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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Pamphlet, F-120 F-140 Electronic Calculator Operating Instructions
- Description
- This pamphlet gives operating instructions for the Smith-Corona Marchant F-120 and F-140 desktop electronic calculators. According to the cover, these were part of "the independence line" and "American made."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1971
- maker
- SCM
- ID Number
- 1979.3084.137
- catalog number
- 1979.3084.137
- nonaccession number
- 1979.3084
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Pamphlet, F-160 Electronic Printing Calculator Operating Instuctions
- Description
- This pamphlet gives operating instructions for the Smith-Corona Marchant F-160 P desktop electronic calculator. According to the cover, it was part of "the independence line" and "American made."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1971
- maker
- SCM
- ID Number
- 1979.3084.138
- catalog number
- 1979.3084.138
- nonaccession number
- 1979.3084
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Pamphlet, Marchant 310 Calculator Operating Instructions
- Description
- This colorful pamphlet gives operating instructions for the Marchant 310 Calculator, a desktop electronic calculator sold by SCM Marchant.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1971
- maker
- SCM
- ID Number
- 1979.3084.135
- catalog number
- 1979.3084.135
- nonaccession number
- 1979.3084
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Pamphlet, Marchant 410 Calculator Operating Instructions
- Description
- This colorful pamphlet gives operating instructions for the Marchant 410 Calculator, a desktop electronic calculator sold by SCM Marchant.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1971
- maker
- SCM
- ID Number
- 1979.3084.136
- catalog number
- 1979.3084.136
- nonaccession number
- 1979.3084
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Leaflet, Directions for Using WRICO Lettering Guides for Scriber Lettering
- Description
- This well-illustrated leaflet explains the use of a WRICO lettering guide for scriber lettering.
- Received with lettering set 1989.0572.01.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1970
- ID Number
- 1989.0572.02
- accession number
- 1989.0572
- catalog number
- 1989.0572.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
WRICO Lettering Guide
- Description
- This lettering set is stored in a wooden case. Sixteen plastic lettering guides, a metal guide holder with rough surface, a metal scriber, a plastic scriber adjuster, three metal inkwells, twenty numbered plastic tubes, seventeen points distributed among the tubes, a metal needle holder wrapped in paper and containing six metal needles, a paper envelope containing four needles, and a plastic pen handle are included. A cardboard sheet lists the contents of the set.
- Each lettering guide has capital letters, lower case letters, numbers, and symbols written on it. The scriber makes it possible to copy the letters at various angles. The scriber adjuster sets the scriber. The scriber can hold any of three inkwells, which in turn hold different points and needles.
- Machinist and museum specialist George A. Norton purchased the pieces of the set in July and September of 1970 at George F. Muth Company in Washington, D.C. He spent a total of $17.38.
- For documentation and receipts, see 1989.0572.02 and 1989.0572.03.
- An earlier version of the WRICO set, not dependent upon a scriber to translate the letters, appears in a 1926 catalog of Eugene Dietzgen Co.
- Reference:
- Eugene Dietzgen Company, Catalogue, Chicago, 1926, pp. 212-213.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1970
- maker
- Wood-Regan Instrument Company
- ID Number
- 1989.0572.01
- accession number
- 1989.0572
- catalog number
- 1989.0572.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Keuffel & Esser 68-1555 Doric Duplex Slide Rule
- Description
- This turquoise plastic 5-inch duplex slide rule has DF, D, and L scales on the front of the base and CF, CI, and C scales on the slide. The top of the base is marked: PAT. PEND.; CELANESE CELCON; MADE IN U.S.A. The right end of the slide is marked: DORIC (/) K & E CO. On the back, the base has K, A, D, and T scales, and the slide has B, ST, and S scales. The indicator is plastic, and the endpieces are metal.
