Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877
Hello SIGCIS! I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s Before the Computer and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays & New Year! Regards, Dave Dave Foster PhD Student Department of History Texas Tech University davidfos@ttu.edu linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster 806-282-4856 [47HZJ4QTcZx7w2e2Swgm4zzzgs9v9DxTQbyVFNkAgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC] Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input
Hello Dave . I am very interested in this topic. Recently I attempted to sketch an economic history of this nascent industrial sector, with this exploratory paper written from a European point of view: [ https://www.academia.edu/41536923/Lindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership... | https://www.academia.edu/41536923/Lindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership... ] I would be glad to discuss the matter with you and other connoisseurs within SIGCIS. Certainly de Colmar’s Arithmometre made its way across the Atlantic, both as direct exports from the Paris workshop or as later clones (Burckhardt, Saxonia through Carl Reuter, etc.). That it "inspired some emulation or other ideas" is obvious, if only with the very name of Felt's "Comptometer". Toward 1900, some 15 companies in Europe were making and marketing Arithmometre clones, so it would be surprising not to find similar ventures in America, along with makers of more modern designs. Happy Holidays & New Year to all! Regards, Pierre Pierre Mounier-Kuhn CNRS, Sorbonne Université & CentraleSupélec https://cnrs.academia.edu/PierreMounierKuhn https://laboutique.edpsciences.fr/produit/1255/9782759827053/histoire-illust... http://www.rdv-histoire.com/mounier-kuhn-pierre-eric De: "Foster, David via Members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> À: "members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> Envoyé: Vendredi 23 Décembre 2022 18:48:52 Objet: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello SIGCIS! I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s Before the Computer and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19 th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays & New Year! Regards, Dave Dave Foster PhD Student Department of History Texas Tech University davidfos@ttu.edu linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster 806-282-4856 Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org
William Aspray, Computing Before Computers (1970) might be useful to look at. Jim Cortada On Fri, Dec 23, 2022 at 12:38 PM Pierre Mounier-Kuhn via Members < members@lists.sigcis.org> wrote:
Hello Dave.
I am very interested in this topic. Recently I attempted to sketch an economic history of this nascent industrial sector, with this exploratory paper written from a European point of view:
https://www.academia.edu/41536923/Lindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership...
I would be glad to discuss the matter with you and other connoisseurs within SIGCIS. Certainly de Colmar’s Arithmometre made its way across the Atlantic, both as direct exports from the Paris workshop or as later clones (Burckhardt, Saxonia through Carl Reuter, etc.). That it "inspired some emulation or other ideas" is obvious, if only with the very name of Felt's "Comptometer". Toward 1900, some 15 companies in Europe were making and marketing Arithmometre clones, so it would be surprising not to find similar ventures in America, along with makers of more modern designs.
Happy Holidays & New Year to all!
Regards,
Pierre
Pierre Mounier-Kuhn CNRS, Sorbonne Université & CentraleSupélec
https://cnrs.academia.edu/PierreMounierKuhn
https://laboutique.edpsciences.fr/produit/1255/9782759827053/histoire-illust... http://www.rdv-histoire.com/mounier-kuhn-pierre-eric
------------------------------ *De: *"Foster, David via Members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> *À: *"members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> *Envoyé: *Vendredi 23 Décembre 2022 18:48:52 *Objet: *[SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877
Hello SIGCIS!
I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s *Before the Computer* and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated.
Happy Holidays & New Year!
Regards, Dave
*Dave Foster*
PhD Student
Department of History
*Texas Tech University*
davidfos@ttu.edu
linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster
806-282-4856
[image: 47HZJ4QTcZx7w2e2Swgm4zzzgs9v9DxTQbyVFNkAgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC]
Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input
_______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org
-- James W. Cortada Senior Research Fellow Charles Babbage Institute University of Minnesota jcortada@umn.edu 608-274-6382
Perfect – thank you, sir! Regards, Dave From: James Cortada <jcortada@umn.edu> Date: Friday, December 23, 2022 at 12:45 To: Pierre Mounier-Kuhn <mounier@msh-paris.fr> Cc: Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu>, members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 This email originated outside TTU. Please exercise caution<https://askit.ttu.edu/phishing>! William Aspray, Computing Before Computers (1970) might be useful to look at. Jim Cortada On Fri, Dec 23, 2022 at 12:38 PM Pierre Mounier-Kuhn via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org<mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org>> wrote: Hello Dave. I am very interested in this topic. Recently I attempted to sketch an economic history of this nascent industrial sector, with this exploratory paper written from a European point of view: https://www.academia.edu/41536923/Lindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership_fran%C3%A7ais_suivi_dune_domination_germanique_et_am%C3%A9ricaine_The_Calculator_Industry_in_the_XIXth_century_An_Early_French_Leadership_Swept_Away_by_New_Entrants<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academia.edu%2F41536923%2FLindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership_fran%25C3%25A7ais_suivi_dune_domination_germanique_et_am%25C3%25A9ricaine_The_Calculator_Industry_in_the_XIXth_century_An_Early_French_Leadership_Swept_Away_by_New_Entrants&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7Cf9bcf78f7bfb4e010f2108dae515e21e%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074179423208448%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ld6nJWQEAWsPhbb3ggbNocjHDvDbWODjuaQPj4nRaDI%3D&reserved=0> I