Arithmometer, 1897 C016 / 2038
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Arithmometer, 1897 C016 / 2038
Arithmometer. Invented in 1820 and manufactured from the 1850s to 1915, these were the first widely used mechanical calculators. This is a Payen Type P3 arithmometer, serial number 3149, manufactured in 1897 by the company of instrument maker Louis Payen of Paris, France. It has a calculation capacity of 8x9x16, referring to the eight columns of 10 at lower right, the nine digits above that, and the 16 digits across top. The switch at centre left alternates between addition and multiplication, and subtraction and division. Photographed at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
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Media ID 9216647
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1897 Addition Apparatus Arithmetic Brass Calculation Case Commercial Computing Device Digits Display Displays Division French Lever Levers Metal Multiplication Museum National Physical Laboratory Patented Product Wood Wooden Accumulator Arithmetical Digit Laboratory Mechanical Calculator Subtraction
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the remarkable Arithmometer, a groundbreaking mechanical calculator that revolutionized arithmetic calculations in the late 19th century. Invented in 1820 and widely manufactured from the 1850s to 1915, this particular model is the Payen Type P3 arithmometer, bearing serial number 3149 and crafted by renowned instrument maker Louis Payen of Paris, France in 1897. The intricate design of this wooden device features eight columns of ten digits at its lower right corner, nine additional digits above them, and sixteen more across the top. Its versatility is evident through a switch located at center left which toggles between addition/multiplication and subtraction/division operations. The lever mechanism allows for precise calculations with ease. Photographed within the esteemed National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, UK, this still life image captures both the historical significance and technological advancements embodied by this arithmometer. With its brass accents and sturdy wooden case, it represents an era when computation was transformed into a tangible process. As an invaluable piece of computing history displayed within a museum setting, this Arithmometer serves as a testament to British engineering prowess while also highlighting French innovation. Its presence evokes curiosity about how our modern-day calculators evolved from such ingenious mechanical devices like these.
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