A Cash Reckoner and a Cash Teller.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 29th May 1895
A Cash Reckoner and a Cash Teller.
I HENRY PREVOST BABBAGE of Mayfield, Lansdown, Cheltenham a Major-
General in Her Majesty's Army do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
As a "cash reckoner "it is a machine for the addition of long columns of sums
of money without mental exertion for the use of book keepers, accountants,
auditors &c. It may be adapted to any system of currency.
As a "cash teller" it is a machine for use in shops to register and check the
amount taken at any hour of the day. There is a series of finger knobs and arms
for farthings, pence shillings and. pounds (units, tens &c.) as required. They are
all pivotted on one axis and work in slot holes in a frame or cover, on the edges of
which are the sets of figures to be added :-0 to 4-0 to 12 &c. &c.
In this Specification "addition" means the complete arithmetical operation,
while "addition" signifies the mere addition of two figures excluding carriage.
The general plan of the machine is this-The additiou is done by the direct
force of the hand, by means of an arm and pall acting on a ratchet wheel.
Carriage is effected by the release of a catch allowing a spring to act on the next
place to the left. During the return motion of the driving arm everything is
restored to its initial position by suitable mechanism, which also brings every
piece properly home.
I will now describe the invention by reference to the drawings annexed:
throughout these the same letters are applied to the same pieces. They show a
machine for pence shillings and three places of pounds.
Figure Sheet 1 is a front elevation showing the two left band divisions
covered, the rest uncovered.
Figure 2 Sheet 2 is a plan similarly arranged.
Figure 3 Sheet 3 is a side elevation from the right hand.
Figure 4 Sheet 3 is a plan showing all the pieces on the main axis N in one
division.
Figure 5 Sheet 4 is a side elevation from the left hand.
Figure 6 Sheet 4 is a side elevation of the driving arm and the closed camb
attached to it.
No outer wooden case, drawers for till &c. have been shown.
The construction of the machine will be most conveniently illustrated by
describing its action through one operation. Suppose that in the windows
£95 4s. 7d. is seen and that it is required to add to that £4 158. 9d.
The operator bolding the finger knob g for pence moves it to 9 on the pence
index. It will be observed (Fig. 1) that the knob does not reach the 0 at once:
during this interval the pall a is prevented by a fixed guide piece V from engaging
the ratchet wheel D, but meanwhile the shaped camb piece H (Fig. 5) acts by
the roller n on the arm L (Fig. 3) and pulls it inwards, and as the pieces L, L are
all fixed to the same axis T. they all move simultaneously from under the
rollers c. c. leaving the pieces E. E. in every division free to move when required.
When the finger knob g arrives at 0 the palla falls into gear and being moved on
to 9 on the index r carries the ratchet wheel D so many teeth forward and with
it the figure disc C, thus the addition (7+9) is done and the figure disc will have

page_text: come to rest showing 4 at the window y. As 11 passes away and 0 appears the
camb A engages the end 'M of the bent lever 'M K (Fig. 5) pushes it out of the
way and with it the arm 'K carrying the roller h, which is thus pushed away from
under the piece E on the edge e in the next division: being thus free to fall E is
pulled down by the spring till it reaches the stop in the plate X (Fig. 5) and
can fall no further. In its fall it has by the pall b carried the ratchet wheel D
through one tooth and thus the carriage is alone in the next, or shillings, division
and 5 is now seen at the window instead of 4 sh.
To prevent the sudden action of the spring causing overthrow a link I
(Fig. 5) is put from E to an arm 'H of the bent lever 'H 'F, the other end of
which F engages the rosette wheel B and brings it accurately to rest; the whole
combination E, I, 'H, 'F moving and acting simultaneously. The addition of 9d.
and 7d. bas thus been made and the operation is so far complete, but the pieces
which have been moved from their initial positions must now be restored to them
ready for the next step. This is done during the backward motion of the finger
knob g which is pulled back to its starting point.
A piece J, the end of which acts as a pall on the ratchet wheel D prevents
any reverse motion, and the closed camb H. l. 1. before coming to rest, reverses
its action and through the roller n pushes the arm L so that it comes on its
shaped edge under the roller c on the piece E; this in its turn by its edge d
pushes out the roller h on the arm 'K so that as E rises the roller ½ falls back
by gravity under the piece E but just free from its edge e; because the piece L
is shaped at u so as to support E in the necessary position.