would be glad to discuss the matter with you and other connoisseurs within SIGCIS. Certainly de Colmar’s Arithmometre made its way across the Atlantic, both as direct exports from the Paris workshop or as later clones (Burckhardt, Saxonia through Carl Reuter, etc.). That it "inspired some emulation or other ideas" is obvious, if only with the very name of Felt's "Comptometer". Toward 1900, some 15 companies in Europe were making and marketing Arithmometre clones, so it would be surprising not to find similar ventures in America, along with makers of more modern designs. Happy Holidays & New Year to all! Regards, Pierre Pierre Mounier-Kuhn CNRS, Sorbonne Université & CentraleSupélec https://cnrs.academia.edu/PierreMounierKuhn<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcnrs.academia.edu%2FPierreMounierKuhn&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7Cf9bcf78f7bfb4e010f2108dae515e21e%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074179423208448%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=59LJ5%2BRKaDY220PONItw30ZlPWQCEZ1x6uIrIHuv6cE%3D&reserved=0> https://laboutique.edpsciences.fr/produit/1255/9782759827053/histoire-illustree-de-l-informatique<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flaboutique.edpsciences.fr%2Fproduit%2F1255%2F9782759827053%2Fhistoire-illustree-de-l-informatique&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7Cf9bcf78f7bfb4e010f2108dae515e21e%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074179423208448%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=EjdR7G9kNPvSslDVgM3KjBTINNNXs8BHnSeQ5pCMx0g%3D&reserved=0> http://www.rdv-histoire.com/mounier-kuhn-pierre-eric<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rdv-histoire.com%2Fmounier-kuhn-pierre-eric&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7Cf9bcf78f7bfb4e010f2108dae515e21e%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074179423208448%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6sE%2Bqx4Bu8ptnQnfhogvrgnfJtg79u7bWVitIHHKQgA%3D&reserved=0> ________________________________ De: "Foster, David via Members" <members@lists.sigcis.org<mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org>> À: "members" <members@lists.sigcis.org<mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org>> Envoyé: Vendredi 23 Décembre 2022 18:48:52 Objet: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello SIGCIS! I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s Before the Computer and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays & New Year! Regards, Dave Dave Foster PhD Student Department of History Texas Tech University davidfos@ttu.edu<mailto:davidfos@ttu.edu> linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flinkedin.com%2Fin%2Fdavid-w-foster&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7Cf9bcf78f7bfb4e010f2108dae515e21e%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074179423208448%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=eKnIDoqOIRQvp5FOI0IJpqQg%2Bm0mRiseNf%2Fv3isBp%2Bc%3D&reserved=0> 806-282-4856 [47HZJ4QTcZx7w2e2Swgm4zzzgs9v9DxTQbyVFNkAgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC] Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsigcis.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7Cf9bcf78f7bfb4e010f2108dae515e21e%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074179423208448%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=LTzvUOookQCWGvxvRd4kJguEeaTbQJTq4M2E01nUkgw%3D&reserved=0>, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.sigcis.org%2Fpipermail%2Fmembers-sigcis.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7Cf9bcf78f7bfb4e010f2108dae515e21e%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074179423208448%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=AuMLBZXte9gw6WltcKfbkLibk75FBuJvmNWIN%2Bo2TPQ%3D&reserved=0> and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.sigcis.org%2Flistinfo.cgi%2Fmembers-sigcis.org&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7Cf9bcf78f7bfb4e010f2108dae515e21e%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074179423208448%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=cj%2BpFRItGoHexs9gFLgGtAVpb6CJjNeNb%2ByRKIEkZfg%3D&reserved=0> _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsigcis.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7Cf9bcf78f7bfb4e010f2108dae515e21e%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074179423208448%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=LTzvUOookQCWGvxvRd4kJguEeaTbQJTq4M2E01nUkgw%3D&reserved=0>, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.sigcis.org%2Fpipermail%2Fmembers-sigcis.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7Cf9bcf78f7bfb4e010f2108dae515e21e%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074179423208448%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=AuMLBZXte9gw6WltcKfbkLibk75FBuJvmNWIN%2Bo2TPQ%3D&reserved=0> and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.sigcis.org%2Flistinfo.cgi%2Fmembers-sigcis.org&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7Cf9bcf78f7bfb4e010f2108dae515e21e%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074179423208448%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=cj%2BpFRItGoHexs9gFLgGtAVpb6CJjNeNb%2ByRKIEkZfg%3D&reserved=0> -- James W. Cortada Senior Research Fellow Charles Babbage Institute University of Minnesota jcortada@umn.edu<mailto:jcortada@umn.edu> 608-274-6382
