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Marchant Model 10FA Calculating Machine

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Marchant Calculating Machine Co.
Description
This full-keyboard, non-printing electric proportional gear calculating machine has a blue metal frame with a black carriage. It has ten columns of green and white all-plastic number keys. At the base of each column is a gray tabulator set key. These keys are numbered from 1 on the right to 10 on the left. Right of the number keys are division and stop keys, subtraction and addition bars, a non-shift key, a repeat key, a negative multiplication bar, and two carriage shift keys. In front of these are clearance keys for the tab set, the keyboard, and the dials. Right of these is a column of ten keys for automatic multiplication.
Above the number keys is a row of ten windows to show a number set up. Behind this register is a movable carriage with an 20-window result register and an 11-window revolution register. The registers on the carriage have reversible decimal markers. The motor is at the back of the machine, inside the case. There are four rubber feet.
A tag attached to the bottom of the machine reads: 10FA-321409; MARCHANT. A property tag on the back reads: SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION (/) 85612. A black paper tag pasted to the bottom of the machine reads: Manufactured by (/) MARCHANT CALCULATING MACHINE COMPANY (/) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A. It also reads (the last in a list of patents): 2502321. It also reads: Figuremaster.
The Marchant Model 10FA was introduced in 1948 and sold through 1950 (it is not on the GSA Price List for July, 1951-June, 1952). This example was used in the Division of Extractive Industries at what was then the Smtihsonian’s Museum of History and Technology.
Reference:
SCM Collection.
Accession file.
Location
Currently not on view
1950
ID Number
1983.0476.01
maker number
10FA-321409
catalog number
1983.0476.01
accession number
1983.0476
Object Name
calculating machine
Physical Description
plastic (overall material)
metal (overall material)
rubber (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 22 cm x 41 cm x 42 cm; 8 21/32 in x 16 5/32 in x 16 17/32 in
place made
United States: California, Oakland
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Mathematics
Calculating Machines
Science & Mathematics
National Museum of American History
Subject
Mathematics
Record ID
nmah_689952
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-0d14-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

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Marchant Model 10FA Calculating Machine
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