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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Autopoint Mechanical Pencil
- Description
- This 5-3/4" black plastic and chrome-plated mechanical pencil is marked near its top: CHICAGO Autopoint USA (/) PATD AND PATS PEND. The word "Autopoint" is in script. The end of the pencil above the mark uncaps to reveal an eraser. A metal clip allows the pencil to be secured in a shirt pocket. The pen is stored in a rectangular gray cardboard box marked: Pencil Used by H H sr. (c[h]rome plated).
- Autopoint began manufacturing mechanical pencils in Chicago in 1918. Inventors assigned at least 30 patents to Autopoint between 1918 and 1929. One of the patents referred to on this pencil was taken out by Frank Deli of Chicago, for a metal pin that screwed into a threaded cylinder inside the pencil tip and thus acted to propel the lead. The diameter of the pin suggests the lead width was about 1 mm. The body of the pencil was to be made from bakelite or a similar plastic. Deli applied for his patent in 1921, although it was not granted until 1925. Bakelite, the plastics manufacturer, owned an interest in Autopoint from the 1920s to the 1940s. After several corporate acquisitions and reorganizations, Autopoint moved to Janesville, Wisc., in 1979, where it continues operations.
- His daughter-in-law reported that Herman Hollerith Sr. owned this pencil. Hollerith (1860–1929) trained as a mining engineer. He joined the U.S. Census Office in 1879, where he pioneered the development of punch cards for tabulating machines. These machines dramatically sped up the processing of data in the 1890 census. In 1896 he founded the Tabulating Machine Company, which merged with three other companies in 1911 and became the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in 1924. Hollerith retired in 1921 and raised cattle on a farm in Maryland until his death, so he presumably acquired the pencil during his retirement. For depictions and examples of Hollerith machines, see 1977.0503.01, 1977.0503.02, and 2011.3121.01, MA.312896, MA.335634, MA.335635, and MA.333894. See also the NMAH object group on tabulating machines, http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object-groups/tabulating-equipment.
- References: Autopoint, Inc., "About Us," http://autopointinc.com/about-us; Frank C. Deli, "Pencil" (U.S. Patent 1,552,123 issued September 1, 1925); Robert L. Bolin, "Web Resources Concerning the Mechanical Pencil Industry in Chicago," http://unllib.unl.edu/Bolin_resources/pencil_page/index.htm; William R. Aul, "Herman Hollerith: Data Processing Pioneer," Think, November 1972, http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/builders/builders_hollerith.html; United States Census Bureau, "Herman Hollerith," http://www.census.gov/history/www/census_then_now/notable_alumni/herman_hollerith.html.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1921-1929
- maker
- Autopoint, Inc.
- ID Number
- 1977.0503.03
- catalog number
- 336122
- accession number
- 1977.0503
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Check-A-Tron Electronic Cash Register
- Description
- This yellow-tinted electronic cash register sits atop an off-white cash drawer. It has black keyboard keys, a printer for receipts, and a red digital display. The key that opens the cash drawer is missing.
- A mark on the left front reads: CHECK-A-TRON. The machine has serial number 4500032. Stanley Hayman Business Machines stickers are on the front and the back.
- Check-A-Tron began selling an American-built electronic cash register in 1975. In 1977 it introduced the MICROS electronic cash register/point-of-sale terminal. The firm also distributed Sanyo cash registers made in Japan. According to a mark on this machine, it was assembled in the United States. By 1983 Check-A-Tron Corporation was out of the cash register business entirely.
- Reference:
- Creative Strategies Internaional, Retail Automation to 1983, San Jose: Creative Strategies International, 1980, esp. p. 116.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1975
- maker
- Check-A-Tron Corporation
- ID Number
- 2002.0281.03
- accession number
- 2002.0281
- catalog number
- 2002.0281.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Universal Data Machine TKB 0001 Handheld Electronic Calculator
- Description
- This handheld electronic calculator has a cream-colored case and an array of eighteen "Klixon" keys. Such keys have a design trademarked by Texas Instruments and make a distinctive click when pressed. In addition to ten digit and one decimal point key, the calculator has four keys for arithmetic functions. One serves as a total key for addition and another as a difference key for subtraction. The top of the keyboard has a constant switch, a D key for recalling the display (it turns off after several seconds), a clear entry key, and a red clear key. The eight-digit red LED display is behind the keyboard. An on/off switch and a socket for a cord for recharging the battery are at the top back. This example has no cord.
- The back has four plastic feet. A paper sticker there reads in part: ELECTRONIC CALCULATOR (/) MODEL TKB 0001 (/) SERIAL: A 05777 (/) VOLTS: 7.2V, DC (/) MFG. IN UNITED STATES BY (/) Universal Data Machine (/) Corporation (/) 4611 N. Ravenswood St. (/) Chicago, Ill. 60640.
- This is one of the earliest commercial handheld electronic calculators manufactured in the United States.
- Compare to the Bowmar 901B (1986.0988.129) and the Craig 4501 (1987.0435.25).
- References:
- Guy Ball and Bruce Flamm, The Complete Collector’s Guide to Pocket Calculators, Tustin, CA: Wilson/Barnett, 1997, p. 174. This source indicates that the calculator was advertised in late 1972 as selling for $99.95.
- [Advertisement], Chicago Tribune, July 18, 1972, p. 13. This advertisement gives a regular price of $179.95 and a sale price of $149.95.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1972
- maker
- Universal Data Machine Corporation
- ID Number
- 1986.0988.078
- catalog number
- 1986.0988.078
- accession number
- 1986.0988
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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