POSTED BY

Rob Beschizza

AT 7:52 AM
Wednesday September 23, 2009

Accessories

ebay

calculatorgerman.jpgUnfortunatley, by telling you this wonderful antique mechanical calculator is only $5 heading into the final day of its auction, I probably ensure it won't remain so for long.

5 Comments

Chris S

#1 – 9:21 AM September 23, 2009

It's now $21.50, and given that it's missing it's stylus, this might be a little high.

But - calculators like this are cool. And they aren't too rare - if this looks interesting, do regular checks on eBay and you'll probably find one in your price range.

The fun part is getting one and figuring out why they work.

midknyte

#2 – 9:54 AM September 23, 2009

Google Troncet Arithmographe, Addiator, and Magic Brain for history on these gems

haineux

#3 – 11:47 AM September 23, 2009

Shoot, mere decades ago Johnson Smith sold these for like $2.

madsci

#4 – 6:26 PM September 23, 2009

My grandma had one exactly like this. I was fascinated with it as a kid, and wound up with it when she died in the '80s. Wonder if I've still got it around somewhere.

I remember how to add and subtract, but I don't remember if I ever learned to multiply on it.

The notches at the top and bottom of each row are for carry and borrow operations. You can actually go pretty fast with it with some practice.

Hugh

#5 – 7:27 PM September 24, 2009

Ditto grandma having one and being fascinated buy confused by it.

Leave a comment