Monroe Calculating Machine Model L160-X
date: label: date made
content: 1948
name: label: maker
content: Monroe Calculating Machine Company
notes: label: Description
content: This small key-set manually operated non-printing modified step drum calculating machine has a steel case painted black with white and gold round color-coded plastic keys. The eight columns of keys have nine digit keys and one zeroing key in each column. The zeroing key is the opposite color from the rest of the keys in the column. Between the columns of keys and under the light green plate are metal rods, visible through windows in the plate, which serve as decimal markers. These rods are painted red on one side and the same green as the plate on the other.
label: Description
content: To the right of the number keys are two red buttons, one of which is marked R (for use in repeated addition or subtraction), and a red clearance key. A crank on the right side rotates clockwise for addition and counterclockwise for subtraction.
label: Description
content: In back of the keyboard is the carriage, with 16 result dials and eight revolution register dials. The revolution register dials are numbered from 0 to 9 in black and 1 to 9 in red. Between the windows of these registers are two thin metal rods that carry decimal markers. A crank for clearing the carriage is on its right side and another one for shifting the carriage at the front.
label: Description
content: The machine has two rubber feet at the front and two collapsible metal standing pieces extending from the back at the bottom, so that it is held at an angle. The standing pieces fit up within the frame of the machine, and the entire device fits in a case covered with black leather. A black cover for the machine fits inside the case.
label: Description
content: A mark on the front of the machine and on the cover reads: Monroe. A sticker attached to the right side of the machine reads: COUNTY BUSINESS MACHINES (/) CBM; Phone 235-9034 (/) RICHMOND. The serial number scratched on the underside of the carriage at the left, is 418947.
label: Description
content: Compare to 1993.0396.01. Dated from serial number.
label: Description
content: This is the “Executive Model” of Monroe’s Model L calculating machine. The “160” signifies the 16-digit result, the X the presence of the case. Manually operated machines were designated simply as “L.” Those operated electrically were “LA.”
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: National Office Machine Dealer’s Association, <I>Blue Book</I>, May 1975, as compiled by Office Machine Americana, January 2002.
label: Description
content: Monroe Calculating Machine Company, “Monroe High Speed Adding-Calculator,” Publication 780-A. This is a notebook with advertising descriptions of several Monroe calculating machines.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
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: Gift of Norman E. Spiro
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.336523
label: catalog number
content: 336523
label: accession number
content: 1978.0402
objectType: label: Object Name
content: calculating machine
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: rubber (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: steel (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: leather (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 11.7 cm x 32.5 cm x 30.5 cm; 4 19/32 in x 12 25/32 in x 12 in