AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ADDING NUMBERS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting
Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ADDING
NUMBERS." A communication from abroad by Charles Henry Webb,,
of the City and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 4th February 1870, and dated the 9th August 1869..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th August 1869.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
5 No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS.
11
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th August 1869.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
5 No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR ADDING NUMBERS, a communication, to be as follows:
My Invention relates to the construction of an instrument or
apparatus for adding numbers.

page_text: of the pence columns, while in a circle of still larger radius are the
figures 0 to 19, which divide their circle into twenty equal divisions
and with their corresponding holes are the medium for adding the
columns of shillings, as hereafter to be described. Four numerals;
(0, 1, 2, 3,) are made in the smaller circle of the fixed disc for the-
addition of farthings. Any hole of the three series of pence, shillings,
or decimals standing opposite the number 1, 2, or 3 as wanted can.
be used, and the result will show in the slot in hundreths of a penny,,
as for instance, 3 farthings show (75) seventy-five hundreths in the
rectangular slot, and 3 farthings additional give (1.50) one penny and
fifty hundreths, and so on. A cam secured to the lower side of the
first disc operates by its revolution a reciprocating bar working between
the studs or pins and provided with a hooked end, which engages in
the toothed circumference of a ratchet wheel which is secured to the
small disc forming a part thereof. The said bar is held in conjunction
with the cam by a spring which is also provided with an arm which
presses against the teeth of the ratchet, preventing the receeding of
the secondary wheel by acting as a pawl against the ratchet teeth. A
spring is provided to limit the motion of the spring hook causing.
the latter to act as a detent, so blocking the ratchet wheel that the
action of the retreating hook during the operation of adding may not
by any possibility cause the secondary wheel to advance more than
a single space at each revolution of the primary wheel. In case
however it is desired to revolve the secondary wheel direct without
operating the larger disc, the release of the spring hook in its function
as a detent is accomplished by depressing the spring by means of
its stem which projects above the face of the machine, when the diso
can be moved to any position desirable. The cam bar, ratchet wheel,
and springs are connected to and operate upon a plate, which ensures
the durability of their operating parts and their relations to each other.
Over the discs and base is placed a thin metallic plate with two circular
openings, one concentric with the larger disc, and the other concentric
with the small disc. Between these two openings there is also a small
rectangular, slot located immediately over the tangential edges of
the two wheels, which slot is of sufficient size to expose the two figures
indictaing the units and tens on the edge of the primary wheel, and
also the outer circumference of figures denoting the hundreds and
thousands in the smaller or secondary disc. In this slot is to be
seen the sum total of any addition which may be performed on the

page_text: machine. The larger circular opening of the covering plate is of a
diameter a very little larger than the outer circle of stylus holes in the
large disc and is provided with 100 graduations numbered from 0 at
a projecting stop piece to 99, which numbers are placed directly around
the edge of the opening. In a circle of larger diameter commencing
with the figures last mentioned are also the numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, and so
on to 19; which divide their circle into twenty equal parts. These
divisions correspond to the twenty divisions in the large disc, and give
the shillings to be carried to the stop piece in the adding of the shillings
columns. On the edge of the smaller circular opening are provided
ten digits, from 0 to 9. The complete revolution of the cam by means
of the stylus inserted in any of the perferations of the larger disc
advances the bar the space of one tooth of the ratchet or notched wheel
and when the cam has passed its single tooth by the line of the
reciprocating motion of the bar the action of the spring forces the bar
back to the position of the smallest diameter of the cam, and causes
the said ratchet wheel to advance one tooth by its hook, the action
of the springs regulating the movement of the ratchet to the space
of one tooth only. It is necessary on the smaller wheel to depress a
knob during part of the operation.
Additional to the parts above described I provide the base piece
with two plates or lugs for the purpose of securing the apparatus to
a desk or table, by which arrangement but one hand of the operator
is required in adding. In place of the usual pointed instrument or
stylus for operating I form the "stylus" by providing any ordinary lead
pencil with a metallic point. This point is not liable to wear and
the instrument may be instantly inverted to use the pencil end for
setting down the figures or for the usual purposes of a pencil.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent 3
Office. on the 8th February 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton ;
Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert
Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter.
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ADDING NUMBERS," a communication to me from.
abroad by Charles Henry Webb, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said.
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six.
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters.
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My Invention relates to the construction of an instrument or
apparatus for adding numbers, and the following is an exact and full
description of the same, and of its mode of operation, reference being
had to the accompanying Drawing forming a part of this Specification.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a front view of the said apparatus; Figure 2 shows a
portion of the same; Figure 3 is a section parallel with the base thereof.
The said apparatus has a horizontal base piece B, in the upper surface of
which are made two circular depressions, in each of which a rotary
disc or wheel is placed in such a manner that the two are in the sanie
plane and their edges are tangential to each other. The larger and
'

