geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: grave00 on Sat, 17 May 2014, 19:44:27

Title: adding machines
Post by: grave00 on Sat, 17 May 2014, 19:44:27

Anyone know of current or obtainable vintage adding machines that use mechanical keys.  I'd be looking for the closest equivalent to a modern tape adding machine.  I've found a couple at thrift stores with decent mechanical switches but too old to have LED readouts.  I think the one I found was a Sharp and the switch if I remember was like an upside down T. 

Title: Re: adding machines
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Mon, 19 May 2014, 16:35:35

I saw something really odd on Sunday — like an adding machine, but just number keys. I forget what it was supposed to have done. That one used these switches, which are maybe what you're thinking of:

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_vintage_tee_mount

I don't know any off-hand, but I felt sure that various vintage calculators have shown up with a variety of switches over at Deskthority. Not finding anything at the moment.

The other well-known "T" type is vintage Cherry:

https://plus.google.com/photos/113845661925823397356/albums/5681460096335006737

(I thought HaaTa might have one listed on his Google+ site, but it seems not.)

We're not really sure what those are, as Cherry M5/6/7 etc are really confusing.

Title: Re: adding machines
Post by: dorkvader on Mon, 19 May 2014, 18:03:04

Quote from: Daniel Beardsmore on Mon, 19 May 2014, 16:35:35

I saw something really odd on Sunday — like an adding machine, but just number keys.

Did it have just the ten numbers, or more than that.

If you look at the bud honeywell keypad that HaaTa had a bunch of (and found the spec sheet for!) there are options for numbers only. Then there are Hex entry pads, Telephone exchange dial pads, etc.

There are/were a lot of applications for just numeric entry without operands, though calculators are more common by far.

Title: Re: adding machines
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Mon, 19 May 2014, 18:29:52

It was yellow .........................

I don't remember honestly. The numbers, plus a handful of other fairly non-descript keys, in a curved mustard yellow metal case. I forget what it was for now.

Someone somewhere had a whole page of vintage calculators. I don't know that I follow what exactly the OP desires, but this page was fascinating -- the sheer number of PCBs in some of these machines.

Title: Re: adding machines
Post by: dorkvader on Mon, 19 May 2014, 18:54:53

http://oldcalculatormuseum.com/calcs.html

http://vintagecalculators.com/html/desk_electronic_calculators.html

The calculator museums are great to browse!