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 7 items.
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
Burroughs Payroll Segregator
- Description
- In the first half of the 20th century, many workers were paid in cash. Businessmen needed to know the coins and bills they would need to meet their payroll. This device, invented by John Magnus of Burroughs, was designed to carry out such calculations. It has seven columns of black and white color-coded plastic keys. The keys in each column are numbered from 1 to 9. The front of the machine has ten sets of numeral wheels labeled with denominations of money from 1 cent to $10. Knobs on the right zero the wheels.
- A red paper tag attached to the object is marked: PATENT DEPT. (/) #45. The machine is marked on the front: BURROUGHS (/) PAY ROLL (/) SEGREGATOR. A metal tag attached to the base of the keyboard reads: B.A.M.CO. (/) MODEL (/) NO. 401.
- Compare to 1982.0194.12.
- According to the accession file, “This is the original model of Payroll Segregator from which the patent drawings were prepared . . .” The object was model #45 in the collection of the Patent Division of Burroughs Corporation.
- Reference:
- John Magnus, “Adding Machine,” U.S. Patent 1,699,540, filed January 21, 1921, issued January 22, 1929.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1920
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0794.11
- catalog number
- 1982.0794.11
- accession number
- 1982.0794
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Burroughs Pay Roll Segregator
- Description
- In the first half of the 20th century, many workers were paid in cash. Businessmen needed to know the coins and bills they would need to meet their payroll. This device, invented by John Magnus of Burroughs, was designed to carry out such calculations.
- The metal machine is painted black and green and has seven columns of round black and white color-coded plastic keys. The keys in each column are numbered from 1 to 9. The front of the machine has ten sets of numeral wheels labeled with denominations of money from 1 cent to $20. The key stems of the machine extend to the underside, and are covered on that end by round red plastic keys with no numbers on them. This form of the device could be placed atop the keys of an adding machine, which would record both the individual coins needed and totals. There are zeroing knobs on the right side. The machine has a black cover and a loose rod.
- A red paper tag attached to the object reads: PATENT DEPT. (/) #46. The machine is marked on the front: Burroughs (/) PAY ROLL (/) SEGREGATOR. A tag on the machine reads: NO 25. A metal tag attached to the object reads: DONATED TO (/) The Smithsonian Institution (/) by (/) Burroughs Corporation.
- Compare to 1982.0794.11. A letter in the accession file reports that “The Segregator machines were of extremely low volume production.”
- It was model #46 in the collection of the Patent Division of Burroughs Corporation.
- Reference:
- John Magnus, “Adding Machine,” U.S. Patent 1,699,540, filed January 21, 1921, issued January 22, 1929.
- Accession file 1982.0794.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1920
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0794.12
- catalog number
- 1982.0794.12
- accession number
- 1982.0794
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Burroughs Class 8 Adding Machine Section
- Description
- This model is a section of a Burroughs Class 8 adding machine. It has a metal frame that holds a steel mechanism as well as two banks (e.g., columns) of square white plastic keys. A third column of gray plastic keys has keys labeled: “ST:, “TOT:, “NA”, “X”, and “E”. The metal bottom has two rubber feet. There is a part of a carriage, one spool of ribbon, and part of a paper tape holder with no paper tape. A chrome bar attached at the base screws into a wooden stand with a felt bottom. The dimensions given do not include stand and bar. These measure: 22 cm. w. x 22 cm. d. x 19 cm. h.
- The Burroughs Class 8 was introduced in 1925. This is model #269 from the Patent Division of Burroughs Corporation.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1925
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0794.69
- catalog number
- 1982.0794.69
- accession number
- 1982.0794
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Calculator
- Description
- This stylus-operated non-printing seven-wheeled adding machine is made of steel painted black. Below each wheel is a disc with the digits from 0 to 9 printed close to the center. Each wheel has ten holes, one of which has been cut large enough to reveal a digit on the disc below. Numbers are entered by rotating wheels. Clockwise rotation adds a digit, counterclockwise subtracts. The result appears in the large holes of the wheels. The two rightmost and the two leftmost wheels are painted black. The three center ones are unpainted. This makes it easy to distinguish cents, dollars up to $999, and larger amounts. The machine is marked: THE CALCULATOR CO. (/) GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (/) PATD. The back of the instrument is covered with green felt. The silver-colored metal stylus resembles a nut pick. Documentation is stored separately.
- This example was donated to the Smithsonian by Richard J. De Prez, who inherited it from his father.
- Compare to Smallwood calculator (see MA*336184).
- Reference:
- Popular Science Monthly, July, 1920, vol. 97, p. 9 - advertising for agents - machine sold for $12.50. According to Robert Otnes, the Calculator Corporation was at the address in Grand Rapids given on 1982.0542.02 (trade literature relating to this object) in the 1917 Grand Rapids city directory. Before this it had a different name and afterward a different address. By 1920 it moved to a different building.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1920
- maker
- Calculator Corporation
- ID Number
- 1986.0542.01
- accession number
- 1986.0542
- catalog number
- 1986.0542.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Burroughs Calculator
- Description
- This full-keyboard printing manual machine has a metal case painted black with a green keyboard. It has nine columns of black and white plastic keys, with nine keys in each column. The odd-numbered keys are concave and the even-numbered keys are flat. Complementary digits are indicated. Ten windows at the front show the sum of numbers entered. A crank at the left zeros the digits in these windows. A single key in the upper left corner controls the numeral wheel seen through the tenth window.
- The machine is marked on the front, underlined: Burroughs Calculator. The serial number, on a plate on the bottom, is: 5-660768. It is marked on the back: Burroughs (/) THIS MACHINE PROTECTED BY U.S. AND FOREIGN PATENTS.
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company introduced the Burroughs Calculator in about 1911 to compete with the Comptometer. It sold as the Burroughs Class 5 from 1918.
- Compare MA*308344 and 1986.3039.01..
- Reference:
- American Digest of Business Machines, 1924, pp. 70, 71. This suggests that the machine is a Burroughs model 5205.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1920
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- 1990.0316.04
- accession number
- 1990.0316
- catalog number
- 333873
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Burroughs Class 3 Adding Machine
- Description
- This full keyboard printing manual adding machine has a metal frame painted black, a metal keyboard painted green, and nine columns of black and white color-coded plastic keys. A glass window at the front of the machine reveals nine number dials. A crank fits into the right side. Behind the keyboard is a 12” carriage with a narrow paper tape and a bell. The key tops for the five function keys are loose or missing.
- The machine is marked on a metal tag attached to the front: #3-674863. It is marked behind the keyboard: Burroughs. There is a line through the “o” in this mark.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1920
- maker
- Burroughs Adding Machine Company
- ID Number
- MA*335029
- accession number
- 312145
- maker number
- #3-674863
- catalog number
- 335029
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center