The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-26

patent have been issued to Henry
Goldman, an expert accountant Of this
city. for device called "arithmachine, {"
which not only adds but subtracrs.
mult1plies and divides numbers in
srantly. With the firm conviction that
machine filing all these requirements
could be devised. the inventor has for
several years devoted time, thought.
energy and money to the subject and
now may be well pleased and satisfied
With the result of his efforts, for a
more interesting and helpful little ma
chine has not been devised.
A box Of bright aluminium four and
nalf inches long. one and a half wide
and -three-quarters of an inch high, II
is small enough to appear fnsignif1cana
when picked up and slid without cere-
mony into coat or vest pocket; no
misunderstanding cranks. keys or levers
to consider, the whole weighing but a
pound; yet by means Of 1t columns of
numbers may be added more quickly
than the figures can be written, and 1t
may be depended upon as absolutely
correct.
CONCEALED IN THE HAND.
When held between the palms Of the
hands the arithmachine is entirely hid
den from view. To be able to accom-
plish this with a mechanism perform
ing all arithmetical operations and
carrying eight Or more columns stimuli
taneously represents not only a. me-
chan1eal achievement of considera bic
Importance. but is apt to prove an IN
tereSting feature of commercial value
by exciting the curiosity and attract
ing the attention of many who could
be induced in no other way to inyestf-
gate its advantages
In examining the H,,%
thing to attract attention is the rec
tangular surface called the chain board.
lined on either side by a double scale
OF numbers and divided into a series
of narrow sections by means of dis
t1nguishable partitions. Back Of this
chain board in slightly elevated posi-
ton is the indicator. The Indicator fs
divided as the chain board is. The re-
lation of these columns conforms with
the decimal notation, or when two
columns on the right are reserved for
cents. the remaining columns stand for
dollars.
To place a number on the arithma-
chine the large figures on both sides
are taken as guides. the Stylus point Ia
inserted in the proper place in the de-
sired column Of the chain board and
moved forward to the chain stop. The
first position is indicated by the dotted
lines in the illustration, the stylus point
about to depress the figure nine, which.
being to the right of the decimal point
(as shown by the finger), will be re-
garded as nine-tenths, or ninety: the
position of the figure indicates its val
lie, making 1t unnecessary to record
ciphers. With pressure like that exert
ed in writing with hard lead on smooth
paper. the stylus. catching the link In
the endless chain. is brought toward
The operator, carrying with it that sec
ton of the chain until it reaches the
roller lock: the pressure of the stylus
being removed. the necessary spring
Immediately locks the chain at that
point; at the same moment the number
in the Indicator changes. in this in
stance nine will appear in place of a.
cipher. or will be added to the number
already there.
A number composed of two or more
figures is placed on the arithmachine.
By indicating the several figures sue
cessively it is practically immaterial
whether the figures are placed from
the left to the right or from the right
to the left. as far as the mechanical
operation of the machine is concerned
While 1t is more convenient to register
numbers as they are pronounced-i e..
from left to right.
To add a column of figures on the
arithmachine the amounts are consid-
cred successfully, using the large nu-
neral scales. starting at the head of
the pad with the machine resting on
the book or sheet. keeping the figures
to be operated on at the front end of
the machine moving it forward as the
numbers are registered. One material
advantage is that, should the operator
be called away with column unf1n-
ished the machine shows by its place
on the page where he stopped and In
dicates the result up to this point The
advantage Of being able to keep the
eyes continually on the work while
operating the arithmachine. or the con-
venience of following the figures Of the
given column with the machine itself
must be experienced in order to be
thoroughly appreciated.
Additional movements may be saved
by grouping amounts, assisting the ma
chine by performing some of the
simpler operations mentally and regis
tering the intermediate results When
totals are to be carried forward from
page to page the arithmachine per-
forms the operation automatically. az