- The rule fits in a black leather sheath, embossed with the K+E logo and imprinted in gold: CELANESE CELCON (/) DESIGNED FOR THE ENGINEER ∙ ENGINEERED FOR THE DESIGNER. The sheath and a leaflet, "How to Take Care of Your Slide Rule," fit in a cardboard box covered with green vinyl. The end of the box bears a label marked: K+E (/) 68 1555 (/) POCKET SLIDE RULE (/) LEATHER SHEATH (/) MADE IN U.S.A.; TRADE MARKS ®. It is also marked there: OLD (/) 4168.
- According to the donor, “The Celcon rule is significant because this is the first use of this very durable engineering plastic or resin in a slide rule. This durable material, trademarked Celcon, was an American invention made in the laboratories of the Celanese Corporation.” The donor was corporate research director at Celanese Corporation before he retired in December 1981. The 1962 Keuffel & Esser Catalog lists a 5" slide rule with model number 68 1555 made of “Ivorite.” The instrument is shown in the 1964 and 1967 catalogs (still as made of “Ivorite”) and called the “Doric.” It is not shown in the 1972 catalog. Celanese Corporation first used the term “Celcon” to refer to a thermoplastic in 1945, and trademarked the term in 1960. It seems likely that this rule was produced especially for Celanese Corporation in the period 1962–1971. This was the only time K&E manufactured a slide rule that was not white.
- References: Joseph L. Soper, "The Celanese Celcon Promotional Slide Rule," in K&E Salisbury Products Division Slide Rules (Pleasanton, Calif.: The Oughtred Society, 2007), 115; Clark McCoy, ed., "K&E Catalogs and Price Lists for Slide Rules," http://www.mccoys-kecatalogs.com/KEmain.htm.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1962-1971
- maker
- Keuffel & Esser Co.
- ID Number
- 1993.0357.01
- accession number
- 1993.0357
- catalog number
- 1993.0357.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Logic Machine, Compulogical Tutor
- Description
- The Compulogical Tutor was a simple circuit-based teaching tool, created and copyrighted by Compusad, Inc. of New York Mills, New York, in 1970. The machine was designed to teach individuals without a background in computers, logic, or mathematics the basic principles of Boolean logic and computing machines. In addition to the control board, on which users would build their circuits, the machine came with a set of Logic Module boxes (“and,” “or” and “not”) that simulated particular logic operations. It also had connecting wires of three different lengths and an instruction manual. The Compulogical Tutor was advertised as for both children and adults looking to understand the logical operations of a computer. As the brochure for the machine says, the computer as a 20th century object changed “the outlook for every young and not-so-young person who is planning, or has adopted, a career in science, politics, business, law or medicine,” and so the need for “computer trainers” like this one had become more pressing. Its competitive price of $69.99 made it affordable for the home or the classroom.
- Users operated the Compulogical Tutor by placing Logic Modules on the wooden control board, which had a built in circuity in its base, and connecting these modules with the wires supplied. With these materials, anyone could build a wide variety of computational programs and learn how to construct complex decision-making processes and programs from simple logical propositions. The accompanying instruction manual gave users sets of problems and puzzles to set up on the machine, as well as a basic introduction to ideas in computer programming, such as Boolean logic, logic tables, computer architecture, error-detection and cybernetics.
- The Smithsonian owns two Compulogical Tutors, one operated with a battery pack in the base of the control board and another with an accompanying electrical control box which plugged into the wall and was operated by a series of toggle switches. Both machines come with their own set of Logical Module boxes and wires. The machine with this number is the one operated with the battery pack.
- For related documentation, see MA.305773.03 and MA.305773.04.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1970
- maker
- Compusad, Inc.
- ID Number
- MA.333935
- accession number
- 305773
- catalog number
- 333935
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Envelope with Mark 2to the power(19937-1) Is a prime
- Description
- This envelope is an example of the stationery used by the Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York, to announce the discovery of a Mersenne prime using a computer there.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1975
- maker
- IBM
- ID Number
- 1999.3080.01
- nonaccession number
- 1999.3080
- catalog number
- 1999.3080.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Booklet, National Museum of History and Technology Compulogical Tutor Demonstration Outline
- Description
- This plasticized binder has a metal clasp inside to hold the papers together. The packet includes diagrams and tables describing how each type of Logical Module works, several example problems with corresponding set-up diagrams and a document describing the Chinese Remainder Theorem.