F may here say that there are four sets of figures 0 to 11 on the pence figure
disc; the ratchet and other wheels have each 48 teeth and there are 4 camb
pieces A.
The operator now takes hold of the finger knob g, in the shillings division and
pushes it onto 10 bringing 15 to view at the window y, he moves it back again to
its starting place; pushes it on 5, bringing 0 to view at the window and again
pulls it back to its starting place. During these two strokes of g the action has
been precisely as described in the preceding paragraphs for pence; the addition of
the shillings and carriage to the pounds have been made: £96 Os. 4d. is seen at
the windows and the machine is ready for the next step.
There are two sets of figures 0 to 19 on the shillings figure disc; the wheels
have each 40 teeth and there are 2 cambs A. A. It will be understood from this
that to add any number of shillings above 10 two strokes of the finger knob are
required; one for the. 10 and one for the rest; more tine is required but
mechanism is saved.
The operator now takes hold of the finger knob g for pounds (units) and pushes
it onto 4 on the index a, when 0 will appear at the window y and pulls it back to
its starting place. This addition will have necessitated a carriage in the tens
place of pounds, which will have been done exactly as before described, but it
will be observed that this carriage has necessitated another in the next (or
hundreds) place of pounds and that while the tens figure disc of pounds was moved for
the carriage the camb A fixed to it was also moved one place and engaged the arm 'M
in the hundreds place thereby moving the roller h from under the piece E and so
allowed the spring belonging to the hundreds division to pull down E one
place; thus effecting carriage in the hundreds pound place almost immediately
after that in the tens place, and the figures now seen in the windows are
£100 0s. 4d., the result of the addition of £+ 15s. 9d. to £95 4s. 7d. To add long
accounts, the pence column would be completed first; the shillings next and then
the pounds.
If a machine is required to print the result a spur tooth wheel would be fixed
to the figure disc. communicating with tune wheels

page_text: WADE
I HENRY PREVOST BABBAGE of Mayfield, Lausdown, Cheltenham a Major-
General in Her Majesty's Army 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:-
As a cash reckoner it is a machine for the addition of long columns of sums of
money, without niental exertion; for the use of book-keepers accountants, auditors
&c. It may be adapted to any system of currency.
As a cash teller it is a machine for use in shops to register and check the
amount taken at any hour of the day.
There are a series of finger knobs and arms for farthings, pence, shillings and
pounds (units, tens &c) as required. They are all pivotted on one axis and work
in slot holes in a frame or cover; on the edges of which are the sets of figures to
be added, viz. O to 3-0 to 11 &c. &c.
In this Specification "addition" means the complete arithmetical operation,
while "addition" signifies the mere addition of two figures excluding carriage.
The general plan of the machine is this-The addition is done by the direct
force of the hand by means of an arm and pawl acting on a ratchet wheel.
Carriage is effected by the release of a catch allowing a spring to act on the next.
place to the left. During the return motion of the driving arm everything is
restored to its initial position by suitable mechanism, which also brings every
piece properly home.
I will now describe the invention by reference to the drawings annexed to. the
Provisional Specification: throughout these the same letters are applied to the same
pieces.
They show a machine for pence, shillings and three places of pounds.
Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the two left hand divisions covered: the
rest uncovered.
Figure 2 is a plan similarly arranged.
Figure 3 is a side elevation from the right hand.
Figure 4 is a plan showing all the pieces on the axis N in one division.
Figure 5 Sheet 4 is a side elevation from the left hand.
Figure 6 Sheet 4 is a side elevation of the driving arm and the closed cam
attached to it.
No outer wooden case, drawers for till &c. have been shown.
The construction of the machine will be most conveniently illustrated by
describing its action through one operation. Suppose that in the windows
£95 4s. 7d. is seen and that it is required to add to that £4 15s. Id.
The operator holding the finger knob g for pence moves it 9 on the pence index.
It will be observed (Fig. 1) that the knob does not reach the 0 at once: during
this interval the pawl a is prevented by a fixed guide piece V from engaging the
ratchet wheel D, but meanwhile the shaped cam piece H (Fig. 5) acts by the
roller n on the arm L (Fig 3) and pulls it inwards, and as the pieces L, L, are
all fixed to the same axis T they all move simultaneously from under the
rollers c, c, leaving the pieces E in every division free to move when required.
