An Improved Adding Machine.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 13th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Adding Machine.
We, RICHARD TIMMIS, of Westley, Stapleton, Salop, Farmer, and JOHN
FREDERICK BELL, of Ford Villa, near Shrewsbury, Gentleman, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of the herein described improved machine for use in
adding numbers together so as to arrive at the sum total without or with very little
mental labour.
In carrying out this invention we provide a disc or wheel which we will call A
and which is mounted upon an axis so as to be capable of being turned in (by
preference) a horizontal plane. This disc is contained in a suitable box or case
which also contains the mechanism hereinafter described. The periphery of the
said disc or wheel A is divided into 100 equal parts marked from 1 to 100 and is
also divided into 100 ratchet teeth corresponding with the said divisions. Or the
said disc or wheel A may be divided into any other convenient number of equal
parts and teeth. There is an opening in the front of the box or case through which
one only of the said divisons can be seen at once. Below the disc A and mounted
loosely upon the said axle is another similar disc which I will call B divided into any
convenient number of equal parts say 100, marked 100, 200, and so on.
By means
of toothed wheels or other suitable mechanism the disc B is by the disc A moved
through one division when the disc A. has made one revolution. Above or below
the discs A and B are ten finger levers arranged to move up and down in vertical
planes side by side. These levers are marked respectively 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
and 10. When one of these levers is depressed the disc A is thereby moved through
a number of teeth corresponding with the number on the finger lever which has
been depressed. This we effect by arranging a ratchet lever above or below the
disc A and at right angles to the finger levers so as to be operated thereby this
ratchet lever turning about a fulcrum at that end which is nearer to the "10" finger
lever, and the other end of the ratchet lever having a pawl pin or click or other
device to engage with the teeth of the disc A.
When any of the finger levers are depressed the ratchet lever is thereby acted
upon and moved through a greater or smaller angle corresponding with the number
on the finger lever which has been depressed and by the ratchet lever the disc or
wheel is turned through a corresponding number of teeth and spaces.
Thus every
time one of the finger levers is depressed the number indicated thereon is added on to
the number of the division of the disc already exposed at the opening of the box or
case. A spring brings the ratchet lever back to its normal position. There is or
may be a spring catch to prevent the discs being moved back or too far forward.
In order to bring the discs to zero for a fresh calculation the disc A. may be
turned by its spindle as required and the other disc B may have a spur pinion
gearing with it provided with a handle or other means for turning it by.
In order to prevent any finger levers being struck before the finger lever which
has last been struck has risen to its normal position, we provide a locking
plate through corresponding inclined slots in which the finger levers pass. Each of
these slots has a notch at the top. When one of the finger levers is depressed it
acts upon the inclined side of the slot through which it passes and moves the locking
plate endways bringing the notches in the plate to the finger levers and thus locking
them and they remain locked until the finger lever has risen to its highest position
again and allowed a spring to move the locking plate back and release the finger
levers.
We sometimes provide a series of rising and falling plates numbered respectively

page_text: from 1 to 10 both inclusive corresponding with the finger levers and so arranged
that when any finger lever is depressed the corresponding numbered plate rises from
the box or case and shews the number which has been added on and this plate
remains lifted and held in that position by a catch until another finger lever is
depressed when the numbered plate falls back into the box or case.
Each of the divisions on the disc may have printed or otherwise marked upon it
words or figures to shew what the number of the division represents. For instance
the division 72 would shew
6 shillings
£3. 12. 0.
72 pence
72 shillings
72 lbs.
72 cwt.
=
=
=
2 qrs. 16 lbs.
=
3 tons 12 cwt.
and so on so that whatever are being added together the result is seen at a glance.
The machine above described is suitable for adding up single columns of figures
but it will be evident that by combining two or three or more of the machines
together and arranging the discs with the proper number of divisions and teeth,
that two three or more columns of figures such as pounds shillings and pence could
be added up together at the same time.
Dated this 12th day of January 1892.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Adding Machine.
