Millionaire Calculating Machine
date: label: date made
content: ca 1928
name: label: maker
content: Egli, Hans W.
notes: label: Description
content: This key-set electric direct multiplication, non-printing calculating machine has a brass mechanism, a metal case with lid, and color-coded plastic keys. The lid and the flat plates that cover the mechanism are painted black. The carriage is entirely within the case. The ten columns of color-coded black and white plastic keys have nine keys in each column. Painted rods between columns of keys have red, white, and black sides to indicate decimal positions.
label: Description
content: A zero (clearance) key is left of the keyboard. Left of it is a crank which may be set between 0 and 9 for direct multiplication and division. Right of the keys is a lever which is set at addition, multiplication, division, or subtraction. Right of it is the operating crank. A row of ten windows in front of the keys shows the number set. These windows are covered with glass and labeled Divisor.
label: Description
content: In front of the windows is the carriage, with two other rows of windows. The row closest to the keys (further from the front) indicates the multiplier or quotient, and the other row shows the result or the dividend. The result windows are labeled Dividend and may be set using thumbscrews. Zeroing knobs for both these registers are on the carriage, as well as sliding decimal markers. Between the front two registers, at the left, is a button used to shift the carriage.
label: Description
content: Instructions for operating the machine are on a paper sheet inside the lid, along with a cleaning brush, a screw, and a key. The stand carries an electric motor, with wooden shelves on both sides.
label: Description
content: A mark in the middle of the front of the machine reads: THE MILLIONAIRE. A metal tag to the right reads: H.W. EGLI S.A. (/) Calculating Machines (/) ZURICH (Switzerland). A metal tag to the left reads: W.A. Morschhauser (/) SOLE AGENT (/) 1 Madison Avenue (/) NEW YORK CITY. Under this tag the serial number mark reads: No 9123. Another mark on the machine reads: BS24326.
label: Description
content: For related documentation see MA.319929.03 through MA.319929.07. Compare MA.314579.
label: Description
content: The Millionaire with keys for entering numbers was introduced in 1913. According to Ernst Martin, the Millionaire with keys for multiplication was introduced in 1927. This example was used at the U. S. Bureau of Standards and came to be owned by the physicist William F. Meggers.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: <I>MADAS 50 Jahre Arbeit</I>.
label: Description
content: Ernst Martin, <I>Die Rechenmaschinen und ihre Entwicklungsgeschichte</I>, 2nd edition, 1928, p. 438.
label: Description
content: P. A. Kidwell, “American Scientists and Calculating Machines: from Novelty to Commonplace,” <I>Annals of the History of Computing</I>, vol. 12, 1990, pp. 31–40.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Switzerland: Zürich, Zurich
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
label: See more items in
content: Calculating Machines
label: See more items in
content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Edith R. Meggers
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.333941
label: accession number
content: 319929
label: catalog number
content: 333941
objectType: label: Object Name
content: calculating machine
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 89.4 cm x 90.5 cm x 57 cm; 35 3/16 in x 35 5/8 in x 22 7/16 in