Skip to main content

Search

My Visit
Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution

Site Navigation

  • Visit
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Maps and Brochures
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
      • Group Sales
  • What's On
    • Exhibitions
      • Current
      • Upcoming
      • Past
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
  • Explore
    • - Art & Design
    • - History & Culture
    • - Science & Nature
    • Collections
      • Open Access
    • Research Resources
      • Libraries
      • Archives
        • Smithsonian Institution Archives
        • Air and Space Museum
        • Anacostia Community Museum
        • American Art Museum
        • Archives of American Art
        • Archives of American Gardens
        • American History Museum
        • American Indian Museum
        • Asian Art Museum Archives
        • Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art
        • Hirshhorn Archive
        • National Anthropological Archives
        • National Portrait Gallery
        • Ralph Rinzler Archives, Folklife
        • Libraries' Special Collections
    • Podcasts
    • Stories
  • Learn
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
      • Art & Design Resources
      • Science & Nature Resources
      • Social Studies & Civics Resources
      • Professional Development
      • Events for Educators
      • Field Trips
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
      • Smithsonian Call Center
      • Ambassador Program
      • Museum Information Desk
      • Docent Programs
      • Behind-the-Scenes
      • Digital Volunteers
      • Participatory Science
  • About
    • Our Organization
      • Board of Regents
        • Members
        • Committees
        • Reading Room
        • Bylaws, Policies and Procedures
        • Schedules and Agendas
        • Meeting Minutes
        • Actions
        • Webcasts
        • Contact
      • Museums and Zoo
      • Research Centers
      • Cultural Centers
      • Education Centers
      • General Counsel
        • Legal History
        • Internships
        • Records Requests
          • Reading Room
        • Tort Claim
        • Subpoenas & Testimonies
        • Events
      • Office of Human Resources
        • Employee Benefits
        • How to Apply
        • Job Opportunities
        • Job Seekers with Disabilities
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • SI Civil Program
        • Contact Us
      • EEO & Small Business
        • EEO Complaint Process
        • Individuals with Disabilities
        • Small Business Program
          • Doing Business with Us
          • Contracting Opportunities
          • Additional Resources
        • Special Emphasis Program
      • Sponsored Projects
        • Policies
          • Combating Trafficking in Persons
          • Animal Care and Use
          • Human Research
        • Reports
        • Internships
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
      • Annual Reports
      • Metrics Dashboard
        • Dashboard Home
        • Virtual Smithsonian
        • Public Engagement
        • National Collections
        • Research
        • People & Operations
      • Strategic Plan
    • Newsdesk
      • News Releases
      • Media Contacts
      • Photos and Video
      • Media Kits
      • Fact Sheets
      • Visitor Stats
      • Secretary and Admin Bios
      • Filming Requests

The Portable Adding Machine

National Museum of American History

Object Details

distributor
Portable Adding Machine Company
Portable Adding Machine Company
Description
This manual adding machine has seven columns of nine plastic keys each, and a steel case painted black. There is a repeat/error lever on the left, and total/subtotal, non-add and non-print keys on the right. Numbers are set by pressing keys, and entered by turning a handle on the right side of the machine. The printing mechanism, black ribbon, and paper tape are at the back. The machine prints seven-digit totals. It has four rubber feet.
The machine is marked on the top: The (/) Portable. It is marked on the front: PORTABLE ADDING MACHINE CO. (/) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A. It is marked on a piece of paper pasted to the bottom: Guarantee (/) The Portable Adding Machine is fully guaranteed (/) against defective material and workmanship for (/) a period of one year from date of sale. (/) PORTABLE ADDING MACHINE CO. (/) B.E.Harris (/) President.
It was designed by Glenn J. Barrett, manufactured by the Corona Typewriter Company of Groton, New York, and sold by the Portable Adding Machine Company of Chicago. It was introduced in October 1924 and cost $65.00. By 1928, this machine was sold as the Corona by the Corona Typewriter Company.
Compare 2000.0221.01.
References:
E. Martin, The Calculating Machines (Die Rechenmaschinen), trans. P. A. Kidwell and M. R. Williams, Cambridge: MIT Press, 1992, p. 333.
J. H. McCarthy, The American Digest of Business Machines, Chicago: American Exchange Service, 1924, p. 52.
Business Machines and Equipment Digest,Chicago: Equipment Research Corporation, 1928, sec 3-2, p. 4.
Between 1923 and1933 Glenn J. Barrett of Grand Rapids, Michigan, took out a variety of U.S. patents for adding machine mechanisms which he assigned to the Portablee Adding Machine Company.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Victor Comptometer Corporation
1925
ID Number
MA.323608
accession number
250163
catalog number
323608
Object Name
adding machine
Physical Description
paper (overall material)
steel (overall material)
rubber (overall material)
plastic (overall material)
wood (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 20 cm x 24.6 cm x 34 cm; 7 7/8 in x 9 11/16 in x 13 3/8 in
place made
United States: Illinois, Chicago
place distributed
United States: Illinois, Chicago
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Mathematics
Adding Machines
Science & Mathematics
National Museum of American History
Subject
Mathematics
Record ID
nmah_690313
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-1264-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Related Content

  • 1925: A Year in the Collections

  • Adding Machines

    American History Museum
The Portable Adding Machine
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Footer logo

Link to homepage

Footer navigation

  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Get Involved
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • EEO & Small Business
  • Shop Online
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Social media links

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Sign up for Smithsonian e-news

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Email powered by BlackBaud (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use)
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Back to Top