We, RICHARD TIMMIS, of Westley, Stapleton, Salop, Farmer, and JOHN
FREDERICK BELL, of Ford Villa, near Shrewsbury, 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 :-
This invention consists of the herein described improved machine for use in
adding numbers together so as to arrive at the sum total without or with very little
mental labour.
We will describe our invention by referring to the accompanying drawings on
which
Fig. 1 represents in front elevation one form of our improved adding machine
suitable for casting up single columns of figures ;
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same;
Fig. 3 is a sectional front elevation and Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of the
Бате;
Fig. 5 shews a part of the same on an enlarged scale;
and
Fig. 6 shews how we may apply a locking plate to the same as hereinafter described
Fig. 7 shews the said locking plate separately:
Figs. 7 and 7×** shew other details of the said machine;
Fig. 8 is a sectional front elevation Fig. 9 is a sectional plan, Fig. 10 is a sectional
side elevation and Fig. 11 is a plan of another form of our invention arranged for
adding up pounds shillings and pence columns at the same time.
Referring firstly more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 6 and 7-In carrying out
this invention we provide a disc or wheel A which is mounted upon an axis a¹ so as
to be capable of being turned in a horizontal plane; or as hereinafter described the
disc may turn in a vertical plane or be inclined. This disc A is contained in a
suitable box or case C which also contains the mechanism hereinafter described.
The periphery of the disc or wheel A is divided into 100 equal parts marked
from 1 to 100, and is also at a divided into 100 ratchet teeth corresponding with
the said divisions. (Or the said disc or wheel A may be divided into any other

page_text: convenient number of equal parts and teeth.) There is an opening d' in the front
of the box or case C through which only one of the said divisions can be seen at
once. Above the disc A and mounted on a sleeve b' which is loose upon the said
axle a' is another similar disc B divided into any convenient number of equal parts
say 100 marked 100 200 and so on and having corresponding ratchet teeth 62. By
means of toothed wheels or other suitable mechanism the disc B is by the disc A
moved through one division when the disc A. has made one revolution. This may
be effected by a peg a fixed on the face of the disc A (see Fig. 4) which gears with
a toothed wheel el fixed on the small spindle e and on which is also fixed the pin
wheel which gears with the ratchet teeth of the disc B. As the peg a³ passes
the wheel e the latter and the wheel e are turned by the peg a just far enough to
turn the disc B through one division. Below (or above) the discs A and B are ten
finger levers fÎ³Î³Î³Î³Î³Î³ ƒ 10 arranged to move up and down in vertical
planes side by side. The fore ends of these levers project through the front of the
case and are marked respectively 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. When one of
these finger levers is depressed the disc A is thereby moved (as hereinafter
described) through a number of teeth corresponding with the number on the finger
lever which has been depressed. This we effect by arranging a ratchet lever G¹
below (or above) the disc A. and at right angles to the finger levers so as to be
operated thereby this ratchet lever turning about a fulcrum at that end g¹ which is
nearer to the finger lever marked 10 and the other end g of the ratchet lever G¹
has a pawl or click H' or other device to engage with the teeth of the disc A. Each
of the said finger levers turns on a fulcrum either or and is guided by a vertical
slot in the front of the box or case. The finger levers project upwardly as
shewn so as to engage with the back of the ratchet lever G. When any of the
said finger levers are depressed as far as the bottom of the slots c¹ (which thus act
as stops) will allow the ratchet lever G is thereby acted upon and moved through
a greater or smaller angle corresponding with the number on the finger lever which
has been depressed and by the pawl or click H' of the ratchet lever G¹ the disc or
wheel A is turned through a corresponding number of teeth and spaces. Thus
every time one of the said finger levers is depressed the number indicated thereon
is added on to the number of the division of the disc A already exposed at the
opening of the box or case C and when the disc B starting from zero has made
one revolution the peg a moves the disc B through one space as above stated so
that 100 then appears at the opening d². A spring brings the ratchet lever G¹
back to its normal position against the stop fixed to the box or case. There is or
may be for each disc a spring catch k which bears against the ratchet teeth and
prevents the discs being moved back or too far forward.
