1995

It has been decided by all computers involved that you are visitor number

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Biography: Erez Kaplan
I am 44 years old, married with (2) children, and I work as a Software Engineer in Creo (Scitex), Israel.

I have been collecting Scientific Instruments for many years and 7 years ago I branched solely into Calculating Machines. (non electrical)

My collection holds over 412 items, mainly the "Odhner" type pin wheel machines. As well I have some key driven types, some stepped drum types, and a few Abacus and Slide Rules.

I spend a lot of time in researching this area for I find it's history very interesting. I look for books and advertisements too. As well I like to repair the calculating machines.

If you have any comments, questions, remarks, or if you have any items for sale please don't hesitate to E-mail me at: calcmach@actcom.net.il
Fax: + 972 99 509 663

Appraisals: I have decides after answering hundreds of queries to charge a minimal flat rate of $ 4.50 for item appraisal and history.
After using the "PayPal"  button bellow, send me an email with a complete description of the item and photographs.  

back to table of contents

"Congratulations! The Microsoft Network (MSN) web site, www.msn.com, has selected your site, Calculating Machines, as a pick of the week in the links area, for Computers and Technology from Oct 23 - 31, 1996."
This came as a nice surprise exactly on the anniversary of the site 23-Oct-95.
Over that weekend the site had 2,242 visitors totaling 22,036 hits!!!

© 2004 by Erez Kaplan.
© Photographs by Shlomo Bezem.