[GreenKeys] OT: Mechanical Adding Machines

[drlegendre .]

I have a wee bit of experience with the Felt 'shoebox' Comptometers, having
gone through one a couple of years ago.

One piece of advice I learned the _hard_ way: Despite relying heavily on
standardized, mass-produced parts, each key assembly wears-in as a group,
and every last part needs to go back in exactly the same original location
from where it was removed, or you may well find that keys jam or refuse to
move at all.

There may also have been some final hand-fitting (with stones, files,
paper..) of the parts, either from the factory or service, but can't say.

But they are absolutely marvelous machines, and hold a special place in
design history as they are driven entirely by the action of pressing keys.
That little lever on the side is only the 'clear' function, not an
operating crank as with others.

On Mon, Nov 6, 2017 at 11:26 AM, Bruce Gentry <ka2ivy at verizon.net> wrote:

> I made a similar posting a few months ago. I am  mostly interested in a
> few specific models of elaborate mechanical calculators made by Friden and
> Marchant.   Some of these are mechanical calculating's last stand before
> digital electronics took over.  I have not yet found any collector/restorer
> groups for mechanical calculators, and am interested in joining them if
> they  exist, but there are several for electronic calculator collecting and
> restoring.  Some other considerations for mechanical calculator restoration
> include finding service literature and specialized tools. Unlike Teletypes,
> maintaining the calculators was a mostly closed craft. Even government
> agencies and the military, except perhaps the Navy, outsourced everything
> to do with the calculators. Realitively few people learned or were allowed
> to learn the craft, and I fear most are no longer with us. Because
> typewriters have very real artistic applications, restoring and maintaining
> them is not only a  hobby but still a viable, if small, business.
>
>       Bruce Gentry, KA2IVY
>
>
> On 11/6/17 11:22 AM, Cory Heisterkamp wrote:
>
> Given this group's attraction for mechanical engineering marvels, I wanted
> to put feelers out and see if there was anyone on the list that also
> collects/restores vintage adding machines and mechanical calculators.
>
> I've recently picked up a full-keyboard Monroe and could use a few
> pointers on adjustment/repair. Does anyone have any good groups or
> resources to recommend?
>
> Thanks,
> Cory
>
>
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