Computers & Business Machines
Imagine the loss, 100 years from now, if museums hadn't begun preserving the artifacts of the computer age. The last few decades offer proof positive of why museums must collect continuously—to document technological and social transformations already underway.
The museum's collections contain mainframes, minicomputers, microcomputers, and handheld devices. Computers range from the pioneering ENIAC to microcomputers like the Altair and the Apple I. A Cray2 supercomputer is part of the collections, along with one of the towers of IBM's Deep Blue, the computer that defeated reigning champion Garry Kasparov in a chess match in 1997. Computer components and peripherals, games, software, manuals, and other documents are part of the collections. Some of the instruments of business include adding machines, calculators, typewriters, dictating machines, fax machines, cash registers, and photocopiers
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Pituitary Liquid, Obstetrical, Liquor Pituitarii, .5 cc
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1928
- maker
- Armour and Company
- ID Number
- MG.M-02671.02
- catalog number
- M-02671.02
- accession number
- 106774
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1923-05-11
- plate date
- 1921-06-21
- series date
- 1902
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- White, Frank
- Register of the Treasury
- Elliott, William S.
- issuing bank
- West Englewood National Bank of Chicago
- depicted
- Harrison, Benjamin
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.007323
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.007323
- bank charter number
- 12004
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1929-02-01
- plate date
- 1911-07-12
- series date
- 1902
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- McClung, Thomas Lee
- Register of the Treasury
- Napier, James Carroll
- issuing bank
- National Bank of the Republic of Chicago
- depicted
- Harrison, Benjamin
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.006289
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.006289
- bank charter number
- 4605
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Aldine Square, Chicago
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1943
- 1946
- 1945
- ca 1940
- ca 1941
- 1942
- 1938
- 1923
- 1934
- 1922
- 1914
- maker
- Levy, Beatrice Sophia
- ID Number
- 2016.0380.25
- catalog number
- 2016.0380.25
- accession number
- 2016.0380
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Violano Virtuoso Roll #2550
- Description (Brief)
This music roll was made by Mills Novelty Company in Chicago, Illinois, about 1922-1925. It is Roll #2550, playable in a Violano Virtuoso player. The tune list for this roll is as follows:
Roll #2550 - Hand Played Classical Roll
9661: Medley of Old Favorites, arr. by J.F. Stelzl, My Old Kentucky Home, The Mocking Bird, Wearin' of the Green, Turkey In the Straw, Comin' Thru the Rye, Old Irish Washerwoman, Annie Laurie, Dixie – Finale
9662: Sometine from "Sometime" (song), Friml-Young, copyright 1918, G. Schirmer
9663: Somewhere a Voice Is Calling (ballad), A.F. Tate, copyright 1911, Harms, Inc.
9665: Every Little Movement from "Madame Sherr" (song), Hauerbach-Hoscher, copyright 1909, M. Witmark- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1922-1925
- maker
- Mills Novelty Company
- ID Number
- MI.73.11
- accession number
- 289515
- catalog number
- 73.11
- maker number
- 2550
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1929-02-21
- plate date
- 1911-07-12
- series date
- 1902
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- McClung, Thomas Lee
- Register of the Treasury
- Napier, James Carroll
- issuing bank
- National Bank of the Republic of Chicago
- depicted
- McKinley, William
- McCulloch, Hugh
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.006290
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.006290
- bank charter number
- 4605
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
The Detroit News Building The World's Greatest Newspaper Plant
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1920
- graphic artist
- Teich, Curt
- ID Number
- 2017.0054.01
- catalog number
- 2017.0054.01
- accession number
- 2017.0054
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Violano Virtuoso Roll #2038
- Description (Brief)
This music roll was made by Mills Novelty Company in Chicago, Illinois, about 1922-1925. It is Roll #2038, playable in a Violano Virtuoso player. The tune list for this roll is as follows:
Roll #2038 - Hand Played Dance Roll
8638: Gray Morn (fox trot), J. Morris Ward & Clinton Standish, copyright 1921, Forster Music Publishers, Inc.
8639: Sweet Man O' Mine (fox trot), Roy Turk & J. Russell Robinson, copyright 1921, Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co.
8640: By the Old Ohio Shore (waltz), Mary Earl, copryght 1921, Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc.
8641: Eddie Leonard Blues (fox trot), Val & Ernie Stanton, copyright 1922, Edward B. Marks Music Co.
8642: Thrills (fox trot), Eugene West, copyright 1921, Triangle Music Pub. Co.- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1922-1925
- maker
- Mills Novelty Company
- ID Number
- MI.73.05
- accession number
- 289515
- catalog number
- 73.05
- maker number
- 2038
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Violano Virtuoso Roll #2846
- Description (Brief)
This music roll was made by Mills Novelty Company in Chicago, Illinois, about 1928-1929. It is Roll #2846, playable in a Violano Virtuoso player. The tune list for this roll is as follows:
Roll #2846 - Record Breaking Dance Tunes
14077: Rose of Yesterday (fox trot), Irving Berlin, copyright 1928, Irving Berlin
14078: You Took Advantage of Me from "Present Arms" (fox trot), Fields, Hart & Rodgers, copyright 1928, Harms, Inc.
