Ensign Model 90 Calculating Machine
date: label: date made
content: ca 1915
name: label: maker
content: Ensign Manufacturing Company
notes: label: Description
content: This full-keyboard direct multiplication non-printing electric calculating machine has an iron and steel case painted black, The nine columns of plastic black and white keys are colored according to the place values represented. Complementary digits are indicated on the keys. Keys for odd digits are concave, and those for even ones are flat. The keyboard is covered with green felt.
label: Description
content: Right of the number keys is an addition bar. Considerably to the right of this is a key to be depressed in division and ten digit keys used to enter digits directly in multiplication. To the left of the keyboard is a key marked “C” that, when depressed, locks the keyboard. A row of seven number dials serves as a revolution counter. These dials are covered with glass.
label: Description
content: On the left side is a handle for clearing the revolution counter and result register. Behind the keyboard and revolution counter, inside the machine, in a row of 16 number dials recording the result. These dials are also covered with glass. They are deep within the machine, and difficult to read. The result register may be divided to record two results simultaneously. The base of the case is open, with a cloth cover inside it. This example has no motor.
label: Description
content: A mark on the front of the machine reads: The Ensign. A mark on the right side reads: ENSIGN (/) MANUFACTURING CO. (/) BOSTON, U.S.A. (/) PATENTED (/) NOV. 1, 1904. - JAN. 2, 1906. (/) JULY 9, 1907. - FEB. 18, 1908 (/) JUNE 2, 1908. (/) OTHER PATENTS PENDING.
label: Description
content: The Ensign was an early example of an electrically operated calculating machine. The Ensign Manufacturing Company of Waltham, Massachusetts is listed in <I>Thomas’ Register</I> for 1909. The dates on the machine refer to dates of patents of Emory S. Ensign, who was president of the company. The Ensign Manufacturing Company of Boston, Massachusetts, is listed in <I>Thomas’ Register</I> for 1912, 1914, 1915, 1916, and 1917. It was not listed in 1918. By this time, Ensign seems to have moved to Queens, New York. The machine was manufactured until about 1925.
label: Description
content: This example is from the collection of Felt & Tarrant Manufacturing Company.
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, pp. 189–191.
label: Description
content: <I>Thomas’ Register of American Manufacturers</I>, New York: Thomas Publishing Company.
label: Description
content: J. H. McCarthy, <I>The American Digest of Business Machines</I>, Chicago: American Exchange Service, 1924, p. 23.
label: Description
content: E. S. Ensign, "Calculating-Machine," U. S. Patent 773,632, November 1, 1904.
label: Description
content: E.S. Ensign, "Calculating-Machine," U.S. Patent 859,552, July 9, 1907.
label: Description
content: E. S. Ensign, "Calculating Machine, U.S. Patent 879,449, February 18, 1908.
label: Description
content: E.S. Ensign, "Calculating-Machine," U.S. Patent 889,668, June 2, 1908).
label: Description
content: E. S. Ensign, "Drive for Calculating-Machines," U.S. Patent 1,331,561, February 24,1920. Ensign applied for this patent in 1916.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Massachusetts, Boston
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.323625
label: catalog number
content: 323625
label: accession number
content: 250163
objectType: label: Object Name
content: calculating machine
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: steel (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: felt (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 16.5 cm x 50 cm x 25 cm; 6 1/2 in x 19 11/16 in x 9 27/32 in