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.
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