American Adder, 1914.

This impressive article is a comptometer or adding machine made in the early 20th century. It was manufactured in 1914 by the Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co., Chicago. The machine is in an impeccable museum condition, as if it had never been used before, and its design combines a great beauty and an excellent functionality. It is made of metal sheet with a solid wooden base, and nowadays it works like new. Its excellent condition and working order turn this comptometer into a museum piece, very decorative and full of charm.As stated before, these calculating machines are called comptometers. They were the first key-driven mechanical calculators, much faster and efficient than vintage arithmometers of pinwheel machines. The article we can see in these photographs was made by the Felt & Tarrant Manufacturing Company, founded in 1889 by Dorr Eugene Felt (who invented the comptometer and the comptograph) and Robert Tarrant. The firm remained a major player in the calculator industry until the mid-1970s.This particular piece has metal sheet case and is decorated with nice embossed motives at each side. The metal sheet boasts a lovely copper finish. The bakelite keys, black and ivory white (except for the red reset key) are in optimal condition and work softly and fluidly. The crank located on the right hand side is also perfectly preserved. The machine stands on a smart solid oak wooden plank with molded edges and a delicate glossy finish. Over the keyboard we can see a white-enameled metal plate with the manufacturers name and the patent numbers. These numbers are also embossed at the back, with their respective dates that go from July 19th, 1887 to Septembre 15th, 1914.We are looking at an almost unique piece, a beautiful comptometer in great condition that will delight the most demanding collector.Measurements: Width: 420 mm/16.5 in. Height: 250 mm/9.8 in.