Thank you, sir! I just downloaded your paper. I will follow up! Greatly appreciated. Best/Dave From: Pierre Mounier-Kuhn <mounier@msh-paris.fr> Date: Friday, December 23, 2022 at 12:36 To: Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu> Cc: members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 This email originated outside TTU. Please exercise caution<https://askit.ttu.edu/phishing>! Hello Dave. I am very interested in this topic. Recently I attempted to sketch an economic history of this nascent industrial sector, with this exploratory paper written from a European point of view: https://www.academia.edu/41536923/Lindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership_fran%C3%A7ais_suivi_dune_domination_germanique_et_am%C3%A9ricaine_The_Calculator_Industry_in_the_XIXth_century_An_Early_French_Leadership_Swept_Away_by_New_Entrants<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academia.edu%2F41536923%2FLindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership_fran%25C3%25A7ais_suivi_dune_domination_germanique_et_am%25C3%25A9ricaine_The_Calculator_Industry_in_the_XIXth_century_An_Early_French_Leadership_Swept_Away_by_New_Entrants&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C28e851ad26ae436cb35108dae514a01f%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074174015802389%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PbwNff38F7sLyJLxPSHgxzve1jv8k9Q%2FAVCTlU3Ua5w%3D&reserved=0> I would be glad to discuss the matter with you and other connoisseurs within SIGCIS. Certainly de Colmar’s Arithmometre made its way across the Atlantic, both as direct exports from the Paris workshop or as later clones (Burckhardt, Saxonia through Carl Reuter, etc.). That it "inspired some emulation or other ideas" is obvious, if only with the very name of Felt's "Comptometer". Toward 1900, some 15 companies in Europe were making and marketing Arithmometre clones, so it would be surprising not to find similar ventures in America, along with makers of more modern designs. Happy Holidays & New Year to all! Regards, Pierre Pierre Mounier-Kuhn CNRS, Sorbonne Université & CentraleSupélec https://cnrs.academia.edu/PierreMounierKuhn https://laboutique.edpsciences.fr/produit/1255/9782759827053/histoire-illust... http://www.rdv-histoire.com/mounier-kuhn-pierre-eric ________________________________ De: "Foster, David via Members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> À: "members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> Envoyé: Vendredi 23 Décembre 2022 18:48:52 Objet: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello SIGCIS! I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s Before the Computer and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays & New Year! Regards, Dave Dave Foster PhD Student Department of History Texas Tech University davidfos@ttu.edu linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster 806-282-4856 [47HZJ4QTcZx7w2e2Swgm4zzzgs9v9DxTQbyVFNkAgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC] Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org
You might also wish to check out the “web object groups” on adding machines, calculating machines, and adders on the web page of the Smithsonian’sNational Museum of American History. In addition to a general introduction and a list of resources, there are descriptions of individual types of machine. Within each section, the machines are arranged chronologically. Be sure to click on the title of an object to bring up more information. Good luck! Peggy Kidwell NMAH ________________________________ From: Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> on behalf of Foster, David via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Sent: Friday, December 23, 2022 2:09 PM To: Pierre Mounier-Kuhn <mounier@msh-paris.fr> Cc: members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 External Email - Exercise Caution Thank you, sir! I just downloaded your paper. I will follow up! Greatly appreciated. Best/Dave From: Pierre Mounier-Kuhn <mounier@msh-paris.fr> Date: Friday, December 23, 2022 at 12:36 To: Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu> Cc: members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 This email originated outside TTU. Please exercise caution<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faskit.ttu.edu%2Fphishing&data=05%7C01%7Ckidwellp%40si.edu%7Ca1ed774fc32f4e36a8fb08dae5238934%7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c%7C0%7C0%7C638074238055546676%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BkjLmqqzkYVcuBaCWthWQpvUh7v5Ezaglj39WkQmWhk%3D&reserved=0>! Hello Dave. I am very interested in this topic. Recently I attempted to sketch an economic history of this nascent industrial sector, with this exploratory paper written from a European point of view: https://www.academia.edu/41536923/Lindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership_fran%C3%A7ais_suivi_dune_domination_germanique_et_am%C3%A9ricaine_The_Calculator_Industry_in_the_XIXth_century_An_Early_French_Leadership_Swept_Away_by_New_Entrants<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academia.edu%2F41536923%2FLindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership_fran%25C3%25A7ais_suivi_dune_domination_germanique_et_am%25C3%25A9ricaine_The_Calculator_Industry_in_the_XIXth_century_An_Early_French_Leadership_Swept_Away_by_New_Entrants&data=05%7C01%7Ckidwellp%40si.edu%7Ca1ed774fc32f4e36a8fb08dae5238934%7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c%7C0%7C0%7C638074238055546676%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Cu0i34FW2l2n0tdAlndIIYL4rJWPStp1%2BIEcBGIw5w8%3D&reserved=0> I would be glad to discuss the matter with you and other connoisseurs within SIGCIS. Certainly de Colmar’s Arithmometre made its way across the Atlantic, both as direct exports from the Paris workshop or as later clones (Burckhardt, Saxonia through Carl Reuter, etc.). That it "inspired some emulation or other ideas" is obvious, if only with the very name of Felt's "Comptometer". Toward 1900, some 15 companies in Europe were making and marketing Arithmometre clones, so it would be surprising not to find similar ventures in America, along with makers of more modern designs. Happy Holidays & New Year to all! Regards, Pierre Pierre Mounier-Kuhn CNRS, Sorbonne Université & CentraleSupélec https://cnrs.academia.edu/PierreMounierKuhn https://laboutique.edpsciences.fr/produit/1255/9782759827053/histoire-illust... http://www.rdv-histoire.com/mounier-kuhn-pierre-eric ________________________________ De: "Foster, David via Members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> À: "members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> Envoyé: Vendredi 23 Décembre 2022 18:48:52 Objet: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello SIGCIS! I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s Before the Computer and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays & New Year! Regards, Dave Dave Foster PhD Student Department of History Texas Tech University davidfos@ttu.edu linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster 806-282-4856 [47HZJ4QTcZx7w2e2Swgm4zzzgs9v9DxTQbyVFNkAgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC] Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org