In order to bring the discs A B to zero for a fresh calculation the disc A can be
turned by the handle a fixed on its spindle a¹; and the other disc B can also be
turned by the handle 63 which is fixed to the sleeve, on which the disc B is.
mounted.
Each of the said divisions on the discs A and B may have printed or otherwise
marked upon it words or figures to shew what the number of the division represents.
This will be clearly understood by referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 where it will be
seen that the number 700 and 72 are exposed at the openings d¹ and d² respectively
these numbers representing 772 the total which has been added up. If hundred
weights or shillings, then the equivalent in tons or pounds is seen to be 35 and
3. 12. O making when added together 38. 12. 0; or if 772 pence have been added
then the equivalent is seen to be £2. 18. 4 and 6.0 making when added
together £3. 4. 4; or if 772 pounds avoirdupois have been added then the
equivalent is seen to be 6. 3. 16. Thus whatever are being added together the
result is seen at a glance.
In order to prevent any of the said finger levers being struck before the finger
lever which has last been struck has risen to its normal position, we may provide
and attach to the inside (or outside) of the front c² (see Figs. 4 6 and 7) a locking
plate L (shewn separately by Fig. 7) through corresponding inclined slots ¹ in

page_text: 6
४ 9
which the finger levers pass. Each of these slots has a notch at the top. When
one of the said finger levers say f¹ is depressed it acts upon the inclined side of the
slot through which that finger lever passes and moves the locking plate L
endways (towards the right hand in Fig. 6) bringing the notches in the plate L
under the other finger levers f³ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ³ 10 and thus locking them and
they remain locked until the finger lever has risen to its highest position again and
allowed the spring 3 to move the locking plate back to its normal position and thus
release the finger levers ready for any one of them to be depressed. The locking
plate I may as shewn be suitably guided so as to move to and fro by being slotted
at these slots working on the screws 1.
We sometimes provide a series of rising and falling plates numbered respectively
from 1 to 10 both inclusive corresponding with the finger levers and so arranged
that when a finger lever is depressed the corresponding plate is drawn down (or the
plate may be arranged to rise) and shews the number of the finger lever which was
last struck which has been added on, and this plate is held in view by a catch until
another finger lever is depressed when the first said numbered plate moves back out
of sight and another numbered plate corresponding with the second lever is brought
into view. The object of these numbered plates is to shew which finger lever was
last struck. This can readily be arranged as shewn by Fig. 7* and Fig. 7** where
it will be seen that the rising and falling plates are marked m and each bears a
number corresponding with its finger lever. Each of these plates in is carried by a
small spring and has a downwardly projecting wire o which is hooked at its bottom
end o and reaches almost to the bottom of the slots c' the plate c. In the front
of the plate over each of the finger levers is a small opening marked p through
which the numbers on the plates m can be seen when the plates are pulled down.
When one of the finger levers say that marked number 7 is depressed the
corresponding plate m is drawn down by that finger lever pressing in the hooked
end o of the wire o which latter then springs under the corresponding projection g
formed on the plate C2 The releasing plate R is also moved sideways as
hereinafter described. When the finger lever 7 is allowed to rise the number 7 on
the plate m remains in view as the end o¹ of the wire o is held by the projection q.
When another finger lever say that marked number 8 is depressed it in like manner
pulls down its corresponding plate m numbered 8 as shewn in Fig. 7* and also acts
upon one of the inclined parts of the sliding plate R and moves the plate R
sideways so that one of a series of small spring tongs on this plate R moves the
hooked end o¹ of the wire o of the plate 7 sideways from under its projection y and
this plate 7 is then by its spring n raised out of view. When the plate R is moved
sideways by either of the finger levers (say that marked 8 as shewn by Fig. 7×) that
finger lever being depressed in the hook o prevents that hook being moved sideways
and released from under the stop g.
The machine above described and illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 is
suitable for adding up single columns of figures but it will be evident that by com-
bining two or three or more of the machines together and arranging the discs with
the proper number of divisions and teeth, that two three or more columns of figures
such as pounds shillings and pence can be added up together at the same time.