- The materials all relate to the Compulogical Tutor, which has museum numbers MA.333935 and MA.333936.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1970
- maker
- Compusad, Inc.
- ID Number
- MA.305773.04
- accession number
- 1973305773
- catalog number
- 305773.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Booklet, Compulogical Tutor Demonstration at Control Data Corporation May 26, 1970
- Description
- This demonstration packet includes a brochure for the Compulogical Tutor, diagrams of the machines components and separate parts, and a few sample problems with corresponding set-up diagrams.
- The documents relate to objects with museum numbers MA.333935 and MA.333936.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1970
- ID Number
- MA.305773.03
- accession number
- 1973305773
- catalog number
- 305773.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Logic Machine Component, Compulogical Tutor
- Description
- The Compulogical Tutor was a simple circuit-based teaching tool, created and copyrighted by Compusad, Inc., of New York Mills, New York, in 1970. The machine was designed to teach individuals without a background in computers, logic, or mathematics the basic principles of Boolean logic and computing machines. In addition to the control board, on which users would build their circuits, the machine came with a set of Logic Module boxes (“and,” “or” and “not”) that simulated particular logic operations. It also had connecting wires of three different lengths and an instruction manual. The Compulogical Tutor was advertised as for both children and adults looking to understand the logical operations of a computer. As the brochure for the machine says, the computer as a 20th century object changed “the outlook for every young and not-so-young person who is planning, or has adopted, a career in science, politics, business, law or medicine,” and so the need for “computer trainers” like this one had become more pressing. Its competitive price of $69.99 made it affordable for the home or the classroom.
- Users operated the Compulogical Tutor by placing Logic Modules on the wooden control board, which had a built in circuity in its base, and connecting these modules with the wires supplied. With these materials, anyone could build a wide variety of computational programs and learn how to construct complex decision-making processes and programs from simple logical propositions. The accompanying instruction manual gave users sets of problems and puzzles to set up on the machine, as well as a basic introduction to ideas in computer programming, such as Boolean logic, logic tables, computer architecture, error-detection and cybernetics.
- The Smithsonian owns two Compulogical Tutors, one operated with a battery pack in the base of the control board and another with an accompanying electrical control box which plugged into the wall and was operated by a series of toggle switches. Both machines come with their own set of Logical Module boxes and wires. The machine with this number is the one operated with the external electrical control box.
- For related documentation, see MA.305773.03 and MA.305773.04.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1970
- maker
- Compusad, Inc.
- ID Number
- MA.333936
- accession number
- 305773
- catalog number
- 333936
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Reader's Digest Brochure, Living With Metrics
- Description
- In 1978, in order to assist Americans adjusting to the introduction of the metric system, the editors of the magazine Reader’s Digest in Pleasantville, New York, published this 48-page illustrated paper pamphlet for consumers. It describes the interrelationships among metric units and ways to estimate them.
- Further discussion considers the role of metric units in grocery shopping and cooking, home design and care, meteorology, sports, gardening, health care, and transportation.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1978
- ID Number
- 1989.3123.03
- nonaccession number
- 1989.3123
- catalog number
- 1989.3123.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Ray Taulbot's Pace Calculator Linear Slide Rule
- Description
- This rectangular white plastic slide rule has scales for sprint times from 5 to 7 furlongs; two columns for use with the average pace method for handicapping horse races; three columns for use with the highlight pace time method of handicapping; and scales for route times from 1 to 1-1/4 miles. This outer folder is marked: Ray Taulbot's Pace Calculator (/) WITH AMER-VAR; Published by (/) AMERICAN (/) TURF MONTHLY (/) 505 EIGHTH AVENUE (/) New York, N.Y. 10018; PRINTED IN U.S.A. COPYRIGHT — 1979 Amerpub Company.
