Thomas Arithmomètre 52
Staffelwalzenmaschine
1860
Thomas Arithmomètre
Stepped Drum Machine
1860
The specimen probably belongs to the early commercially offered machines of the French manufacturer Charles Xavier Thomas, who started production around 1850. There are several signs of this early stage of development: the container on the right (instead of later on the left) side of the setting mechanism, the addition/subtraction switch, the signet and of course the machine number. Around 1858 Thomas' son patented the improved machine with the revolution counter, which is another detail for dating the machine. The machine has now almost reached the stage and appearance which determined the future production for about 60 years. See FDM 9140, 9398, 8303.
- Inventory number:
- FDM6714
- Inventor:
- Thomas, Charles Xavier
- Year of invention:
- 1820
- Year of manufacture:
- 1860
- Main category:
- Vierspeziesmaschine
- Subcategories:
- Staffelwalze
- Capacity:
- 6 (EW) x 7 (UZW) x 12 (RW)
- Dimensions (H x B x T):
- 10 x 48 x 17 cm
- Weight:
- 5,8 kg
- Serial number:
- 52
- Literature:
- Johnston, Stephen: „Making the Arithmometer Count“, in: Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society 52, 1997, p. 12ff
- Monnier, Valerie: www.arithmometre.com
- Monnier, Valéry: „Mademoiselle Renauds Arithmometer Nr. 541 - eine Heirat wider Willen?" In: Historische Bürowelt 97, September 2014, p. 19-26
- Reuleaux, Franz: Die Thomas`sche Rechenmaschine. Freiberg 1862, p. 182ff, Tafel 11
- Patents:
- FR 10990 [1850]
- FR 1420 [1820] (Charles-Xavier Thomas: Une machine ou appareil appelé arithmomètre)
- FR 68923 [1865]
- FR 8282 [1849]