R.C.Allen Model 35 Calculating Machine

Description:

This ten-key, non-printing electric pinwheel calculating machine has a black metal frame that is painted green under the keys. Two rows of black plastic keys are in front, a metal bar is on the left, three registers are above the keyboard, and a rod with sliding decimal markers is above the result and revolution registers. One may enter numbers up to nine digits long, record up to eight digits in the revolution register, and computer results of up to 13 digits.

The machine has an electric cord.

A mark on the front reads: “World FAMOUS” [/] 10 KEY CALCULATOR (/) AMERICAN AND SWEDISH PATENTS. Another mark there reads: R.C. Allen (/) MODEL ‘35’. A mark on the back reads: R.C.Allen (/) 10 KEY (/) CALCULATOR (/) FACIT SYSTEM (/) R.C. ALLEN BUSINESS MACHINES, INC. (/) GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.,U.S.A. (/) PATENTED (/) MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES (/) LICENSED UNDER FACIT PATENTS. A mark on the bottom reads: 29433 (/) MODEL 35

R. C. Allen, Inc. (later R. C. Allen Business Machines) was founded by Ralph C. Allen (1884–1967) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1932. By 1938 Allen was a distributor of Facit machines. It would distribute and manufacture cash registers, calculating machines, and typewriters. During World War II the firm began manufacturing aircraft instruments, and would come to focus on this business.

According to the donor, this machine was manufactured in 1948 and had an original cost of $397. It came from his personal collection of calculating machines.

References:

American Office Machines Research Service, vol. 3, 1938.

Date Made: 1948

Maker: R. C. Allen Business Machines, Inc.

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Michigan, Grand Rapids

Subject: Mathematics

Subject:

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Mathematics, Calculating Machines, Science & Mathematics

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of William L. Jackson

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: MA.335417Maker Number: 29433Accession Number: 319049Catalog Number: 335417

Object Name: calculating machine

Physical Description: steel (overall material)plastic (overall material)Measurements: overall: 16.8 cm x 28 cm x 25 cm; 6 5/8 in x 11 1/32 in x 9 27/32 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-0c72-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_690102

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.