Mechanical Calculators

Ashlee Jenkins and Kailey Meadows

Our definition

• A calculator in which one must operate by hand to get mathematical information for a simple problem.

Definition

• One that calculates, as: An electronic or mechanical device for the performance of mathematical computations.

• A person who operates such a machine or otherwise makes calculations.

Abacus

• The first of adding and subtracting machines so to speak.

• You could only add and subtract.• Other functions had to be done more

complicatedly. • Derived from Latin.• The abacus’ we know came form Rome, China,

and India.

Pascal

• We know of him from his work with the triangle.

• Born 1623-1662.• His machine also could only add and subtract.

Leibniz

• Used Pascal's original ideas to develop his own calculator.

• Called it the Step Reckoner.• Entered university at fifteen years old.

Charles X Thomas

• 1820 Thomas made a machine he called the arithmometer based of Leibniz design it could only perform four functions. Between 1820 and 1878 his machine sold about 1500.

Victor Schilt

• Produced a key-driven adding machine in London in 1851 at the Crystal Palace Exposition.

Imperial Office Master

• Made in Germany by W. Feiler, G.M.B.H.• Can print up to 999,999,999 characters.• Made in the late 1970’s • Produced in London• One of the late Mechanical Calculators

Why is it Important?

• These first calculators paved the way to the automatic calculators we use everyday.

• Without the hard work of many men which took over 200 years.

• These calculators even began the process of the computer because the first computers could only add and subtract.

• Without these first building blocks our world could have been very different.

Bibliography

• http://www.diycalculator.com/sp-mechcalc.shtml

• http://www.vintagecalculators.com/html/calculator_time-line.html

• http://www.xnumber.com/xnumber/mechanical1.htm

• http://mathsforeurope.digibel.be/Mechanicalcalculators.html

• www.vintagecalculators.com/html/mechanical_calculators.html