Millionaire Calculating Machine
date: label: date made
content: ca 1935
name: label: maker
content: Egli, Hans W.
notes: label: Description
content: This key-set direct multiplication 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 fits entirely within the case.
label: Description
content: There are ten columns of color-coded black and white plastic keys, with nine keys in each column. Painted rods between columns of keys turn to serve as decimal markers. The zero key is left of the keyboard. Left of these is a crank that may be set anywhere between 0 and 9 for direct multiplication and division. Immediately to the right of the digit keys is an operating bar. Right of this is a lever that may be set at addition, multiplication, division, or subtraction. Right of it is the operating crank. Ten glass-covered windows in a row in front of the keyboard show the number entered.
label: Description
content: Further forward is the carriage, with two other rows of windows. The row closest to the levers (further from the front) indicates the multiplier or quotient, and the other row shows the result or the dividend. The result registers may be set with a dividend using thumbscrews. Both registers on the carriage have zeroing knobs and sliding decimal markers. The carriage shift button is between these registers, at the left. Both the paper sheet and the brush are missing from inside the lid.
label: Description
content: A metal tag screwed to the middle of the front of the machine reads: THE MILLIONAIRE. A metal tag on the right reads: H.W. EGLI SteAmg. (/) Calculating Machines (/) ZURICH (Switzerland). A metal tag on the left reads: W.A. Morschhauser (/) SOLE AGENT (/) 1 Madison Avenue (/) NEW YORK CITY. The serial number, stamped on the top left under this tag, is 14382.
label: Description
content: Compare MA.333941.
label: Description
content: The United States Naval Observatory transferred this machine to the Smithsonian in 1955.
label: Description
content: The key-driven Millionaire was introduced in 1913. In 1927, keys were also introduced on some models for use in direct multiplication (these keys are not found on this machine). Egli manufactured Millionaire calculating machines until about 1935, and Morschhauser retired in 1935. The serial number of this machine suggests a late date of manufacture.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: “W.A. Morschhauser Ex-Official of the Calculating Business Machines Corp.” <I>New York Times</I>, December 5, 1940, p. 25.
label: Description
content: <I>MADAS 50 Jahre Arbeit</I>, NMAH Files.
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: Transfer from US Naval Observatory
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.314579
label: accession number
content: 204773
label: catalog number
content: 314579
objectType: label: Object Name
content: calculating machine
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: steel (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 86 cm x 85 cm x 61 cm; 33 27/32 in x 33 15/32 in x 24 1/32 in