New or Improved Calculating Dial or Appliance.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Calculating Dial or Appliance.
I, JAMES NELSON of Holme-next-the-Sea, Kings Lynn in the County of
Norfolk, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be.as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to obtain a more simple contrivance than has
hitherto been employed for adding any number of figures or sums of money without
mental effort.
i
According to my invention I employ a dial divided into any number of
equal parts by lines running from the centre to the circumference. Circles
are then described from the centre of the dial thus dividing all the divisions
already made. In the outermost circle of divisions for example, I place ordinal
numbers in regular rotation. In the next circle I place farthings commencing at 0
and advancing one farthing every division. I do likewise with the pence and
shillings, and also with the pounds, if required.
I provide an index finger pivotted at the centre of the dial and having a slot at
its outer end, so as to be able to see a division of the dial with the ordinal number,
farthing, pence and shilling circles. The index finger is cut away at a slant
towards the larger figures, and a scale, numbered from one to nine-made thereon,
so that each number corresponds to a division on the dial.
65
In adding a sum of money, the index finger is placed at zero, and the farthing
will be found to number 0. Say on looking up the column to be added the
following number of farthings are seen ,,," the index finger should be
moved on by means of index thercon 2 divisions for the , 3 for the , 1 for the
and 3 for the , it will now be at division No. 9, and the sum of the farthings will
be seen to be 21. Similar operations can then be done with the pence and
shillings, and the pounds can be added by the ordinal number circle, or a special
circle of its own.
The dial may be made of any suitable material such as brass, cardboard, wood,
as may also the index finger, or be printed on paper to be attached to a board, and
for the convenience of packing this may be made to fold. Any number of divisions
and circles may be used to suit the currency of various nations, or for other
additions.
The central portion of the dial may be utilized for the reception of (by printing
thereon) any useful information, such as instructions for using the apparatus,
money tables, and so forth, or the aforesaid space may be devoted wholly or
partially for the reception of advertisements, or other notices.
Dated this 18th day of December 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Calculating Dial or Appliance.
I, JAMES NELSON, of Holme-next-the-Sea, Kings Lynn, in the County of
Norfolk, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to obtain a more simple contrivance than has

page_text: hitherto been employed for adding any number of figures, or sums of money,
without mental effort, and will be understood from the following description and by
reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a view in plan of a dial and index
constructed according to my invention. A is the dial, B the index or indicator.
According to my invention I employ a dial, divided into any number of equal
parts by lines running from the centre to the circumference or radially as shown.
Circles are then described-from-the centre of the dial, thus dividing all the
divisions already made. In the outermost circle of divisions, for example, I place
ordinal numbers in regular rotation, which will be used for adding up (simple
addition) pounds (£)-&c. In the next circle I place pence commencing at 0 and
advancing one penny every division; I do likewise with the shillings, and also with
the farthings, if required.
I provide an index finger B pivotted at the centre of the dial-and having a slot
at its outer end, so as to be able to see a division of the dial with the ordinal
number, farthing, pence, and shilling circles. The index finger is cut away at a
slant towards the larger figures, and a scale numbered from one to nine made
thereon, so that each number corresponds to a division on the dial. In adding a
sum of money, the index finger is placed at zero, and the pence will be found to
number 0. Say on looking up the column to be added the following number of
pence are seen "5, 9, 6, 8." The index finger should be moved on by means of
index thereon, 5 divisions for the 5, 9 for the 9, 6 for the 6, and 8 for the 8; it
will now be at division No. 28, as seen on the top circle of figures, and the sum of
pence will be seen to be 2s. 4d. The dial adds up and reduces to £. s. d, at the
same movement. As no mental work is required, a child will delight in using the
dial. The black sections are for the purpose of giving better distinction to
the spaces. Similar operations can then be done with the shillings, and the pounds
can be added by the ordinal number circle, or a special circle of its own:
The dial may be made of any suitable material, such as brass, cardboard, wood,
as may-also-the-index finger, or-be-printed on paper-to-be-attached to_a_board, and
for the convenience of packing this may be made to-fold Any number of divisions
and circles may be used to suit the currency of various nations, or for other
additions.
It will be understood that instead of the indicator working, or moving in a
circular direction, as shown by the drawing, it might be arranged to work
horizontally or vertically-instead of in a rotary direction and the figures. arranged
accordingly in a straight line instead of in a circle.
The central portion of the dial may be utilised for the reception of (by printing
thereon) any useful information, such as instructions for using the apparatus,
money tables and so forth, or the aforesaid space may be. devoted wholly or
partially for the reception of advertisements or other notices.
It can be produced at a very reasonable price. The dial will be invaluable for
highway surveyors, churchwardens, overseers, rate collectors, tax collectors, house-
keepers farmers &c., and a large number of private individuals who find some
difficulty in keeping accounts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The new or improved calculating dial or appliance in combination with the
index finger or indicator as described, for adding figures or sums of money without
mental effort, all constructed, arranged and acting substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 5th day of September 1891.
JAMES NELSON.