Tchoty, or Russian Abacus

Description:

This Russian abacus, or tchoty has a well-finished wooden frame, eight metal rods for carrying the beads, and plastic beads that move along the rods. Seven rods have four red beads, two purple beads, and then another four red beads. The other rod (the fourth from the bottom) has one red bead, two purple beads, and then another red bead. Loose inside the paper box are a small gray slip of paper and a larger beige paper, which appears to be a sales receipt.

This abacus was purchased in August 1965 by George W. Sims of California. Sims, who was born in about 1898, was a tax collector, certified public accountant, world traveller, and collector. Handwritten notations on the cardboard box in which the instrument was received indicate when it was purchased and state that it came from Smolensk in the Russian SSR, and cost the equivalent of 61 American cents. Documentation received in the same accession as the abacus (1988.0489.02) relates to the Chinese abacus, not this one.

Date Made: 1965

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: Russia: Smolenskaya Oblast’, Smolensk

Subject: MathematicsRussia

Subject:

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Mathematics, Abacus, Science & Mathematics

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of George W. Sims

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1988.0489.01Catalog Number: 1988.0489.01Accession Number: 1988.0489

Object Name: abacus

Physical Description: metal (overall material)plastic (overall material)paper (overall material)wood (overall material)Measurements: overall: 4.6 cm x 13 cm x 19.5 cm; 1 13/16 in x 5 1/8 in x 7 11/16 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-0872-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_690536

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.