Hi All, Since Peggy didn’t mention it, I will: Her essay “Mathematical Instruments Changing Hands at World’s Fairs, 1851–1904” is a great and highly relevant, too! Best, Bernard From: Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> on behalf of Kidwell, Peggy via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Date: Friday, 23 December 2022 at 23:26 To: Foster, David via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org>, Pierre Mounier-Kuhn <mounier@msh-paris.fr>, Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 You might also wish to check out the “web object groups” on adding machines, calculating machines, and adders on the web page of the Smithsonian’sNational Museum of American History. In addition to a general introduction and a list of resources, there are descriptions of individual types of machine. Within each section, the machines are arranged chronologically. Be sure to click on the title of an object to bring up more information. Good luck! Peggy Kidwell NMAH ________________________________ From: Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> on behalf of Foster, David via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Sent: Friday, December 23, 2022 2:09 PM To: Pierre Mounier-Kuhn <mounier@msh-paris.fr> Cc: members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 External Email - Exercise Caution Thank you, sir! I just downloaded your paper. I will follow up! Greatly appreciated. Best/Dave From: Pierre Mounier-Kuhn <mounier@msh-paris.fr> Date: Friday, December 23, 2022 at 12:36 To: Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu> Cc: members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 This email originated outside TTU. Please exercise caution<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faskit.ttu.edu%2Fphishing&data=05%7C01%7Ckidwellp%40si.edu%7Ca1ed774fc32f4e36a8fb08dae5238934%7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c%7C0%7C0%7C638074238055546676%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BkjLmqqzkYVcuBaCWthWQpvUh7v5Ezaglj39WkQmWhk%3D&reserved=0>! Hello Dave. I am very interested in this topic. Recently I attempted to sketch an economic history of this nascent industrial sector, with this exploratory paper written from a European point of view: https://www.academia.edu/41536923/Lindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership_fran%C3%A7ais_suivi_dune_domination_germanique_et_am%C3%A9ricaine_The_Calculator_Industry_in_the_XIXth_century_An_Early_French_Leadership_Swept_Away_by_New_Entrants<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academia.edu%2F41536923%2FLindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership_fran%25C3%25A7ais_suivi_dune_domination_germanique_et_am%25C3%25A9ricaine_The_Calculator_Industry_in_the_XIXth_century_An_Early_French_Leadership_Swept_Away_by_New_Entrants&data=05%7C01%7Ckidwellp%40si.edu%7Ca1ed774fc32f4e36a8fb08dae5238934%7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c%7C0%7C0%7C638074238055546676%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Cu0i34FW2l2n0tdAlndIIYL4rJWPStp1%2BIEcBGIw5w8%3D&reserved=0> I would be glad to discuss the matter with you and other connoisseurs within SIGCIS. Certainly de Colmar’s Arithmometre made its way across the Atlantic, both as direct exports from the Paris workshop or as later clones (Burckhardt, Saxonia through Carl Reuter, etc.). That it "inspired some emulation or other ideas" is obvious, if only with the very name of Felt's "Comptometer". Toward 1900, some 15 companies in Europe were making and marketing Arithmometre clones, so it would be surprising not to find similar ventures in America, along with makers of more modern designs. Happy Holidays & New Year to all! Regards, Pierre Pierre Mounier-Kuhn CNRS, Sorbonne Université & CentraleSupélec https://cnrs.academia.edu/PierreMounierKuhn https://laboutique.edpsciences.fr/produit/1255/9782759827053/histoire-illust... http://www.rdv-histoire.com/mounier-kuhn-pierre-eric ________________________________ De: "Foster, David via Members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> À: "members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> Envoyé: Vendredi 23 Décembre 2022 18:48:52 Objet: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello SIGCIS! I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s Before the Computer and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays & New Year! Regards, Dave Dave Foster PhD Student Department of History Texas Tech University davidfos@ttu.edu linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster 806-282-4856 [47HZJ4QTcZx7w2e2Swgm4zzzgs9v9DxTQbyVFNkAgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC] Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org
Thanks, Bernard, for thus duly blowing Peggy's trumpet! I would love to read her essay “ Mathematical Instruments Changing Hands at World’s Fairs, 1851–1904 ”, whose title promises stimulating dialogues with my own paper. Is it accessible online? Best wishes and merry Christmas to all. Pierre Mounier-Kuhn De: "Bernard Dionysius Geoghegan" <bernardgeoghegan2010@u.northwestern.edu> À: "Peggy Kidwell" <kidwellp@si.edu>, "Foster, David via Members" <members@lists.sigcis.org>, "Pierre Mounier-Kuhn" <mounier@msh-paris.fr>, "David Foster" <davidfos@ttu.edu> Envoyé: Samedi 24 Décembre 2022 09:03:01 Objet: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hi All, Since Peggy didn’t mention it, I will: Her essay “ Mathematical Instruments Changing Hands at World’s Fairs, 1851–1904 ” is a great and highly relevant, too! Best, Bernard From: Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> on behalf of Kidwell, Peggy via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Date: Friday, 23 December 2022 at 23:26 To: Foster, David via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org>, Pierre Mounier-Kuhn <mounier@msh-paris.fr>, Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 You might also wish to check out the “web object groups” on adding machines, calculating machines, and adders on the web page of the Smithsonian’sNational Museum of American History. In addition to a general introduction and a list of resources, there are descriptions of individual types of machine. Within each section, the