Marchant Model ERBF6 Calculating Machine
date: label: date made
content: 1930
name: label: maker
content: Marchant Calculating Machine Company
notes: label: Description
content: This full-keyboard, non-printing electric pinwheel calculating machine has six columns of color-coded plastic keys. The rightmost column contains seven red keys marked from 1/8 to 7/8. The two columns left of this have black keys, and the three leftmost columns have white keys. Pushing a fraction key enters the appropriate three-digit decimal equivalent. At the base of each bank of keys is a red clearance key. The underlying keyboard is painted green. The macine has no rods between columns of keys for decimal markers.
label: Description
content: Right of the number keys is a red clear key and a red “ADD” key. When the add key is depressed, the keyboard may clear after each operation. Above the clear key are subtraction and addition bars. Left of the number keys is the switch for turning on the motor. The back of the case can be removed to expose the registers.
label: Description
content: In back of the keyboard is a movable carriage with 12 windows in the result register. Behind this are six windows for showing digits entered and six windows for the revolution register. Decimal markers are above each register. The two black keys next to the carriage may clear the result and revolution register. At the back of the machine is a place for a motor but no motor. The machine has a black plastic cover.
label: Description
content: Marks on metal plates on the right and left sides of the machine and on the cover read: MARCHANT. A metal tag attached to the bottom of the machine has the serial number: ERBF6-1025.
label: Description
content: The style of the MARCHANT label on the side of the machine indicates that it dates before 1933. The model ERB was introduced in about 1926. The fractional model was furnished in all models and sizes on special order. The model ERBF6 sold in 1930 and 1931 for about $400.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: Marchant, “”Marchant Electric Models,” (1979.3084.88)
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: California, Oakland
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
label: See more items in
content: Calculating Machines
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content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of SCM Corporation, Business Equipment Division
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.335372
label: catalog number
content: 335372
label: accession number
content: 318944
label: maker number
content: ERBF6-1025
objectType: label: Object Name
content: calculating machine
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: rubber (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 19.2 cm x 30 cm x 41.3 cm; 7 9/16 in x 11 13/16 in x 16 1/4 in