Monroe Model F Calculating Machine
date: label: date made
content: ca 1918
name: label: maker
content: Monroe Calculating Machine Company
notes: label: Description
content: This full-keyboard, non-printing manually operated modified step drum calculating machine has a steel frame painted black. The eight columns of plastic keys are colored black or white according to the place value of the digit entered. The key stems are banked, standing up further toward the back of the machine.
label: Description
content: At the front of the keyboard is a row of red clearance keys for the individual columns above. On the right side is a red key for clearing the entire keyboard. Between the rows of keys are metal strips, painted black on one side and white on the other. They turn to serve as decimal markers. The two silver-colored knobs have arrows on them. The one on the right is used for automatic keyboard release in continuous addition. The one on the left is the register key for the item counter.
label: Description
content: In back of the keyboard is a carriage with 16 black total register dials and eight white revolution register dials behind the total dials. The revolution register dials are numbered around the edge from 0 to 9 in white and then from 9 to 1 in red. Metal strips on the carriage carry sliding decimal markers for the registers. Ther metal operating handle with a wooden knob is on the right side. Another handle on the right side of the carriage zeros the total register or the revolution register, depending on the direction in which it is turned. A shaped metal piece on the left side of the carriage is used to lift it. A crank at the front of the machine rotates to move the carriage.
label: Description
content: A mark on the front of the machine reads: MONROE (/) Calculating Machine Company (/) New York. A mark in the middle of the back reads: F6981. A tag on the back of the machine reads: PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908 (/) OTHER U.S. AND FOREIGN PATENTS (/) PENDING. A mark on the plastic cover reads: MONROE.
label: Description
content: According to McCarthy, the Monroe Model F was introduced in 1917, with serial numbers above 6,000. In 1920, Monroe was granted a trademark for the name Monroe, and used the term “registered trademark” on its machines. Hence the approximate date assigned to this machine.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: E. Martin, <I>The Calculating Machines (Die Rechenmaschinen)</I>, trans. P. A. Kidwell and M. R. Williams, Cambridge: MIT Press, 1992, p. 265.
label: Description
content: J. H. McCarthy, <I>The American Digest of Business Machines</I>, Chicago: American Exchange Service, 1924, pp. 80–81, 551.
label: Description
content: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Registration 129029, Serial # 71117235.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York City
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
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content: Calculating Machines
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content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Victor Comptometer Corporation
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.323609
label: catalog number
content: 323609
label: maker number
content: F6981
label: accession number
content: 250163
objectType: label: Object Name
content: calculating machine
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: steel (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: aluminum (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 16.2 cm x 43.2 cm x 33 cm; 6 3/8 in x 17 in x 13 in