machines are arranged chronologically. Be sure to click on the title of an object to bring up more information. Good luck! Peggy Kidwell NMAH From: Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> on behalf of Foster, David via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Sent: Friday, December 23, 2022 2:09 PM To: Pierre Mounier-Kuhn <mounier@msh-paris.fr> Cc: members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 External Email - Exercise Caution Thank you, sir! I just downloaded your paper. I will follow up! Greatly appreciated. Best/Dave From: Pierre Mounier-Kuhn <mounier@msh-paris.fr> Date: Friday, December 23, 2022 at 12:36 To: Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu> Cc: members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 This email originated outside TTU. Please [ https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faskit.ttu.edu%2Fphishing&data=05%7C01%7Ckidwellp%40si.edu%7Ca1ed774fc32f4e36a8fb08dae5238934%7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c%7C0%7C0%7C638074238055546676%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BkjLmqqzkYVcuBaCWthWQpvUh7v5Ezaglj39WkQmWhk%3D&reserved=0 | exercise caution ] ! Hello Dave. I am very interested in this topic. Recently I attempted to sketch an economic history of this nascent industrial sector, with this exploratory paper written from a European point of view: [ https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academia.edu%2F41536923%2FLindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership_fran%25C3%25A7ais_suivi_dune_domination_germanique_et_am%25C3%25A9ricaine_The_Calculator_Industry_in_the_XIXth_century_An_Early_French_Leadership_Swept_Away_by_New_Entrants&data=05%7C01%7Ckidwellp%40si.edu%7Ca1ed774fc32f4e36a8fb08dae5238934%7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c%7C0%7C0%7C638074238055546676%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Cu0i34FW2l2n0tdAlndIIYL4rJWPStp1%2BIEcBGIw5w8%3D&reserved=0 | https://www.academia.edu/41536923/Lindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership... ] I would be glad to discuss the matter with you and other connoisseurs within SIGCIS. Certainly de Colmar’s Arithmometre made its way across the Atlantic, both as direct exports from the Paris workshop or as later clones (Burckhardt, Saxonia through Carl Reuter, etc.). That it "inspired some emulation or other ideas" is obvious, if only with the very name of Felt's "Comptometer". Toward 1900, some 15 companies in Europe were making and marketing Arithmometre clones, so it would be surprising not to find similar ventures in America, along with makers of more modern designs. Happy Holidays & New Year to all! Regards, Pierre Pierre Mounier-Kuhn CNRS, Sorbonne Université & CentraleSupélec https://cnrs.academia.edu/PierreMounierKuhn https://laboutique.edpsciences.fr/produit/1255/9782759827053/histoire-illust... http://www.rdv-histoire.com/mounier-kuhn-pierre-eric De: "Foster, David via Members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> À: "members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> Envoyé: Vendredi 23 Décembre 2022 18:48:52 Objet: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello SIGCIS! I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s Before the Computer and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19 th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays & New Year! Regards, Dave Dave Foster PhD Student Department of History Texas Tech University davidfos@ttu.edu linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster 806-282-4856 Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org
Pierre, Happy Holidays friend! Her article is a chapter in a book published in 2016. Description: https://brill.com/display/book/9789004324930/B9789004324930_006.xml I suggest you go to Google Scholar, too, because she has written several related articles that might be of interest to you, some of which you can download and were published by the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. Jim On Sat, Dec 24, 2022 at 6:27 AM Pierre Mounier-Kuhn via Members < members@lists.sigcis.org> wrote:
Thanks, Bernard, for thus duly blowing Peggy's trumpet!
I would love to read her essay “*Mathematical Instruments Changing Hands at World’s Fairs, 1851–1904**”, *whose title promises stimulating dialogues with my own paper.
Is it accessible online?
Best wishes and merry Christmas to all.
Pierre Mounier-Kuhn
------------------------------ *De: *"Bernard Dionysius Geoghegan" < bernardgeoghegan2010@u.northwestern.edu> *À: *"Peggy Kidwell" <kidwellp@si.edu>, "Foster, David via Members" < members@lists.sigcis.org>, "Pierre Mounier-Kuhn" <mounier@msh-paris.fr>, "David Foster" <davidfos@ttu.edu> *Envoyé: *Samedi 24 Décembre 2022 09:03:01 *Objet: *Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877
Hi All,
Since Peggy didn’t mention it, I will: Her essay “Mathematical Instruments Changing Hands at World’s Fairs, 1851–1904*” *is a great and highly relevant, too!
Best, Bernard
*From: *Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> on behalf of Kidwell, Peggy via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org> *Date: *Friday, 23 December 2022 at 23:26 *To: *Foster, David via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org>, Pierre Mounier-Kuhn <mounier@msh-paris.fr>, Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu> *Subject: *Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877
You might also wish to check out the “web object groups” on adding machines, calculating machines, and adders on the web page of the Smithsonian’sNational Museum of American History. In addition to a general introduction and a list of resources, there are descriptions of individual types of machine. Within each section, the machines are arranged chronologically. Be sure to click on the title of an object to bring up more information.
Good luck!
Peggy Kidwell
NMAH ------------------------------
*From:* Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> on behalf of Foster, David via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org> *Sent:* Friday, December 23, 2022 2:09 PM *To:* Pierre Mounier-Kuhn <mounier@msh-paris.fr> *Cc:* members <members@lists.sigcis.org> *Subject:* Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877
*External Email - Exercise Caution*
Thank you, sir! I just downloaded your paper.
