An Improved Money Abacus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Money Abacus.
I ALFRED FURRER, Interviewer, residing at Berne in the Republic of
Switzerland 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:-
This invention consists essentially of four bars joined together to form a frame
one of which bars being so arranged as to be detachable, and of a number of
narrow bars which are held by two of the bars hereinbefore named laying
opposite to each other. The said narrow bars hold small blocks which can be
shifted but not turned around their axis. These blocks are provided on one
side with English standard coins or figures representing such, while on the other
side they can carry coins, or figures of such, of other countries.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings :
Figs. 1 to 4 represent one arrangement of the apparatus and several forms of the
blocks c.
In Fig. 1a represents the above mentioned frame which is provided with
notches a¹ which serve for the introduction of the bars b. At one end of the upper
and lower bars of the frame there are provided bolting arrangements as a³ by which
it is made possible to loosen and to let down the frame bar a' provided with a hinge
and to take out the bars b and the blocks c.
Each of the first blocks c of each row carries an English coin or a figure of
such. Each other block in the same row shows a figure corresponding, as to size
and colour, with the coin or its imitation on the first block and carries in the middle
an inscription indicating the same value in money as the coin or its imitation on
the first block. The blocks consist of balls cut off on three sides viz. :-on the
side which carries the coin or its imitation and on the sides above and below the
former.
a represents a foot fastened to the lower frame-bar. At convenient positions,
where the coins or their imitations are fastened, are provided buttons c¹ (see lowest
row of blocks) which serve as touching points and also for the protection of the
said figures or imitations of coins. Moreover these buttons serve to facilitate the
counting of the blocks which have already been moved and the remaining ones
respectively. Fig. 2 shows a front and side view of the blocks c in the shape of
balls cut off on three sides.
Fig. 3 shows the front and side view of a cubic form of a block with a coin, or
an imitation of such, on it. Fig. 4 represents the blocks c as full balls on which
the coin or its imitation is fastened to the ball by means of a little plate.
With these examples the variety of forms of the blocks is by no means
exhausted; they suffice however to show the purpose to which the object
principally serves viz. :-to facilitate exercises in money calculations and to impart
to school pupils the knowledge of the English money system.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A money abacus for English schools having English and foreign coins as well
as figures or other objects and by which English and eventually foreign coins are
represented and applied to movable blocks.
2. A money abacus according to Claim 1 with blocks consisting of balls which
are out off on are a more sides

page_text: 3. A money abacus according to Claims 1 and 2 the money side of the blocks
being provided with elevations serving as touching points.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
. 40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.