Science & Mathematics - Overview
The Museum's collections hold thousands of objects related to chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, and other sciences. Instruments range from early American telescopes to lasers. Rare glassware and other artifacts from the laboratory of Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen, are among the scientific treasures here. A Gilbert chemistry set of about 1937 and other objects testify to the pleasures of amateur science. Artifacts also help illuminate the social and political history of biology and the roles of women and minorities in science.
The mathematics collection holds artifacts from slide rules and flash cards to code-breaking equipment. More than 1,000 models demonstrate some of the problems and principles of mathematics, and 80 abstract paintings by illustrator and cartoonist Crockett Johnson show his visual interpretations of mathematical theorems.
"Science & Mathematics - Overview" showing 76 items.
Page 1 of 8
Burroughs Model 9 Adding Machine
- Description
- This full-keyboard manually operated printing adding machine has seven columns of color-coded number keys, with nine keys in each column. To the left of these are three rows of black keys with a key for each month and additional red number keys for days. To the right of the central number keys is a column of five keys for subtotal, total, non-add, repeat, and error. There is a lever below these marked “-” at the top and “+” at the bottom. The crank on the right has a wooden handle.
- At the top is a wide adjustable carriage with a ribbon and printing mechanism in front of it. The rightmost type bar is for symbols. The next seven type bars are for totals, subtotals, etc. The three leftmost type bars are for days of the week and months. The machine has a serrated edge above the platen for tearing the end of the paper tape, an adjustable paper guide behind the platen, and a dowel mounted at the back to hold a roll of paper. The ribbon and its spools are covered, with screws holding the spool containers in place. The serial number, stamped on the keyboard below the keys, is: 9A67626.
- The machine was used at the Freda Fish Corporation, a family-owned wholesale and retail fish business in New York City. The motto of the business was “We handle anything that swims, clings, or crawls.”
- References:
- Office Machines Research, Inc., section 3.21.
- Accession file.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1934
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0058.01
- accession number
- 1981.0058
- catalog number
- 1981.0058.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Burroughs Model 9 Adding Machine
- Description
- This full-keyboard manually operated printing adding machine has a metal frame painted black, a metal mechanism and handle, a green felt keyboard, and a glass front. There are six columns of number keys, with nine keys in each column. Some plastic key covers are missing. There are non-add, subtotal, and total keys. The sum appears on number wheels visible through the glass front of the machine and prints on a 2-1/2 inch paper tape at the back which is not visible. The machine is marked on the front: BURROUGHS (/) DETROIT, MICHIGAN. It is also marked there: No.6-157907.
- Alfred Harrell, the donor of the machine, was a Smithsonian photographer.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1912
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0368.01
- accession number
- 1981.0368
- catalog number
- 1981.0368.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Burroughs Class 4 Adding Machine
- Description
- This full keyboard printing electric adding machine has a metal frame painted black and ten columns of color-coded black, white, and red plastic keys. It has function keys left of the number keys and an addition bar and other function keys to the right. The keyboard is covered with green felt. There is a row of number dials at the front of the machine, as well as a row of five small dials between the keyboard and the lower dials on the left. The machine has a motor underneath it, and a wide carriage.
- The printing mechanism is at the back. It has 11 type bars (one of these is probably for symbols). Part of the back cover is missing and there is no stand. The machine is marked on a red tag attached to the object: PATENT DEPT. (/) #34. Thus it is model #34 in the collection of the Patent Division of Burroughs Corporation.
- The Burroughs Class 4 was introduced in 1912. This model demonstrates improvements in the double ribbon mechanism invented by John H. Magnus, a Burroughs inventor.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1912
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0794.03
- catalog number
- 1982.0794.03
- accession number
- 1982.0794
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Burroughs Adding Machine Section
- Description
- This is one of a series of adding machines and adding machine models prepared by the Patent Department of the Burroughs Adding Machine Company. It has a steel mechanism with octagonal black plastic keys and plastic numeral wheel rims. Keys for odd digits are concave, those for even digits are flat. Complementary digits are indicated on the keys. The object consists of a single bank of nine plastic keys with numbers and complements of numbers indicated. There are two numeral wheels and a spring-driven lever. Described in accession file as “Full Stroke & Key-Lock Device” by J. J. Morse, it is one of seven models (1982.0794.04 through 1982.0794.10) that formed Burroughs Patent Dept. 42.
- The machine is marked on a metal tag on the side: B.A.M. CO. (/) MODEL (/) NO. 418.
- John J. Morse of Cleveland, Ohio, took out U.S. Patent 1,510,951 for a “key-driven calculating machine” on October 7, 1924 (application date October 5, 1923), and assigned this patent to Burroughs Adding Machine Company. His patent was concerned with preventing incomplete key action, and hence erroneous calculations, on a key-driven adding machine.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1920
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0794.04
- catalog number
- 1982.0794.04
- accession number
- 1982.0794
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Adding Machine Section, Burroughs Model 534
- Description
- This is one of a series of adding machines and adding machine models prepared by the Patent Department of the Burroughs Adding Machine Company. It is is a model for a key lock full stroke device for a key-driven adding machine. It is a steel mechanism with octagonal white plastic keys and two numeral wheels rimmed with black plastic. Keys for odd digits are concave, those for even digits are flat. Complementary digits are indicated on the keys. There are nine key stems and eight keys (the “9” key is missing).