- The slide, which fits inside the folder, bears scales for speed rating, half-mile sprint highlight pace time, and six furlong route highlight pace time. It is marked: BASTIAN BROS. CO., ROCHESTER N. Y. A sliding plastic indicator has a broken end. An instruction booklet (copyrighted in 1979) was received with the rule; both fit into a black plastic case marked: RAY TAULBOT'S (/) PACE CALCULATOR (/) AMERPUB COMPANY (/) 505 8TH Avenue (/) New York, N. Y. 10018.
- Ray Taulbot (1895–1969) was the longtime managing editor of American Turf Monthly, a magazine for horse racing enthusiasts published by the Amerpub Company. He is credited with several innovations in handicapping races, particularly by rating a horse in comparison to the overall pace of a race. He believed horses must be judged by their own speed and by how close they were to the winner. A chart on the back of the calculator allowed bettors to combine the results of the Pace Calculator with the Amer-Var rating, which took into account the horse's age, the length of the race, the amount of the purse, the time of year, and the type of race. Taulbot's methods dated at least to the 1960s, but this device was made in 1979. American Turf Monthly continues to reprint Taulbot's articles.
- For other devices made by Bastian Brothers, see 1987.0183.01 and 1988.0323.03.
- References: Ray Taulbot, Thoroughbred Horse Racing: Playing for Profit (Philadelphia: A. Walker Co., 1949); Howard G. Sartin, "Winning Today with Ray Taulbot's Pace Calculator," American Turf Monthly, January 2000, http://www.americanturf.com/pace/sartinarticle.cfm; F. Finstuen, "Handicapping Derby Thoroughbreds: Edward's Minit, Race-O-Matic, and Kel-Co II Slide Rules," Journal of the Oughtred Society 10, no. 2 (2001): 19–24.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1979
- maker
- Amerpub Company
- ID Number
- 1998.3050.02
- nonaccession number
- 1998.3050
- catalog number
- 1998.3050.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
K2 Performance/Class Horse Race Wagering Calculator
- Description
- This plastic circular slide rule has a white base, with three concentric logarithmic scales, all numbered from 1 to 50. The outer scale is labeled “SHOW (3rd)”; each unit has six subdivisions. The middle scale is labeled “PLACE (2nd)”; each unit has three subdivisions. The innermost scale is labeled “RACES WON”; units are not subdivided. There is a clear plastic hairline indicator.
- A smaller gold disc lies atop the white one. It is pivoted at the center and has a logarithmic scale, running from 1 to 95 and marked: TOTAL RACES ENTERED. Two more logarithmic scales are visible through a window in the gold disc. These provide the total purses of the races the animal had entered and, finally, the performance-class factor rating. According to the donor, if F=number of first place finishes of a horse, S=number of seconds, T = number of thirds, R = number of races entered, and M= the total money won, the scale calculates the number [[100F + 33.333S + 16.666T]/R] + 1.12 M.
- The gold disc is marked: K2 (/) PERFORMANCE/CLASS CALCULATOR (/) COPYRIGHT 1972 K2 PUBLISHING CORP. Accompanying the calculator are a paper instruction booklet, a sheet of paper giving the formula calculated by the machine, and a computer printout showing a similar calculation. The 20-page booklet was also copyrighted in 1972 and indicates the method can be used for thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound racing. K2 Publishing Corporation was located at 475 Northern Blvd., Great Neck, N.Y., where an office building was built in 1967.
- Everything is stored in a black plastic case with a clear plastic front. Another slide rule for handicapping horse races is 1998.3050.02.
- Reference: Tom Wyman, "More About Slide Chart Devices," Journal of the Oughtred Society 16, no. 2 (2007): 15–18.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1972
- maker
- K2 Publishing Corp.
- ID Number
- 1998.3050.01
- nonaccession number
- 1998.3050
- catalog number
- 1998.3050.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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