Millionaire VI

Direct multiplier with one-shot body (ca. 1904)

The Millionaire is a direct multiplying four-species calculating machine with multiplication body, patented in 1893 by the Swiss Otto Steiger and built under the name "Millionaire" by the Egli company in Zurich for about 40 years. In contrast to the Bollée (see Inv. No. 9115), the Millionaire makes do with only one multiplication body. This is the so-called "multiplication tables body", in which the small multiplication tables are represented in the form of metal rods of different heights. When the crank is turned halfway, the racks are guided by the multiplication body, whereupon they transfer the tens values to the main counter. When the racks slide back, any tens are transferred. On the second half turn, the units are processed in the same way.

The first series of the Millionaire was built in Munich in 1896, and series production began in Zurich in 1898. From 1911, the machines could be equipped with a motor, from 1913 there was the key setting, from 1914 the machine with a second main counter. Finally, in 1927, the setting lever for the multiplier was replaced by a keyboard. In 1935, production of the Millionaire was discontinued. The designation "The Millionaire" on this relatively rare smaller model makes it likely that it was an export model for the English-speaking world. The machine is housed in a metal case, but the case is badly corroded. For this reason, some metal sheets have been replaced by Plexiglas panes to allow a view into the interior of the machine.