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 6 items.
Dalton Model 181-4 Adding Machine
- Description
- This gray-green manually operated ten-key printing adding machine has two rows of white plastic number keys, including complementary numbers for subtraction. There are multiply and non-add keys on the left, and backspace and subtract keys on the right.
- The multiply key acts like a repeat key - multiplication is strictly by repeated addition. The place indicator is above the keyboard, with a metal correction key to the left of it. Above and to the right are release, total, and subtotal keys. The printing mechanism and “4”” carriage are toward the back. The ribbon is black. The non-print key is next to the ribbon.
- There is a place for a 2-1/2” paper tape, but no paper tape. Above the platen is a serrated edge to tear the paper. A zero value appears before a total. The metal crank with wooden handle is on the right. There are metal feet, but no evidence of any rubber padding.
- The machine is marked on the front: Dalton (/) ADDING, (/) LISTING AND (/) CALCULATING MACHINE. The serial number below the crank is: NO170913.
- This example came to the Smithsonian from Immaculata School in Washington, D. C.
- Compare to MA*333874 and MA*333402.
- This closely resembles the Model 181-4 machine described in The Business Machines and Equipment Digest, about. 1928, Sec 3-1, p. 14, 19. This was the “Special $100 Machine.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1925
- maker
- Dalton Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1978.2479.04
- maker number
- 170913
- accession number
- 1978.2479
- catalog number
- 336932
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Dalton Super Model Adding Machine
- Description
- This ten-key printing manual adding machine has a steel frame painted black and ten white plastic number keys in two rows. Complementary red digits on the number keys are for subtraction. Right of the number keys are non-add and multiply keys. To the left are a tabulating key (used for automatic carriage shifting in double column work), a subtract key,and a back space key. Above the keyboard is a place indicator for up to 13 places. Left of this is a correction bar to clear entries. Total, subtotal, and release keys are mounted above and to the right. One lever that may be set on “HAND” or “MOTOR”, another for split or normal addition.
- A silver-colored metal window isabove the keyboard, with printing mechanism and non-print key behind. The red and black ribbon moves in front of the 9” carriage. This carriage has a bell on the left side. The paper tape holder and paper tape are behind the carriage. The metal handle is on the right. It has a wooden knob once covered with plastic. Metal clips placed in the back of the carriage set the tab stops. One clip has detached from the carriage. Printing is either single or double-spaced.
- The machine is marked on the front: DALTON (/) CINCINNATI, OHIO. (/) U.S.A. It is marked on the carriage: Dalton (/) ADDING, (/) LISTING AND (/) CALCULATING MACHINE. The serial number, on a tag on the right side under the handle, is: 2-102212.
- Reference:
- J. H. McCarthy, The American Digest of Business Machines, Chicago: American Exchange Service, 1924, pp. 40, 536.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1921
- maker
- Dalton Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1986.0977.01
- maker number
- 2-102212
- accession number
- 1986.0977
- catalog number
- 1986.0977.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Dalton Little Giant Adding Machine
- Description
- This ten-key printing manual machine has a steel frame painted black, a metal mechanism, and ten white plastic numeral keys in two rows. Complementary digits on the keys are in red. Numbers up to seven digits long may be entered. There are black plastic non-add, multiply, back space, subtract, total, and subtotal keys, and a metal correction bar. Above the number keys is a place indicator. The printing mechanism has a black tape and a non-print key. Behind it is a 6 inch carriage, with paper tape. Results up to seven digits long may be printed. A serrated edge above the platen is for tearing off the paper tape. The handles of the carriage and crank are of a red substance that is corroding. There are four rubber feet.
- The machine is marked on the front: Dalton (/) CINCINNATI, OHIO. (/) U.S.A. It is marked under the crank: NO124864. It is marked on the back: DALTON (/) ADDING-CALCULATING MACHINE (/) PATENTED.
- According to the accession file, the machine was purchased secondhand in about 1938 for use in the Partello construction business. It was used until the owners retired in 1960.
