WTB: stand for early Fuller Calculator - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 12:08:13 pm
content: Bit of an odd one, this, with little chance of success. However....I have an early Fuller calculator in beautiful condition and fully functional, but it is missing the mounting "spike". Does anyone have of one of these they would be willing to part with?

author: Overspeed
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 01:55:36 pm
content: HelloI am not an expert in old calculator even I own some old HP but from my understanding a Fuller calculator looks as a handle with a drum and a cursorwhere go the spike ?RegardsOS

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 02:22:29 pm
content: Quote from: Overspeed on November 04, 2024, 01:55:36 pmIt is a slide rule with an equivalent scale length of 500/1000inches 12.5/25m, depending on whether you prefer the physical/marketing definition.In your photo you can see the spike/mount/stand between the calculator and the box.There are several Fuller calculators visible in this photo, of an insurance company.More discussion here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/vintage-computing/oh-hell-just-bought-another-calculator/P.S. welcome toanotherrathole

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 03:10:22 pm
content: Did you lose it? In this picture it looks complete and is in the same room as your teardown.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 05:54:21 pm
content: Failing all else, it would seem an eminently fabricable item

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 06:20:22 pm
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on November 04, 2024, 03:10:22 pmNo, that'sanotherFuller Calculator. I seem to have a fetish for them.Besides, that's the later mount, which is closer to a spike. This calculator is 1922, and the mount has a shield on one end.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 06:28:50 pm
content: Quote from: AVGresponding on November 04, 2024, 05:54:21 pmCould be 3D printed in brass, but would be unacceptably expensive. Since that would look false/naff and isn't necessary for operation, it would be better not to make one.Other materials would be difficult, due to the calculator's weight+moment and way it is attached to the box (three small bolts are screwed into the "shield", and their heads are slotted into grooves on the box mount).

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 06:46:00 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on November 04, 2024, 02:22:29 pmI'm confused. The angled mount (a brass rod?) in Overspeed's photo looks very different from the wooden "spade" in your initial post?

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 07:06:30 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on November 04, 2024, 06:20:22 pmAh, you got me there!It doesn't look too difficult to make it, it's just 3 parts. The rod woud be the easiest if you can find one with the correct diameter, and the 'spade' is just a brass plate and elbow grease.Of course if you feel that the looks will not be good it's not worth the effort.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 07:06:46 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on November 04, 2024, 06:46:00 pmCan't tell whether Overspeed's photo shows the later or earlier variant.Here's the two next to each other; to avoid confusion, I want the shield variant. In both cases the bit to the right of the collar is inserted into the hollow mahogany(early) bakelite(late) handle.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 07:11:31 pm
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on November 04, 2024, 07:06:30 pmAs you can see from the subsequent photos, the later variant is little more than a rod, bent, with a flat milled off. The earlier variant is also a single piece of brass (plus three bolts which slot into the brass mount on the box).Certainly not worth much effort to make one, but I am prepared to spend a little money to get one.I'll spend my effort scouring auctions to see if I can spot something. You can get some seriously crap Fuller calculators for not much money.When new, the Fuller calculator was 12% of the HP35 price. Now a decent one is worth more than the HP35 then or now

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 07:14:08 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on November 04, 2024, 07:11:31 pmGood luck with that then, it looks like what Dave would call "Hen's teeth"

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 07:27:37 pm
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on November 04, 2024, 07:14:08 pmAs I put it in the first post... "...with little chance of success"

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2024, 11:18:47 pm
content: Looks like the textbooks need to be revised.At a recent auction there was a Fuller calculator with two spades. No idea why.The auction price rose to more than I was willing to pay. The auction house passed a message to the purchaser, and they were willing to part with their spare spade for the tidy sum I offered to pay.So, hopefully in the new year I will be able to put another complete calculator on the market