I will follow up! Greatly appreciated.
Best/Dave
*From: *Pierre Mounier-Kuhn <mounier@msh-paris.fr> *Date: *Friday, December 23, 2022 at 12:36 *To: *Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu> *Cc: *members <members@lists.sigcis.org> *Subject: *Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877
This email originated outside TTU. Please exercise caution <https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faskit.ttu.edu%2Fphishing&data=05%7C01%7Ckidwellp%40si.edu%7Ca1ed774fc32f4e36a8fb08dae5238934%7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c%7C0%7C0%7C638074238055546676%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BkjLmqqzkYVcuBaCWthWQpvUh7v5Ezaglj39WkQmWhk%3D&reserved=0> !
Hello Dave.
I am very interested in this topic. Recently I attempted to sketch an economic history of this nascent industrial sector, with this exploratory paper written from a European point of view:
https://www.academia.edu/41536923/Lindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership... <https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academia.edu%2F41536923%2FLindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership_fran%25C3%25A7ais_suivi_dune_domination_germanique_et_am%25C3%25A9ricaine_The_Calculator_Industry_in_the_XIXth_century_An_Early_French_Leadership_Swept_Away_by_New_Entrants&data=05%7C01%7Ckidwellp%40si.edu%7Ca1ed774fc32f4e36a8fb08dae5238934%7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c%7C0%7C0%7C638074238055546676%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Cu0i34FW2l2n0tdAlndIIYL4rJWPStp1%2BIEcBGIw5w8%3D&reserved=0>
I would be glad to discuss the matter with you and other connoisseurs within SIGCIS. Certainly de Colmar’s Arithmometre made its way across the Atlantic, both as direct exports from the Paris workshop or as later clones (Burckhardt, Saxonia through Carl Reuter, etc.). That it "inspired some emulation or other ideas" is obvious, if only with the very name of Felt's "Comptometer". Toward 1900, some 15 companies in Europe were making and marketing Arithmometre clones, so it would be surprising not to find similar ventures in America, along with makers of more modern designs.
Happy Holidays & New Year to all!
Regards,
Pierre
Pierre Mounier-Kuhn CNRS, Sorbonne Université & CentraleSupélec
https://cnrs.academia.edu/PierreMounierKuhn
https://laboutique.edpsciences.fr/produit/1255/9782759827053/histoire-illust... http://www.rdv-histoire.com/mounier-kuhn-pierre-eric
------------------------------
*De: *"Foster, David via Members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> *À: *"members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> *Envoyé: *Vendredi 23 Décembre 2022 18:48:52 *Objet: *[SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877
Hello SIGCIS!
I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s *Before the Computer* and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated.
Happy Holidays & New Year!
Regards, Dave
*Dave Foster*
PhD Student
Department of History
*Texas Tech University*
davidfos@ttu.edu
linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster
806-282-4856
[image: 47HZJ4QTcZx7w2e2Swgm4zzzgs9v9DxTQbyVFNkAgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC]
Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input
_______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org
_______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org
-- James W. Cortada Senior Research Fellow Charles Babbage Institute University of Minnesota jcortada@umn.edu 608-274-6382
Thanks a lot, Jim. Happy Holidays and best wishes from Paris! Pierre De: "James Cortada" <jcortada@umn.edu> À: "Pierre Mounier-Kuhn" <mounier@msh-paris.fr> Cc: "Bernard Dionysius Geoghegan" <bernardgeoghegan2010@u.northwestern.edu>, "David Foster" <davidfos@ttu.edu>, "Foster, David via Members" <members@lists.sigcis.org> Envoyé: Samedi 24 Décembre 2022 13:51:55 Objet: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Pierre, Happy Holidays friend! Her article is a chapter in a book published in 2016. Description: [ https://brill.com/display/book/9789004324930/B9789004324930_006.xml | https://brill.com/display/book/9789004324930/B9789004324930_006.xml ] I suggest you go to Google Scholar, too, because she has written several related articles that might be of interest to you, some of which you can download and were published by the IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. Jim On Sat, Dec 24, 2022 at 6:27 AM Pierre Mounier-Kuhn via Members < [ mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org | members@lists.sigcis.org ] > wrote: Thanks, Bernard, for thus duly blowing Peggy's trumpet! I would love to read her essay “ Mathematical Instruments Changing Hands at World’s Fairs, 1851–1904 ”, whose title promises stimulating dialogues with my own paper. Is it accessible online? Best wishes and merry Christmas to all. Pierre Mounier-Kuhn De: "Bernard Dionysius Geoghegan" < [ mailto:bernardgeoghegan2010@u.northwestern.edu | bernardgeoghegan2010@u.northwestern.edu ] > À: "Peggy Kidwell" < [ mailto:kidwellp@si.edu | kidwellp@si.edu ] >, "Foster, David via Members" < [ mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org | members@lists.sigcis.org ] >, "Pierre Mounier-Kuhn" < [ mailto:mounier@msh-paris.fr | mounier@msh-paris.fr ] >, "David Foster" < [ mailto:davidfos@ttu.edu | davidfos@ttu.edu ] > Envoyé: Samedi 24 Décembre 2022 09:03:01 Objet: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hi All, Since Peggy didn’t mention it, I will: Her essay “ Mathematical Instruments Changing Hands at World’s Fairs, 1851–1904 ” is a great and highly relevant, too! Best, Bernard From: Members < [ mailto:members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org | members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org ] > on behalf of Kidwell, Peggy via Members < [ mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org | members@lists.sigcis.org ] > Date: Friday, 23 December 2022 at 23:26 To: Foster, David via Members < [ mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org | members@lists.sigcis.org ] >, Pierre Mounier-Kuhn < [ mailto:mounier@msh-paris.fr | mounier@msh-paris.fr ] >, Foster, David < [ mailto:davidfos@ttu.edu | davidfos@ttu.edu ] > Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 You might also wish to check out the “web object groups” on adding machines, calculating machines, and adders on the web page of the Smithsonian’sNational Museum of American History. In addition to a general introduction and a list of resources, there are descriptions of individual types of machine. Within each section, the machines are arranged chronologically. Be sure to click on the title of an object to bring up more information. Good luck! Peggy Kidwell NMAH From: Members < [ mailto:members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org | members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org ] > on behalf of Foster, David via Members < [ mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org | members@lists.sigcis.org ] > Sent: Friday, December 23, 2022 2:09 PM To: Pierre Mounier-Kuhn < [ mailto:mounier@msh-paris.fr | mounier@msh-paris.fr ] > Cc: members < [ mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org | members@lists.sigcis.org ] > Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 External Email - Exercise Caution Thank you, sir! I just downloaded your paper. I will follow up! Greatly appreciated. Best/Dave From: Pierre Mounier-Kuhn < [ mailto:mounier@msh-paris.fr | mounier@msh-paris.fr ] > Date: Friday, December 23, 2022 at 12:36 To: Foster, David < [ mailto:davidfos@ttu.edu | davidfos@ttu.edu ] > Cc: members < [ mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org | members@lists.sigcis.org ] > Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 This email originated outside TTU. Please [ https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faskit.ttu.edu%2Fphishing&data=05%7C01%7Ckidwellp%40si.edu%7Ca1ed774fc32f4e36a8fb08dae5238934%7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c%7C0%7C0%7C638074238055546676%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BkjLmqqzkYVcuBaCWthWQpvUh7v5Ezaglj39WkQmWhk%3D&reserved=0 | exercise caution ] ! Hello Dave. I am very interested in this topic. Recently I attempted to sketch an economic history of this nascent industrial sector, with this exploratory paper written from a European point of view: [ https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academia.edu%2F41536923%2FLindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership_fran%25C3%25A7ais_suivi_dune_domination_germanique_et_am%25C3%25A9ricaine_The_Calculator_Industry_in_the_XIXth_century_An_Early_French_Leadership_Swept_Away_by_New_Entrants&data=05%7C01%7Ckidwellp%40si.edu%7Ca1ed774fc32f4e36a8fb08dae5238934%7C989b5e2a14e44efe93b78cdd5fc5d11c%7C0%7C0%7C638074238055546676%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Cu0i34FW2l2n0tdAlndIIYL4rJWPStp1%2BIEcBGIw5w8%3D&reserved=0 | https://www.academia.edu/41536923/Lindustrie_des_calculatrices_un_leadership... ] I would be glad to discuss the matter with you and other connoisseurs within SIGCIS. Certainly de Colmar’s Arithmometre made its way across the Atlantic, both as direct exports from the Paris workshop or as later clones (Burckhardt, Saxonia through Carl Reuter, etc.). That it "inspired some emulation or other ideas" is obvious, if only with the very name of Felt's "Comptometer". Toward 1900, some 15 companies in Europe were making and marketing Arithmometre clones, so it would be surprising not to find similar ventures in America, along with makers of more modern designs. Happy Holidays & New Year to all! Regards, Pierre Pierre Mounier-Kuhn CNRS, Sorbonne Université & CentraleSupélec [ https://cnrs.academia.edu/PierreMounierKuhn | https://cnrs.academia.edu/PierreMounierKuhn ] [ https://laboutique.edpsciences.fr/produit/1255/9782759827053/histoire-illust... | https://laboutique.edpsciences.fr/produit/1255/9782759827053/histoire-illust... ] [ http://www.rdv-histoire.com/mounier-kuhn-pierre-eric | http://www.rdv-histoire.com/mounier-kuhn-pierre-eric ] De: "Foster, David via Members" < [ mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org | members@lists.sigcis.org ] > À: "members" < [ mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org | members@lists.sigcis.org ] > Envoyé: Vendredi 23 Décembre 2022 18:48:52 Objet: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello SIGCIS! I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s Before the Computer and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19 th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays & New Year! Regards, Dave Dave Foster PhD Student Department of History Texas Tech University [ mailto:davidfos@ttu.edu | davidfos@ttu.edu ] [ http://linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster | linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster ] 806-282-4856 Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at [ http://sigcis.org/ | sigcis.org ] , the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at [ http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ | http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ ] and you can change your subscription options at [ http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org | http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org ] _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at [ http://sigcis.org/ | sigcis.org ] , the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at [ http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ | http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ ] and you can change your subscription options at [ http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org | http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org ] -- James W. Cortada Senior Research Fellow Charles Babbage Institute University of Minnesota [ mailto:jcortada@umn.edu | jcortada@umn.edu ] 608-274-6382
Dear Colleagues: Fredrik Andersson from Lund, Sweden (cc), just let me know that he has translated the Zuse Z4 manual into English. It is available here: https://nablaman.com/relay/download/Z4.pdf For more information see Discovery: User Manual of the Oldest Surviving Computer in the World | blog@CACM | Communications of the ACM Best wishes, Herbert Bruderer Bruderer Informatik Seehaldenstrasse 26 Postfach 47 CH-9401 Rorschach Switzerland Telefon +41 71 855 77 11