- Reference:
- J. H. McCarthy, The American Digest of Business Machines, Chicago: American Exchange Service, 1924, pp. 536.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1923
- maker
- Dalton Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1988.3122.01
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3122
- maker number
- 124864
- catalog number
- 1988.3122.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Dalton Model 181-4 Adding Machine
- Description
- This ten-key printing manual adding machine has a brown case and two rows of white plastic keys with digits and complementary numbers for subtraction. Multiply and non-add keys are on the left, and backspace and subtract keys on the right. The place indicator is above the keyboard, with a metal correction key to the left of it. Above and to the right are release, total, and subtotal keys. The printing mechanism and narrow carriage are toward the back; the ribbon prints in both red and black. In addition to entries and totals, the machine prints symbols that indicate totals and subtotals. The non-print key is next to the ribbon. A 2-1/2” paper tape is in place. A serrated edge above the platen is used to tear the paper tape. The metal crank with wooden handle is on the right. The handle is covered with a brown cracking substance. There are four rubber feet. The machine accepts entries of up to eight digits and prints results of up to eight digits.
- The machine is marked on the front: Dalton (/) CINCINNATI, OHIO. (/) U.S.A. It is marked below the crank with the serial number: NO209439. It is marked on the place indicator with the model number: 181. It is marked on the inside of the cover: 9-7-64.
- This closely resembles the Model 181-4 machine described in The Business Machines and Equipment Digest, ca. 1928, Sec 3-1, pp. 14, 19. This was the “Special $100 Machine.”
- Compare to MA*336932 and MA*334402.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1928
- maker
- Dalton Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1990.0316.03
- accession number
- 1990.0316
- maker number
- 209439
- catalog number
- 333874
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Dalton Extra Special Adding Machine
- Description
- This ten-key printing manually operated adding machine has an black aluminum frame with a steel keyboard painted green. The white plastic digit keys are arranged in two rows and marked with digits and their complements (complements are in red). The three red function keys are makred repeat, total, and correction. The metal crank with handle is on the right side. The color-coded place indicator is above the keyboard. One may enter numbers up to nine digits long and print up to nine digit results. The printing mechanism, which held a two-colored ribbon, is on the top of the machine. The “four-inch” carriage has a paper tape dispenser behind it, but no paper tape. Above the platen is a serrated edge for tearing the paper tape. The machine has four rubber feet.
- A mark on the front reads: Dalton (/) ADDING, (/) LISTING AND (/) CALCULATING MACHINE. Another mark there reads: STOCKWELL & BINNEY. A brass tag attached at the bottom front reads: Dalton (/) ADDING (/) MACHINE (/) CO. (/) REG. U.S. OFF. It also reads: PAT. SEPT. 24, 1912 NO. 1039130 (/) PAT. DEC. 31, 1912 NO. 1049057 (/) PAT. DEC. 31, 1912 NO. 1049093 (/) OTHER PATENTS ISSUED AND PENDING (/) CINCINNATI,OHIO(EAST NORWOOD). A metal tag attached at the bottom on the back gives the serial number: NO 73430.
- The machine was transferred to the Smithsonian collections from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Table Mountain, California. Stockwell & Binney is the name of a California chain of stationery stores.
- Compare to MA*335299 (that machine lacks a place indicator).
- Reference:
- J. H. McCarthy, American Digest of Business Machines, Chicago: American Exchange Service, 1924, p. 536.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1920
- maker
- Dalton Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- MA*323329
- accession number
- 251557
- maker number
- 73430
- catalog number
- 323329
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Dalton Adding Machine
- Description
- This ten-key printing manually operated adding machine is in a gray steel case. It has ten white plastic number keys in two rows. These keys have complementary numbers for subtraction, and eight brown plastic function keys. The NON (/) ADD and MULTI-(/)PLY keys are left of the number keys, the BACK (/) SPACE and SUB-(/)TRACT keys are right of the number keys. There are TOTAL, RELEASE, and SUB (/) TOTAL keys on the upper right, and a correction bar on the left. There is a NON (/) PRINT key next to the black ribbon.
- A place indicator is above the number keys. Above and behind this are the ribbon, 4” carriage, and paper tape holder. There is no paper tape, but there is a serrated edge for tearing the paper tape. The Dalton mark on the back has been painted over. A metal crank with wooden handle is on the right side.
- The serial number given under the crank is: NO 174012. A label applied to the front and back of the machine reads: Eastern Typewriter Co. Office & School Supplies 109-111 W. Barnes St. Wilson N.C. Phone 4504.
- According to a note in the divisional accession file, the object was salvaged from a garage in Fremont, N.C., about 1968.
- Compare to MA*336932 and MA*333874.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1926
- maker
- Dalton Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- MA*334402
- accession number
- 314559
- maker number
- 174012
- catalog number
- 334402
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center