Pinwheel Calculating Engines of the 1870’s
A while ago I posted about the wonderful, lovely arithmometers – the calculating machines of the 1820’s. Move forward a little to the 1870s and we have the introduction of the no less handsome pinwheel calculating engines. Above is one of the oldest, the Baldwin Calculating Engine of 1874, able to add, subtract, multiply and divide by the careful setting up of dials and then turning the handle in the correct direction. It looks like some wonderfully deranged marriage of music box and cash register, and I feel I’d be quite disappointed if it didn’t play a tune as the handles turned and the numbers crunched.
There is more information about these lovely machines, as well as the independently invented cousin of the Baldwin engine, (the Odhner from Russia) on Wikipedia, the Early Office Museum and the Odhner Calculator site. The Millionaire calculating machine looks stunning too – and came with its own brush! Thanks to Mr G. Zeus (ahem) for pointing out these lovely machines.