14079: Out of the Tempest (waltz), Edward Grossman & Ted Ward, copyright 1928, Harms, Inc.
14080: Sonny Boy (fox trot), Al Jolson, De Sylva, Brown & Henderson, copyright 1928, De Sylva, Brown & Henderson)
14081: What D'ya Say from "George White's Scandals" (fox trot), De Sylva, Brown & Henderson, copyright 1928, De Sylva, Brown & Henderson- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1928-1929
- maker
- Mills Novelty Company
- ID Number
- MI.73.20
- accession number
- 289515
- catalog number
- 73.20
- maker number
- 2846
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1924-08-23
- plate date
- 1910-03-17
- series date
- 1902
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- McClung, Thomas Lee
- Register of the Treasury
- Vernon, William Tecumseh
- issuing bank
- Washington Park National Bank of Chicago
- depicted
- Harrison, Benjamin
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.006160
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.006160
- bank charter number
- 3916
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Violano Virtuoso Roll #2555
- Description (Brief)
This music roll was made by Mills Novelty Company in Chicago, Illinois, about 1926-1927. It is Roll #2555, playable in a Violano Virtuoso player. The tune list for this roll is as follows:
Roll #2555 - Hand Played Variety Roll
10689: Dear Old Girl (ballad), Buck-Morse
10401: Old Timers: Annie Roonie, Put On Your Old Gray Bonnet, Down By the Old Mill Stream, Say Au Revoir, But Not Goodbye
10690: Kilima, Hawaiaan Waltz, Keoki Awai
10691: Siegmund's Love Song from "Die Walkure" (operatic), Richard Wagner
10692: Poor Papa (blues), Rose-woods, copyright 1926, Irving Berlin- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1926-1927
- maker
- Mills Novelty Company
- ID Number
- MI.73.12
- accession number
- 289515
- catalog number
- 73.12
- maker number
- 2555
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1927-01-06
- plate date
- 1911-07-12
- series date
- 1902
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- McClung, Thomas Lee
- Register of the Treasury
- Napier, James Carroll
- issuing bank
- National Bank of the Republic of Chicago
- depicted
- Harrison, Benjamin
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.006278
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.006278
- bank charter number
- 4605
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Pantograph Sold by the Frederick Post Company, Model 1495
- Description
- A pantograph is an instrument used to duplicate drawings, at different scales if need be. This example consists of four wooden arms held together with pins and a screw-eye with a wooden anchor support under one arm. Two metal screw-eyes are placed in holes which are numbered from 1 to 10. There is a tracer point in one arm, but there no longer is a pencil point.
- A mark stamped on one of the wooden bars reads: 1495 (/) POSTS. Below this is stamped an image of an eagle clutching a shield that is stamped P. This trademark appeared on the first page of the Frederick Post Company Catalog in 1903. By 1921, another trademark was used.
- The pantograph is number 1495 in the catalog of The Frederick Post Company. The company was started by Frederick Post (1862-1936), a native of Hamburg who emigrated to the United States in 1885 and soon settled in Chicago. By the time of the 1900 U.S. Census, he was a manufacturer of artist's materials there. Post imported drawing instruments and slide rules as well as manufacturing them. Whether his firm made this pantograph is not known.
- The instrument is from the estate of the American inventor of tabulating machines Herman Hollerith, Jr. In 1889, Hollerith introduced a device for punching cards for tabulating machines that was called a pantograph card punch. This pantograph dates from after that invention.
- For information about the pantograph card punch, see MA.312896.
- References:
- U. S. Census 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930.
- Catalogs of the Frederick Post Company.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1903-1922
- ID Number
- 1977.0114.04
- accession number
- 1977.0114
- catalog number
- 335636
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- BEP certification date
- 1926-02-15
- plate date
- 1911-07-12
- series date
- 1902
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- McClung, Thomas Lee
- Register of the Treasury
- Napier, James Carroll
- issuing bank
- National Bank of the Republic of Chicago
- depicted
- Harrison, Benjamin
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.006274
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.006274
- bank charter number
- 4605
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Tonsillotome
- Description
- The Sluder-Arrowsmith Tonsil Guillotine had a round opening as opposed to an oval ring. The form was designed by Greenfield Sluder (1865-1928), an ear, nose and throat physician in St Louis; modified by Hubert Arrowsmith (1865-1931), an ear, nose and throat physician in Brooklyn; and manufactured by V. Mueller & Co., of Chicago
- Ref: H. Arrowsmith, “Modification of the Sluder Tonsillotome,” The Laryngoscope 24 (1914): 700.
- “Hubert Arrowsmith, Physician, Succumbs,” New York Times (Aug. 10, 1931), p. 15.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- about 1924
- maker
- Mueller, V.
- ID Number
- 1977.0808.008
- catalog number
- 1977.0808.008
- accession number
- 1977.0808
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Victory-Mail Packet
- Description
- Physical Description
- Packet of blue-gray paper with a red border bearing the "V-mail" logo and information.
- General History
- During World War II, V-Mail became a popular way for soldiers and their loved ones at home to correspond. V-mail was written on specially designed sheets— a combination letter and envelope. These sheets were sent to the government where they were reduced to thumbnail size on microfilm. The microfilm was flown overseas and then developed at a lab close to the recipient's position. The V-mail letter-sheets, now about one-quarter of their original size, were mailed and delivered to the soldiers or their families back home. The development of the V-Mail system reduced the time it took a soldier to receive a letter by a month— from six weeks by boat to twelve days or less by air.
- However, the main advantage of V-Mail was its compact nature. Reduction in the size and weight of the letters translated into more space for crucial military supplies on cargo planes. One roll of film weighing about seven ounces could hold over 1,500 letters. Putting that another way, two pounds of microfilm replaced 100 pounds of letters! Over a billion letters were sent via V-Mail between 1942 and 1945. In all, about 556.5 million pieces of V-Mail were sent from the United States to military post offices and over 510 million pieces were received from military personnel abroad. Think of it as the earliest form of e-mail.
- maker
- Stanley Wessel & Company
- ID Number
- 1992.3030.18
- catalog number
- 1992.3030.18
- nonaccession number
- 1992.3030
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
All who work seriously celebrate Labor Day
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1923
- ID Number
- 1989.0340.01
- accession number
- 1989.0340
- catalog number
- 1989.0340.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Medal of Honor U.S.A. "For Valor"
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- circa 1920
- maker
- Quirk & Co.
- ID Number
- 1996.0197.224
- catalog number
- 1996.0197.224
- accession number
- 1996.0197
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Partola
- Description
- The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative. This superior laxative and ideal purifying candy is most pleasant and effective for young and old.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- after 1923
- copyright date (on packaging)
- 1919
- maker
- Partola Products Co.
- ID Number
- 1981.0170.053
- accession number
- 1981.0170
- catalog number
- 1981.0170.053
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Cigarette Box
- Description
- Cylindrical, repousse chased container with a rounded-edge, friction-fit cover having an empty boss or domed C-scroll reserve at center. Rococo-style leafy volutes and flowers envelop body and cover. Underside of flat bottom is struck with three, small incuse marks around edge, "STERLING", a five-petal stemmed flower with script "D" crowned by a fleur-de-lis motif, and "SPAULDING & CO." Cover not marked.
- Made for Spaulding & Co. of Chicago, IL (in business, 1888-1973) by William B. Durgin Co. of Concord, NH, and Providence, RI (in business, 1853-1931; purchased by Gorham in 1924). Started as Spaulding & Co. by Henry Abiram Spaulding as a successor firm to S. Hoard & Co.; purchased by Gorham and named changed to Spaulding-Gorham Inc., 1920-1943; named changed back to Spaulding & Co. following its purchase by Gordon Lang. Also operated a Paris branch (catering to an American clientele) in the early 20th century.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date sold
- 1888 - ca 1920
- ID Number
- DL.61.0308
- catalog number
- 61.0308
- accession number
- 200122
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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- Amusements 33
- Music 33
- Musical instruments 32
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-IL-box 6 28
- Mathematics 25
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-IL-box 13 24
- Health & Medicine 23
- Science 22
- NNC-Certified Proofs-Face-IL-box 12 11
- Adding Machines 10
- Sports 10
- Beauty and Health 8
- Women's Health 8
- Furnishings 7
- Antibody Initiative: Veterinary Vaccines and Serums 6
- Baseball 6
- Laxatives 6
- Money 6
- Photography 6
- The Antibody Initiative 6
-
object type
- Certified Proof 65
- Exchange Medium 65
- Face 65
- Money 65
- certified proof 65
- Prints 21
- biological 19
- Liquor Pituitarii 18
- Liquor Pituitarii; Biological Extracts; Biologicals; Drugs; Liquid 18
- biological extract, pituitary 18
- bookplate 13
- music roll 13
- Medicine 11
- Drawings 8
- Photographs 7
- adding machine 7
- player piano roll 7
- biological, veterinary 6
- note 6
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- date
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set name
- Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection 71
- Coins, Currency and Medals 65
- Medicine and Science: Medicine 55
- Music & Musical Instruments 32
- Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments 27
- Popular Entertainment 27
- Work and Industry: Graphic Arts 25
- Health & Medicine 23
- Medicine and Science: Mathematics 23
- Science & Mathematics 22
- Mechanical Musical Instruments 20
- Home and Community Life: Domestic Life 14
- Medicine and Science: Chemistry 12
- Balm of America 11
- Adding Machines 10
- Beauty and Health 8
- National Museum of American History 8
- Culture and the Arts: Entertainment 7
- Domestic Furnishings 7
- Antibody Initiative: Veterinary Vaccines and Serums 6
