IMPROVEMENTS IN CALCULATING CARDS OR TABLETS
Year: 1884

page_text: JOHN JAMES RAGGETT OI 271 Park Road Aston, NY Birmingham in the County
of Warwick, Architect and Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN CALCULATING CARDS OR TABLETS to be as follows:-
This Invention comprises an arrangement for facilitating the means for adding
up columns of figures.
Its advantages are simplicity and accuracy.
It consists of squares or other suitably shaped divisions made or impressed upon
a tablet of cardboard, wood, or other suitable material suitably numbered, and
colored, they may also be grooved or indented as and for the purpose hereinafter
specified.
The top row of divisions which form the index line is numbered in numerical
order.
The other rows which preferably consist of 9 are numbered in order accordingly
i.e. The whole of the divisions next the index line are numbered 1.
The whole of the divisions in the next row are numbered 2. The whole of
the divisions in the next row are numbered 3, and so on until the last row is
completed.
The method of adding up is as follows. Supposing the fist figure in the column
of figures to be added up to be 7, place the pointer or pencil on the 7 in the index
line, now supposing the next figure to be added up is 9, the pointer or pencil is moved
downwards in a vertical direction to the 9, and traced upwards diagonally to the
index line, which will give the number 10, then supposing the next figure to be
alded up to be 3, the pointer or pencil is moved downwards from the 16 to the 3
beneath it & traced up again diagonally to the index line which will give 19, this
process is continued until the column of figures is added up.
As a guide to assist the eye in the diagonal movement the divisions are colored
separate colors, diagonally or they may be grooved, the grooves serving as a guide
for the pencil to run in, to insure its correct movement, or they may be both
grooved and colored.
Instead of the first movement being a vertical movement, it may be a diagonal
one, and the backward movement may be vertical. The position of the index line
may be at the bottom or side of the tablet and the other figures &c altered
accordingly. The general form of the tablet may be circular instead of rectangular
in which case, the index line & other lengthwise lines will be circular instead of
straight, and the opposite lines will be drawn to radiate from the centro of tho
circle, and similar modifications may be inade without altering the principle.
Dated this seventh day of April 1884.

page_text: I JOHN JAMES RAGGETT of 271 Park Road Aston, near Birmingham,
Warwickshire Architect and Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN CALCULATING CARDS OR TABLETS, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention comprises an arrangement for facilitating the means for adding
up columns of figures.
Its chief advantages are simplicity and accuracy.
It consists of squares or other suitably shaped divisions made or impressed upon
a tablet of cardboard, wood, or other suitable material, suitably numbered and
colored, they may also be grooved or indented as and for the purpose hereinafter
specified and illustrated by the accompanying drawings Fig 1 & Fig 2.
The top row of divisions Fig 1 which forms the index lino is numbered in
numerical order. The other rows which preferably consist of 9 are numbered in
order accordingly ie The whole of the divisions next the index line are numbered 1.
The whole of the divisions in the next row aro numbered 2. The whole of
the divisions in the next row are-numbered-3 and so on until the last row is
completed.
The method of adding up is as follows supposing the first figure in the column of
figures to be added up to be 7 place the pointer or pencil on the 7, in the index
line now supposing the next figure to be added up is 9 the pointer or pencil is
moved downwards, in a vertical direction to tho 9 and traced upwards diagonally
to the index line which will give the number 16 then supposing the next figure to
be added up to be 3 the pointer or pencil is moved downwards from the 16 to
the 3 beneath it and traced up again diagonally to the index line which will
give 19, this process is continued until the column of figures is added up.
As a guide to assist the eye in the diagonal movement the divisions are colored
separate colors diagonally, they may be grooved the groove serving as a guide for
the pencil point to run in to ensure its correct movement or they may be both
grooved and colored.
Instead of the first movement being a vertical movement it may be a diagonal
one and the backward movement may be vertical. The position of the index line
may be at the bottom or side of the tablet and the other figures altered accordingly.
Also the general form of the tablet may be circular as in figure 2 instead of
rectangular in which case the index and other lengthwise lines will be circular
instead of straight and the opposite lines will be drawn to radiate from the
centro of the circle and similar modifications may be made without altering the
principle.
Although I have only indicated 9 rows of figures on the drawings yet I am
aware that they may be added to, to any extent.
Instead of having an Index of numbers I may have an Index of Months in their
proper order, which will enable me to calculato what month it will be in any
number of months time. It may be also applied to any similar purpose.
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
The method of adding up by means of squares (or other suitably shaped
divisions) numbered as substantially set forth and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 2 The said squares or divisions being either colored, or indented, or both, as a
guide to lead the eye or pencil to tho index.
3 A Calculating Card or tablet consisting of an Index and squares or divisions
arranged in juxta-position thereto the calculations being made by two movements
over the said squares or divisions as substantially set forth.
4 A Calculating card or tablet arranged and colored or indented as substantially
set forth in this specification and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 7th day of January 1885.
JOHN JAMES RAGGETT.