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Calculator Machine Company? : Early Computer (Mechanical Pocket Calculator), Circa 1923-1939: "World's Handiest Vest Pocket Adding Machine; Baby Calculator, Chicago, U.S.A., Trade Mark Reg. U.S. Pat. Off.; Addition, Substraction, Multiplication, Division"

Calculator Machine Company?, Chicago, IL

Original early computer in the form of a black and gilt mechanical pocket calculator or "adding machine." Comes in the original orange and black cardboard box with the original steel or aluminum stylus and directions on one leaf of pink paper. Calculator made of pressed steel or aluminum with sliding red and white tabs. No date, circa 1923-1939. Calculator measures 3" x 5 3/4." Stylus measures 4 1/4." Box measures 3 1/4" x 6." Folded instructions measure 4" x 2 3/4" folded; 4" x 11" unfolded. Calculator is very clean and intact except for a few scratches to the front (possibly from regular use) and several small scratches on the back. Stylus is very clean and intact except for microscopic scratches all over and tiny spots of discoloration. Box is clean and intact except for some wear to the corners and edges and a few wrinkles. The paper instructions are clean but fragile. Iinstructions are folded (possibly original) and wrinkled with splitting along the fold lines; text is still readable. The calculator, stylus, box, and instructions are each Very Good. A very interesting piece of early computing history, a mechanical pocket calculator. The name of this mechanical calculator is the Baby Calculator. The Baby Calculator was manufactured by a company based in Chicago that went by a number of names over the years. According to the website of the American Stationer (americanstationer[dot]wordpress[dot]com), the company was founded as the Baby Calculator Company in c. 1923-24. From about 1925-29, the company was named the Baby Calculator Sales Co. American Stationer notes the company had another name, the Baby Calculator Machine Company, with the dates of c. 1924-25 and c. 1930-1932. The final name of this company appears to be the Calculator Machine Co. which was in use from c. 1933-1960s. The Baby Calculator was manufactured until c. 1960s. Several histories of mechanical calculators also reference Otto Meuter (1892-1970), the inventor of the Addiator calculator, which first appeared c. 1918-1920. Meuter's brand of mechanical calculator was manufactured by Addiator Gesellschaft in Germany. In 1928, Meuter formed his own company which manufactured the Produx mechanical calculator. Mechanical pocket calculators, such as the Baby Calculator, were marketed as being small, fast, and convenient, especially at a time when large, immovable adding machines, intended for use in the office, were still very common. American Stationer also notes there were three central models of the Baby Calculator available during its time of active manufacture; this particular model appears to be the first of the three that was manufactured from c. 1923-1945. This calculator has the following text in gilt lettering at the top: "Baby Calculator, Chicago, U.S.A., Trade Mark Reg. U.S. Pat. Off." Immediately below this text is where the calculated total is displayed. Beneath the displayed total are seven columns, each numbered 1-9, of sliding red and white tabs. These tabs are used to perform calculations and intended to be moved by the accompanying stylus. The following text in gilt lettering at the bottom indicates which types of calculations can be performed: "Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division." The directions instruct users to read them before trying to operate the calculator in order to make accurate calculations.. Ephemera. Book Condition: Collectible-Very Good. Binding: No Binding

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