We will now, by referring to Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11, describe our invention in this
forin for simultaneously adding together pounds shillings and pence. It will be seen
that in this case we employ three of the numbered discs marked respectively A¹ A² A³
arranged to turn in vertical planes or they may be arranged horizontally or inclined.
The disc A' is divided into any convenient number of numbered equal parts and
corresponding ratchet teeth a² to indicate pounds; the disc A² is divided into
twenty or any convenient number of numbered equal parts and ratchet teeth a
which is a multiple of twenty (in this case 100) to indicate shillings and the disc A³
is divided into twelve or any convenient number of numbered equal parts and
ratchet teeth a² which is a multiple of twelve (in this case 96) to indicate pence.
For each of these discs A1 A2 A3 there is a corresponding ratchet lever marked
respectively G² G³ Geach provided with a spring pawl or click H¹ to engage with

page_text: the ratchet teeth a' of the corresponding disc. There is also for each ratchet lever
a corresponding set of finger levers those for the pounds disc A' being marked F¹
and numbered 1 to 10 (or there may be more or fewer than 10); the finger levers
for the shillings disc A' being 19 in number and marked F and numbered 1 to 19
and the finger levers for the pence disc A³ are 11 in number and marked F' and
numbered 1 to 11. They all turn about a common fulcrum shaft I fixed to the box
or case C and supported by the intermediate brackets S₁ S' or the finger levers may
be arranged on different fulcra. When the numbered end of any of the finger
levers is depressed the other end of that finger lever raises the ratchet lever with
which it is in contact and moves the corresponding disc through the number of
spaces corresponding with the number of that finger lever similarly to the machine
first herein described. The divisions on the shillings disc A are marked 0, 1 to 19
both inclusive, 0, 1 to 19 both inclusive, and so on, and the divisions on the pence
disc A³ are marked 0, 1 to 11 both inclusive 0, 1 to 11 both inclusive and so on,
and at every interval of 12 divisions on the disc A³ is fixed a peg or projection t¹
which when 11 appears at the opening in the box or case just comes in contact
with the inclined end of the lever U so that as the disc A³ is moving through
the next division the peg t will depress the end of the lever U and rise the
other end u² thereof which will move the ratchet lever G and the shillings wheel A'
through one space thus adding the shilling from the pence wheel A on to the
shillings wheel A'. In a similar manner when the shillings wheel A' has been
moved through 19 divisions as zero appears one of a series of pegs or pins & on
the shillings disc A' acts upon the tail end of the ratchet lever G³ and raises the
ratchet lever G' and the pounds wheel A through one division thus adding the
20 shillings from the shillings disc A³ as one pound on to the pounds disc A'. It
will be seen that with this machine the various amounts of pounds shillings and
pence can be added together at the same time instead of adding the columns of
pence together and then the shillings and then the pounds as is usual thus saving a
considerable amount of time and labour.
In conclusion we wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the
precise details herein described and shewn upon our drawings as the same may be
varied without departing from the nature of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In an adding machine and in combination with the divided and numbered
discs thereof, the employment of a ratchet lever and pawl and a series of finger
levers arranged for joint operation substantially as herein described, so that when
any finger lever is depressed the ratchet lever and numbered disc will thereby be
moved through a larger or smaller angle corresponding with the number of that
finger lever substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. In an adding machine of the kind denoted under Claim 1 and in combination
with the finger levers thereof the employment of the rising and falling numbered
plates m arranged to indicate which finger lever was last struck, substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.
3. In an adding machine of the kind denoted by Claim 1 and in combination
with the finger levers thereof, the employment of the locking plate L arranged to
lock all the finger levers except that which is being depressed substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. The combination of parts forming the improved adding machine arranged for
joint operation substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 1, 2,
3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination of parts arranged together for joint operation and constituting
the improved machine for adding together pounds shillings and pence substantially

page_text: as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of October 1892.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.