page_text: primary wheel A is divided into 100 equal spaces upon its upper side
near its edge, commencing with 00 at the point nearest the small
wheel C and numbered. 00, 01, 02, 03, and so on to 99 inclusive.
Opposite each number and forming a circle concentric with but of
smaller radius than the number above mentioned are perforated 100
small holes a for receiving the point of the stylus with which the
operation of adding is performed. Each of the above holes is numbered
in a concentric circle of still smaller radius from 0 to 99 inclusive, the
numbers commencing however at that point of the circle farthest from
the small wheel C and increasing in the contrary direction to the number
first described and nearest the edge of the wheel A, which wheel A
furthermore revolves upon the central pin P, is screwed into the base B,
and in adding enumerates the units and tens. The smaller and
secondary wheel C occupying the other depression or recess in the
base B has its edge also divided into graduations numbered from 0 to 49
inclusive with a concentric series of holes and numbers similar to those
in the larger wheel A, but limited to 49 as their highest number, which
as this smaller wheel C is to indicate hundreds in the operation of
adding is deemed sufficient for all ordinary purposes. This wheel is
secured to the base B by its pin Q, upon which it revolves. The above
numerals placed as described are all that are necessary upon the wheels
for the operation of adding decimally, but in order to more conveniently
perform additions of English money in pounds, shillings, and pence the
disc D is placed above and concentric to the wheel A and held by the
pin P, but does not revolve on its centre. Through this disc D and
near its edge a small slot d is cut; near its circumference are twelve
graduations corresponding to the number of pence requisite to make a
shilling, but numbered only to 11, the slot d occupying the place of the
twelfth numeral. A small projecting hook opposite and near the slot d
is on the circumference of the fixed disc D. On the plate or disc A in
such position that as the disc revolves the figures will be presented to
the view through the slot d in the fixed disc D are engraved the
numerals 0 to 11 as more fully shown in Figure 2, which represents the
central portion of plate A, and corresponding to these last figures but in
a circle of greater diameter are twelve small holes intended to receive the
point of the "stylus" S during the adding of the pence columns, while
in a circle of still larger radius are the figures 0 to 19, seen on both
Figures 1 and 2, which divide their circle into twenty equal divisions,
and with their corresponding holes are the medium for adding the

page_text: columns of shillings, as hereafter to be described. The four numerals
(0, 1, 2, 3,) seen in the smaller circle of the fixed disc D are for the
addition of farthings. Any hole of the three series of pence, shillings,
or decimals standing opposite the number 1, 2, or 3 as wanted can be
used, and the result will show in the slot in hundredths of a penny,
as, for instance, 3 farthings show (75) seventy-five hundredths in the
rectangular slot, and 3 farthings additional give (1.50), one penny and
fifty hundredths, and so on.
Figure 3 shows a cross section parallel to the plane of the base B, and
immediately below the discs A, C, to allow examination of the operating
devices and their functions. The cam E secured to the lower side of
the disc A operates by its revolution the reciprocating bar F working
between the studs or pins S, S, and provided with a hooked end h which
engages in the toothed circumference of the ratchet wheel G, which is
secured to the small disc C, forming a part thereof. The bar F is held
in conjunction with the cam E by the spring t held at H, which spring
is also provided with an arm which presses against the teeth of
the ratchet G, preventing the receeding of the secondary wheel C by
acting as a pawl against the ratchet teeth. The spring X is to limit the
motion of the spring hook h, causing the latter to act as a detent, so
blocking the ratchet wheel G that the action of the retreating hook
during the operation of adding may not by any possibility cause the
secondary wheel C to advance more than a single space at each revo-
lution of the primary wheel A. In case, however, it is desired to
revolve the secondary wheel direct without operating the larger disc A
the release of the spring hook h in its function as a detent is accom-
plished by depressing the spring X by means of its stem which projects
above the face of the machine at K (Figure 1), when the disc C can
be moved to any position desirable. The cam E, bar F, ratchet wheel G,
and springs t¹ and X are connected to and operate upon the plate L, as
seen in Figure 3, which ensures the durability of their operating parts
and their relations to each other. Over the discs A and C and the bar B
is placed the thin metallic plate m with two circular openings, one
concentric with the larger disc, and the other concentric with the
small disc C. Between these two openings there is also a small rect-
angular slot J located immediately over the tangential edge of the
two wheels A and C, which slot is of sufficient size to expose the
two figures indicating the units and tens in the edge of the primary

