Computers & Business Machines

Imagine the loss, 100 years from now, if museums hadn't begun preserving the artifacts of the computer age. The last few decades offer proof positive of why museums must collect continuously—to document technological and social transformations already underway.

The museum's collections contain mainframes, minicomputers, microcomputers, and handheld devices. Computers range from the pioneering ENIAC to microcomputers like the Altair and the Apple I. A Cray2 supercomputer is part of the collections, along with one of the towers of IBM's Deep Blue, the computer that defeated reigning champion Garry Kasparov in a chess match in 1997. Computer components and peripherals, games, software, manuals, and other documents are part of the collections. Some of the instruments of business include adding machines, calculators, typewriters, dictating machines, fax machines, cash registers, and photocopiers

Samuel Ward Francis of New York, New York received patent number 18,504 on October 27, 1857 for this printing-machine patent model. The model has a light wooden frame with four piano keys, and a metal platen carriage system.
Description
Samuel Ward Francis of New York, New York received patent number 18,504 on October 27, 1857 for this printing-machine patent model. The model has a light wooden frame with four piano keys, and a metal platen carriage system. Samuel Francis made several attempts at an early typewriter prototypes, and held several patents (see object ME*180060) for early printing machines. This patent was related to the circular arrangement of the type hammers that allowed them to strike in the same place. Additionally, the patent covered the paper carrier moving by spring and catch so that paper would move whenever a letter on the key has been struck allowing for a continuous printing line.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1857-10-27
1857
patent date
1857-10-27
transfer
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
maker
Francis, Samuel Ward
ID Number
ME.251215
catalog number
251215
accession number
48865
patent number
18504
This is a typewriter patented by Dr. Samuel Ward Francis of Newport, Rhode Island in 1857.
Description
This is a typewriter patented by Dr. Samuel Ward Francis of Newport, Rhode Island in 1857. The patent received number 18,504 and claimed the principal improvements of arranging the hammers in a circle, a common printing center, with a key operation similar in manner to that of a piano. The typewriter consists of a wooden box with attached mechanism for typing. The ivory keyboard is similar to a piano's and extends the length of the front, earning the writing machine the “Literary Piano” nickname.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1857
maker
Francis, Dr. Samuel Ward
ID Number
ME.180060
catalog number
180060
accession number
21102
This typewriter patent model was used by Alfred Ely Beach of Stratford, Connecticut in his patent application that received patent number 15,164 on June 24, 1856.
Description
This typewriter patent model was used by Alfred Ely Beach of Stratford, Connecticut in his patent application that received patent number 15,164 on June 24, 1856. Beach’s patent was titled an “Improvement in Printing-Instruments for the Blind,” as the typewriter was meant to leave a raised letter on the paper, rather than an inked character. The machine could be modified to also print black letters with the addition of an ink belt. The typewriter printed on a single line on a slip of paper similar to ticker tape, with each typebar striking at a common center. The mother-of-pearl keys are arranged in three rows, with capital and lowercase letters each having separated keys. The typebars are contained in the veneered wooden box. The circular type basket is decorated with gilt-cast leaves.
Alfred Ely Beach was an inventor and publisher in New York during the mid -19th century. Along with his business partners Orson D. Munn and Salem H. Wales, Beach purchased Scientific American magazine in 1846. In 1847 Beach produced a precursor to this machine, which was eventually patented in 1856. This typewriter was never commercially produced. Beach is more commonly remembered as the inventor of New York City’s first subway, Beach’s Pneumatic Transit. Beach built a 300-foot prototype pneumatic powered subway in 1870 that was never expanded due to political roadblocks.
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1856
maker
Beach, Alfred E.
Kirchof, C.
ID Number
ME.312878
catalog number
312878
accession number
163196
John H. Cooper of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was awarded patent number 14,907 on May 20th, 1856 for this printing machine patent model.
Description
John H. Cooper of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was awarded patent number 14,907 on May 20th, 1856 for this printing machine patent model. Cooper describes his patent as a combination of the type radially arranged with a presser bar for carrying the paper to the type to receive the impression. The carriage is rather small and would have carried a smaller piece of paper similar to ticker tape. The radially arranged type must be moved and selected one-by-one to be typed onto the paper, in a manner similar in action to an old rotary telephone.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1856
patent date
1856-05-20
maker
Cooper, John H.
ID Number
ME.251211
catalog number
251211
patent number
14907
accession number
48865
patent number
14,907

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