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Powers Tabulating Machine Components

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Description
This object consists of two identical shaped steel pieces from the printer section of a Powers tabulating machine. Each carries ten pieces of type that fit into the arch of the piece. At the top is a 0, at the bottom a 9.
Powers took out patents for tabulating machines in the early 20th century. These pieces are similar but not identical to those shown in patents of 1917 and 1921, and to pieces from a Powers Accounting Machine Corporation parts catalog from 1923. They are more similar to drawings in a patent filed in 1926 by Joseph R. Merkle and assigned to Remington Rand, Inc., the successor firm to Powers Accounting Machine Company.
References:
Powers Accounting Machine Corporation, Powers Tabulating Equipment, Book 3, New York: Powers Accounting Machine Corporation, 1923, Plate 507, Plate 510. This document is 1992.3215.03.
James Powers, "Tabulator-Printer for Statistical Purposes," U.S. Patent 1,245,502, November 6, 1917.
James Powers, "Combined Perforating and Printing Tabulator Mechanism," U.S. Patent 1,388,299, August 23, 1921.
Joseph R. Merkle, "Tabulating Machine," U.S. Patent 1,884,072, October 25, 1932. This patent was filed March 27, 1926.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Thor Dockweiler
ca 1926
ID Number
1991.3180.02
nonaccession number
1991.3180
catalog number
1991.3180.02
Object Name
tabulating machine components
Physical Description
steel (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 1 cm x 13.5 cm x 18.1 cm; 13/32 in x 5 5/16 in x 7 1/8 in
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Mathematics
Computers & Business Machines
Tabulating Equipment
National Museum of American History
web subject
Mathematics
Record ID
nmah_690182
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-17ae-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Related Content

  • Tabulating Equipment

    American History Museum
Powers Tabulating Machine Component, Print Section
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.
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