The Controller Calculating Machine
date: label: date made
content: ca 1920
name: label: maker
content: Controller Company
notes: label: Description
content: This is an incomplete version of a key set, non-printing stepped drum calculating machine sold by the short-lived Controller Company of New York City. The machine has a metal base and carriage painted black and a metal keyboard painted green. The side pieces are missing.
label: Description
content: The machine has eight columns of white plastic keys, with the keys in each column numbered 1 to 9. Behind the keyboard is a row of eight windows that shows the number set up. One sliding decimal marker is above this register. To the right of the keyboard is an plate that rotates to set the machine for addition or multiplication. Above this plate is the operating crank. To the left of the keyboard are two levers that may relate to division. The mechanism of the machine includes a row of stepped drums on shafts.
label: Description
content: At the back of the machine is a movable carriage with two rows of metal discs mounted horizontally. The front row, with nine discs, is the revolution register and the back row, with 16 discs, the result register. A row of knobs above the result register allow one to set up numbers there. Two decimal markers covered with red rubber slide above the revolution register and one above the result register. Zeroing bars for these registers extend from the right side of the carriage, and a knob for lifting it is on the left. A bell rings when the result passes through zero.
label: Description
content: The serial number, marked on the front edge of the carriage on the left and the back left of the machine under the carriage, is 101. A mark on the carriage on the right reads: “The Controller”. Painted on the left side of the carriage is: 27-65. A mark stamped on a metal piece under the operating crank reads: Add. (/) Mult.
label: Description
content: For related objects, see non-accession 1983.3003.
label: Description
content: This machine is from the collection L. Leland Locke displayed at the Museums of the Peaceful Arts in New York City.
label: Description
content: Reference:
label: Description
content: "Meetings and Elections (advertisements)," <I>New York Times</I>, January 29, 1919, p. 15; February 4,1919, p. 18; and February 3, 1920, p. 27.
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
label: See more items in
content: Calculating Machines
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content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of L. Leland Locke
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.311948
label: catalog number
content: 311948
label: maker number
content: 101
label: accession number
content: 155183
objectType: label: Object Name
content: calculating machine
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: rubber (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 25 cm x 45.3 cm x 32 cm; 9 27/32 in x 17 27/32 in x 12 19/32 in