Millionaire VIII

Basic multiplication table machine (ca. 1908)

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. The principle had also been used at about the same time by the Frenchman Leon Bollée, whose machine, however, had not gone into series production. In contrast to the Bollée (cf. Inv. No. 9115), the Millionaire uses 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. As the racks slide back, any tens transfers are made. On the second half turn, the units are processed in the same way.

Initially, Steiger/Egli machines were built into wooden housings, but soon the wood was replaced by aluminum plates, which were, however, susceptible to corrosion. Even up to about 1906, more machines were delivered with wooden housings than with metal sides, although there was an additional charge to pay for them. The first series of the Millionaire was built in Munich in 1896, and from 1898 production was in Zurich. 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. Around 1930, production of the Millionaire was discontinued.