When the finger knob arrives at the pawla falls into gear and the finger knob
being moved on to 9 on the index a carries the ratchet wheel D so many teeth
forward and with it the figure disc C: thus the addition (7 +9) is done and the
figure disc will have come to rest showing 4 at the window y. As 11 passes away
and 0 appears the cam A engages the end of the lever 'M (Fig. 5), pushes it out
of the way and with it the arm 'K carrying the roller h, which is thus pushed
away from under the edge e of the piece E in the next division: being thus free

page_text: to fall E is pulled down by the spring till it reaches a stop in the plate X
(Fig. 5) and can fall no further. In its fall it has by the pawl b carried the
ratchet wheel D in the shillings division through one tooth and thus the carriage
is done in that division and is now seen at the window instead of 4.
.
To prevent the sudden action of the spring f causing overthrow a link. I.
(Fig. 5) is put from E to an arm 'H; on to this is fixed another arm 'F the end
of which engages the rosette wheel B and brings it accurately to rest; the whole
combiration E. I. 'H. 'F. moving and acting simultaneously. The addition of
9d. to 7d. has thus been made and the operation so far is complete; but the pieces
which have been moved from their initial positions must now be restored to them
ready for the next step This is done during the backward motion of the finger
knob which is now pulled back to its starting point.
A piece J the end of which acts as a pawl on the ratchet wheel D prevents any
reverse motion and the closed cam H before coming to rest reverses its action
and through the roller n pushes the arm L, so that it comes on its edge u under the
roller on the arm E and as E rises the roller falls back by gravity under the
piece E, but just free from its edge e, because the piece L is shaped at u so as to
support E in the necessary position. See Fig. 5.
may here say that there are four sets of figures 0 to 11 on the pence figure
disc; the ratchet and other wheels have each 48 teeth and there are four cam
pieces A.
The operator now takes hold of the finger knob g in the shillings division and
pushes it on to 10 bringing 15 to view at the window y; he moves it back to its
starting place; pushes it on to 5, bringing 0 to view at the window y and again
pulls g back to its starting place. During these two strokes of g the action has
been precisely as described in the preceding paragraphs for pence, the addition of
the shillings and carriage to the pounds have been made; £96 0s. 4d. is now seen
at the windows and the machine is ready for the next step. There are two sets of
figures 0 to 19 on the shillings figure disc; the wheels have each 40 teeth and
there are two cams A, A. It will be understood from this that to add any number
of shillings above 10 two strokes of the finger knob are required; one for the ten
and one for the rest more time is required but mechanism is saved.
The operator now takes hold of the finger knob g for pounds (units) and pushes
it on to 4 on the index when 0 will appear at the window y and pulls it back to
its starting place. This addition will have necessitated a carriage in the tens
place of pounds which will have been done exactly as before described: but it will
be observed that this carriage has necessitated another in the next, or hundreds
place of pounds and that while the tens figure disc C was moved for carriage the
cam A fixed to it was also moved one place and engaged the arm 'M in the
hundreds place, thereby moving the roller from under the piece E and so allowed
the spring belonging to the hundreds division to pull E down one place, thus
effecting carriage in the hundreds pounds place almost immediately after that in
the tens place; the figures now seen in the windows are £100 0s. 4d. the result of
the addition of £4 15s. 9d. to £95 4x. 7d.
In each division there is a lever U which carries a roller p acting on the rosette
wheel B this lever U is pulled by the spring i and the figure disc C is thus brought
each time correctly home.
To add up long accounts the pence column would be completed first, the shillings
next and then the pounds.
If a machine is required to print the results a spur tooth wheel would be fixed
to the figure discs communicating with type wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is
1st. The cash reckoner with the general combinatiou of all its parts herein
shown and described.

page_text: 2nd. The combination of the driving lever for the addition with the fixed piece
which governs its action.
3rd. The combination of the closed cam with the levers which return every piece
to its initial position and lock them 'till a driving lever is again put in motion.
4th. The combination of parts whereby carriage is effected by means of a
spring released at the proper moment.
5th. The combination of parts whereby the overshooting of the carriage action
(vitiating the calculation) is prevented.
Dated this ath dor of February 1895.
HENRY P. BABBAGE.