page_text: wheel, and also the outer circumference of figures denoting the
hundreds and thousands in the smaller or secondary disc. In this slot
is to be seen the sum total of any addition which may be performed in
the machine. The larger circular opening of the covering plate m is of
a diameter a very little larger than the outer circle of stylus holes in
the disc A, and is provided with 100 graduations numbered from 0 at
the projecting stop picce Y to 99, which numbers are placed directly
around the edge of the opening, as shown in Figure 1. In a circle of
larger diameter concentric with the figures last mentioned are also the
numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on to 19, which divide their circle into
twenty equal parts. These divisions correspond to the twenty divisions
in the disc A, and give the shillings to be carried to the stop piece Y in
the adding of the shillings columns. On the edge of the smaller circular
opening are provided the ten digets from 0 to 9, as shown in Figure 1.
The mechanism as shown in Figure 3 is as follows:-The complete
revolution of the cam E by means of the stylus inserted in any of the
perforations of the larger disc A (Figure 1) advances the bar F the
space of one tooth of the ratchet wheel G, and when the cam E has
passed its single tooth by the line of the reciprocating motion of the
bar F the action of the spring t forces the bar back to the position
of the smallest diameter of the cam E, as shown in Figure 3, and causes
the ratchet wheel G to advance one tooth by its hook h, the action of
the springs and X regulating the movement of the ratchet to the
space of one tooth only.
The operation of adding is as follows:-First bring the wheels so that
only zeros are perceivable through the rectangular slot by inserting the
point of the stylus into the holes marked O and rotating the wheels to
the stops Y and Z. It is necessary on the smaller wheel to depress the
knob K during this operation for the reasons given previously. Next
insert the point of the stylus into the holes standing by whatever
number you wish to commence with, say 75, using the figures in the
edge of the plate m as the guide, and rotate the wheel A to the stop Y
then insert the stylus into the hole now standing opposite the next
number it is desired to add, as, for instance, 50, and carry round to the
stop Y, 125 will show in the slot, and so on for every number added.
The construction of the machine shows that for every complete revolution
of the wheel A the wheel C will be advanced one space or number.
Whether the revolution is entire at one movement or composed of a number

page_text: of partial rotations. Whether one hundred decimals, 20 shillings, or
12 pence are used, the result must be similar from the principal of the
mechanism. For "carrying" the two figures of tens and units are set
down under their respective columns, and the disc A set with the figure
tlicu showing in the slot on the edge of the small wheel C at the stop Y,
while the wheel C is rotated to 0 by means of the stylus and pressing
down the spring K. Then proceed with the next two columns (hundreds
and thousands) similarly.
Additional to the parts as above described and operated, I provide
the base piece B with the two plates or lugs, shown in dotted lines
on Figure 1, for the purpose of securing the machine to the desk
or table, and by which arrangement of its mechanical equivalent but
one hand of the operator is required in adding. In place of the usual
pointed instrument or stylus for operating I construct the stylus S by
providing any ordinary lead pencil with a metallic point, as shewn.
This point is not liable to wear and the instrument is instantly inverted
to use the pencil end for setting down the figures or the usual purposes
of a pencil.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I claim,―
First. The two wheels A and C arranged tengentially in the same
plane with their circumscribing edges in such proximity that the sums
when added to the place of three figures or more can be instantly read
through the rectangular slot J and in their usual relative positions.
Second. The prefix of a cipher to the first nine numerals of the outer
circle of figures in the wheel A, by which device the sum is indicated in
its proper position of units, tens, and hundreds and forms the entire
product without vacant spaces in the total.
Third. The pounds, shillings, and pence arrangement as described
and set forth, and in conjunction with the arrangement for adding
decimals.
Fourth. The cam E, spring hook operated by the cam ratchet
wheel G, and springs t, t', in their combination as shown in their
mechanical equivalents in such combination as applied to adding
machines.
Fifth. The ears or lugs for the purpose of securing the machine to a
desk.

page_text: Sixth. An adding machine with parts constructed and operating
substantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand and seventy.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
H. J. GEDGE,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.