- A red tag attached to the object reads: PATENT (/) MODEL (/) No. 534. A metal tag on the side reads: B.A.M.CO. (/) MODEL (/) NO. 534
- Objects 1982.0794.04 through 1982.0794.10 were received together as Burroughs Patent model 42. This object is described in accession file as an invention of Walter J. Pasinski of Burroughs. Pasinski and other Burroughs inventors filed several patents for key-driven adding machines between 1911 and 1929.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1920
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0794.05
- accession number
- 1982.0794
- catalog number
- 1982.0794.05
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Adding Machine Section, Burroughs Model 534a
- Description
- This is one of a series of adding machines and adding machine models prepared by the Patent Department of the Burroughs Adding Machine Company. It is a steel mechanism for an adding machine with a column of 9 octagonal white plastic keys and two numeral wheels. Keys for odd digits are concave, and for even digits, flat. Complementary digits are indicated on the keys. Mechanism for “9” key only.
- A red tag attached to the object reads: PATENT (/) MODEL (/) No. 534A. A metal tag on the side reads: MODEL ROOM (/) 534A.
- Objects 1982.0794.04 through 1982.0794.10 were received together as Burroughs Patent model 42. This object is described in accession file as an invention of Walter J. Pasinski of Burroughs. Pasinski and other Burroughs inventors filed several patents for key-driven adding machines between 1911 and 1929.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1920
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0794.06
- accession number
- 1982.0794
- catalog number
- 1982.0794.06
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Adding Machine Section, Burroughs Model 581
- Description
- This is one of a series of adding machines and adding machine models prepared by the Patent Department of the Burroughs Adding Machine Company. It is a model of a key lock for adding machines invented by Frederick Dame. It includes a steel mechanism with one white plastic key, two key stems without keys, and two black-plastic rimmed numeral wheels. A complete set of nine white plastic keys with key stems is attached to the model. All the keys are octagonal. Keys for odd digits are concave, and flat for even digits. Complementary digits are indicated on the keys.
- A metal tag attached to the object reads: B.A.M.CO. MODEL (/) NO. 581.
- Objects 1982.0794.04 through 1982.0794.10 were received together as Burroughs Patent model 42.
- Reference:
- Frederick Dame, “Key Mechanism for Calculating Machines,” U.S. Patent 1,791,265, filed August 12, 1929, granted February 3, 1931.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1929
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0794.07
- accession number
- 1982.0794
- catalog number
- 1982.0794.07
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Adding Machine Section, Burroughs Model 653
- Description
- This is one of a series of adding machines and adding machine models prepared by the Patent Department of the Burroughs Adding Machine Company. This model of part of an adding machine is a steel mechanism with one column of nine octagonal black plastic keys and two numeral wheels with black plastic rims. Keys for odd digits are concave, and flat for even digits. Complementary digits are indicated on the keys. A part of the right side is bent outward at the front. Several pieces are loose but not detached.
- A metal tag attached to the object reads: B.A.M.CO. (/) MODEL (/) No. 653. it is stamped on the side: 1.A 3 - 31- ‘25.
- Objects 1982.0794.04 through1982.0794.10 were received together as Burroughs Patent model 42. A red paper tag received with this group of objects reads: PATENT DEPT (/) #42.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1925
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0794.08
- accession number
- 1982.0794
- catalog number
- 1982.0794.08
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Adding Machine Section, Burroughs Model 656
- Description
- This is one of a series of adding machines and adding machine models prepared by the Patent Department of the Burroughs Adding Machine Company. It is a model of a steel mechanism for an adding machine that includes one column of eight white octagonal plastic keys (one key missing) and one numeral wheel with black plastic rim. Keys for odd digits are concave, and for even digits, flat. Complementary digits are indicated on the keys. A black metal piece covers part of the numeral wheel and has a window cut in it to show the number. A flat rod painted orange can be moved up to cover part of this window.
- It is marked on a metal tag attached to the object: B.A.M.CO. (/) MODEL (/) No. 656. It is stamped on the side: 2A. 3 - 25 - ‘26 11 - 25 ‘25.
- Objects 1982.0794.04 through1982.0794.10 were received together as Burroughs Patent model 42.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1925
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0794.09
- accession number
- 1982.0794
- catalog number
- 1982.0794.09
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Adding Machine Section, Burroughs Model 903
- Description
- This is one of a series of adding machines and adding machine models prepared by the Patent Department of the Burroughs Adding Machine Company. It is a steel mechanism for part of a key-driven adding machine. There are a one column of nine octagonal white plastic keys and two numeral wheels with black plastic rim. Keys for odd digits are concave, and for even digits, flat. Complementary digits are indicated on the keys. According to the accession file, this is an invention of Walter J. Pasinski. It compels a full stroke on keys.
- A metal tag attached to the object reads: B.A.M.CO. (/) MODEL (/) No. 903.
- Objects 1982.0794.04 through 1982.0794.10 received together as Burroughs Patent model 42.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1920
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0794.10
- accession number
- 1982.0794
- catalog number
- 1982.0794.10
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
- Next Page