C.W. Hergenroeder Adding Machine

Object Details

patentee

Hergenroeder, Christian W.

Hergenroeder, Christian W.

Description

This U.S. Patent Office model for an adder has a wooden frame with a round brass top and mechanism. A toothed disc under the top has the digits from 0 to 99 indicated on it in ink. The 99 complement also is indicated, for use in subtraction. To the right of the disc is a series of pins labeled from 1 to 10. An arm extending from the right side of the disc fits between the pins. Pulling the arm forward advances the disc by the amount indicated on the scale. When the disc has advanced a full rotation, it advances a smaller, vertically mounted disc on the left side by one unit. Complementary units are also indicated on the edge of this disc. The device also has a set of nine wooden digit wheels, with paper around the edge, at the front. These are intended for keeping track of numbers used in calculations.

According to the 1900 U.S. Census, Christian W. Hergenroeder was then 36 years old and living in Baltimore. He was born in Germany of German parents, immigrated to the United States in 1882, and was a naturalized citizen. His wife, Sofia, was born August of 1866, also in Germany of German parents, and came to the United States in 1891. She apparently was not naturalized. Their son, Christian Jr., was born November of 1895. Both parents could read, write, and speak English. Christian's occupation was given as laborer. The family lived in a rented house. Hergenroeder was not found in 1880, 1910, 1920 or 1930 U.S. Census records.

Another patent was granted to Christian W. Hergenroeder of Baltimore, for an improvement in music leaf turners. He applied for this patent on January 5, 1882, and was granted it on October 10, 1882 (#265602).

Reference: U.S. Patent No. 263904, September 5, 1882.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of L. Leland Locke

1882

ID Number

MA.311960

accession number

155183

catalog number

311960

Object Name

adder with carry

Physical Description

wood (overall material)

brass (overall material)

paper (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 5 cm x 31 cm x 21.3 cm; 1 31/32 in x 12 7/32 in x 8 3/8 in

place made

United States: Maryland, Baltimore

place patented

United States: Maryland, Baltimore

See more items in

Medicine and Science: Mathematics

Adder

Science & Mathematics

National Museum of American History

subject

Mathematics

Record ID

nmah_690858

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-09c0-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa