Magic-Brain Calculator
date: label: date made
content: 1962
label: date distributed
content: 1962
name: label: distributor
content: Sunset House
notes: label: Description
content: From at least the 19th century, people have been intrigued by the ability of computing devices to assist in mental processes. The name of the “Magic-Brain Calculator” suggests this enthusiasm, although the capabilities of the instrument were quite modest.
label: Description
content: The Japanese-made notched band adder has a red plastic back, a silver-colored metal cover plate, and six fasteners around the edges that hold it together. Six bracket-shaped columns allow for borrowing and carrying. A row of seven holes above the columns shows the result. The bands fit rather loosely in the channels of the plastic back. A zeroing bar runs across the top and a stylus attahes to the side. The object is marked: MAGIC-BRAIN CALCULATOR. On the back It is marked: MADE IN JAPAN. For instructions, see 1987.0375.02.
label: Description
content: References: <I>Popular Science</I>, February, 1962, vol. 180, p. 20. This ad indicates that at that time the Magic-Brain Calculator cost $.98 and was distributed from the Sunset Building, Beverly Hills, California.
label: Description
content: P. Kidwell, “Adders Made and Used in the United States,” <I>Rittenhouse</I>, 8, (1994): pp. 78-96.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Japan
label: place distributed
content: United States: California, Beverly Hills
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
label: See more items in
content: Adder
label: See more items in
content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of William S. Snyder
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1987.0375.01
label: catalog number
content: 1987.0375.01
label: accession number
content: 1987.0375
objectType: label: Object Name
content: adder
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 cm x 7 cm x 14 cm; 13/32 in x 2 3/4 in x 5 1/2 in