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2024, 11:35:19 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on December 13, 2024, 11:18:47 pmHey, you are supposed tocollectthem!Congratulations on finding the "spare" spade in that auction, and on the win-win outcome.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2024, 12:03:01 am
content: Quote from: ebastler on December 13, 2024, 11:35:19 pmCollecting them isn't difficult. I have sold one, so I only have ~0.03% of the entire 94 year production run. That's feels, so I'd like to share my treasures around.I also have a couple of very strange early Sumlock Anita calculators, from the 1960 "pre-cambrian" explosion. By "very strange" I mean the keys do not do the obvious things.https://teanonymous.com/f1/viewtopic.php?t=287https://teanonymous.com/f1/viewtopic.php?t=326I also have a couple of mechanical calculator I that I want to try to un-jam. I'm currently translating a service manual from German into English; slow going even with tesseract OCR and gurgle translate!

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2024, 12:18:14 pm
content: Those links are to a private part of a forum, no one else can see them.David

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2024, 12:22:45 pm
content: Quote from: factory on December 14, 2024, 12:18:14 pmAch! I forget which bits are public and which bits private.They aren't picky Over There; they let mostpeoplebe members.

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2024, 12:36:22 pm
content: It a shame so much of it is hidden to the web for non-members, self hosted pictures included, but that is the owners choice. It's not the only forum with hidden pictures, there are far too many IMO.David

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2024, 12:57:10 pm
content: Quote from: factory on December 14, 2024, 12:36:22 pmI have some sympathy with that, but I also know you would be welcome. However I respect your decision.My weird calculators are the Anita 1000 and 811, nixie and LED respectively.

author: factory
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2024, 08:18:43 pm
content: There are no Anita or Sumlock calculators here, it's a rabbit-hole I haven't gone down yet. The 1000? on display at the Hack Green hanger, is still the only one I've seen in person powered up. I do have some boards bought from ePay 20+ years ago, that might be from an older Anita or clone, I've not seen any the same on the web.David

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2024, 08:56:16 pm
content: The shock of the old is part of the attraction. Wind the kiddytots up, and all that.Here's a truncated description of the 811...For some operations, such as addition, it is RPN, so 3+4 is entered as "C 3 + 4 +", where "C is clear". Yup, the "+" key has a dual function.For other operations, such as multiplication, it is algebraic, so 3*4 is entered as "C 3 * 4 =".No, I can't see how to calculate -3 * -4 = 12!Then you get to "chain calculations", where extra keys have to be used.(17*9)+5 is entered as "C 17 * 9 = + 5 +"There's that dual function, again.The memory is similarly weird, albeit interesting: it is an accumulating memory.To calculate 3*4+5*6 you enter "C CM 3 * 4 = 5 * 6 = RM", where CM and RM are clear/recall memory. Essentially the "=" also causes the result to be added to memory; no "+" is necessary.The "%=" key is also quite nice, even if it is unnecessary.What is "25% of 125" is calculated "C 125 * 25 %=" i.e. 31.25."If 21 is 25%, what is 100%" is calculated "C 21 / 25 %=" i.e. 84.

author: mendip_discovery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2024, 09:27:31 pm
content: I am sure there are hobbyist metal workers who could fabricate that up for you.Look for your local model shop, Jadlam for example as they may be able to make it via one of the metal mashing types they will know. If I had a lathe I would have a go myself.Have you measured it and tried to make a drawing of it?

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2024, 10:35:11 pm
content: I have one that could be measured (easy) and copied (less easy).I'd prefer an original, since patination on an antique is good.Having one doesn't make the calculator work better, but does give your arms a rest. That was an important consideration, but isn't any more.I'll be able to flog a Fuller calculator for more if all the bits are there, but I could flog it without the unimportant bit.Hence the value to me is monetary: the difference between those sale values. Mercenary? Most definitely!Fundamentally I currently have 0.03% of the 94 year production run. That's greedy, and I want to reduce it to just 1/14500Having the space will help that objective.