Counter from a Hollerith Tabulating Machine

Description:

This is a single counter from a Hollerith tabulating machine. It has square brass pieces on top and bottom, with a brass mechanism in between. A paper-covered metal dial on top is divided around the edge into 100 equal parts. Two hands are on the face of the dial. Advancing the small hand by 100 (one revolution) advances the large hand by one. Hence the counter can read up to 9,999.

A mark around the center of the dial reads: THE HOLLERITH (/) ELECTRIC TABULATING SYSTEM (/) PATENTED, 1889.

Compare to the dials on MA.312895.

Date Made: ca 1890

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: District of Columbia, Washington

Web Subject: Mathematics

Subject:

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Mathematics, Computers & Business Machines, Tabulating Equipment

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of the Estate of Herman Hollerith, Jr.

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: MA.335638Catalog Number: 335638Accession Number: 1977.0114

Object Name: counter

Physical Description: paper (overall material)brass (overall material)Measurements: overall: 7.5 cm x 7.5 cm x 6 cm; 2 15/16 in x 2 15/16 in x 2 3/8 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-090f-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_690548

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