Hello, Dave- On pp. 25-26 (and associated footnotes) of my book Structuring the Information Age: Life Insurance and Technology in the Twentieth Century, I talk about devices used by insurance firms and actuaries in the late 19th century, including the "Arithmeter" that American actuary Elizur Wright invented (based on European models) and began marketing to insurance firms in 1869. It didn't compete well with its British rival, Tate's Arithmometer, but some American insurance firms used it during this period. Good luck on your paper, JoAnne JoAnne Yates Sloan Distinguished Professor of Management, Emerita Sloan School of Management MIT E62-335 100 Main St. Cambridge, MA 02142 From: Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> On Behalf Of Foster, David via Members Sent: Friday, December 23, 2022 12:49 PM To: members@lists.sigcis.org Subject: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello SIGCIS! I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I'd like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada's Before the Computer and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar's Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I've rec'd some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19th century American "computing" from the group are greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays & New Year! Regards, Dave Dave Foster PhD Student Department of History Texas Tech University davidfos@ttu.edu<mailto:davidfos@ttu.edu> linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster 806-282-4856 [47HZJ4QTcZx7w2e2Swgm4zzzgs9v9DxTQbyVFNkAgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC] Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input
We have one of those arithmeters in our collection<https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/collections/object/2006.004.001?query=arithmeter&resultIndex=0>. Debbie Warner wrote a good article in the small journal Rittenhouse about this particular instrument. Look for J.A.V. Turck’s 1921 “Origin of Modern Calculating Machines” and Ernst Martin’s “The Calculating Machines: Their History and Development” (1925 but translated and published by MIT in 1992. Peggy Kidwell is the true expert on this subject! Debbie Douglas Deborah G. Douglas, PhD • Director of Collections and Curator of Science and Technology, MIT Museum; Research Associate, Program in Science, Technology, and Society • Room E28-320B • 314 Main Street • Gambrill Center • Cambridge, MA 02142 • ddouglas@mit.edu<mailto:ddouglas@mit.edu> • 617-253-1766 telephone • 617-253-8994 facsimile • http://mitmuseum.mit.edu • she/her/hers From: Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> on behalf of JoAnne Yates via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Date: Friday, December 23, 2022 at 2:08 PM To: Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu>, members@lists.sigcis.org <members@lists.sigcis.org> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello, Dave— On pp. 25-26 (and associated footnotes) of my book Structuring the Information Age: Life Insurance and Technology in the Twentieth Century, I talk about devices used by insurance firms and actuaries in the late 19th century, including the “Arithmeter” that American actuary Elizur Wright invented (based on European models) and began marketing to insurance firms in 1869. It didn’t compete well with its British rival, Tate’s Arithmometer, but some American insurance firms used it during this period. Good luck on your paper, JoAnne JoAnne Yates Sloan Distinguished Professor of Management, Emerita Sloan School of Management MIT E62-335 100 Main St. Cambridge, MA 02142 From: Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> On Behalf Of Foster, David via Members Sent: Friday, December 23, 2022 12:49 PM To: members@lists.sigcis.org Subject: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello SIGCIS! I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s Before the Computer and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays & New Year! Regards, Dave Dave Foster PhD Student Department of History Texas Tech University davidfos@ttu.edu<mailto:davidfos@ttu.edu> linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster 806-282-4856 [47HZJ4QTcZx7w2e2Swgm4zzzgs9v9DxTQbyVFNkAgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC] Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input
Fantastic, Thank you, Dr. Douglas! Regards, Dave Dave Foster PhD Student SHOT# 4739221 Department of History Texas Tech University davidfos@ttu.edu linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster 806-282-4856 [47HZJ4QTcZx7w2e2Swgm4zzzgs9v9DxTQbyVFNkAgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC] Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input From: Deborah Douglas <ddouglas@mit.edu> Date: Friday, December 23, 2022 at 13:56 To: JoAnne Yates <jyates@mit.edu>, Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu>, members@lists.sigcis.org <members@lists.sigcis.org> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 This email originated outside TTU. Please exercise caution<https://askit.ttu.edu/phishing>! We have one of those arithmeters in our collection<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmitmuseum.mit.edu%2Fcollections%2Fobject%2F2006.004.001%3Fquery%3Darithmeter%26resultIndex%3D0&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C2e6aa2740d714d5f570908dae51fc86e%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074221921061147%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=mzCt%2Fd7k%2FxRhwSURa1gmwlXz0M7wdpzD%2BgZtM7j%2F96Y%3D&reserved=0>. Debbie Warner wrote a good article in the small journal Rittenhouse about this particular instrument. Look for J.A.V. Turck’s 1921 “Origin of Modern Calculating Machines” and Ernst Martin’s “The Calculating Machines: Their History and Development” (1925 but translated and published by MIT in 1992. Peggy Kidwell is the true expert on this subject! Debbie Douglas Deborah G. Douglas, PhD • Director of Collections and Curator of Science and Technology, MIT Museum; Research Associate, Program in Science, Technology, and Society • Room E28-320B • 314 Main Street • Gambrill Center • Cambridge, MA 02142 • ddouglas@mit.edu<mailto:ddouglas@mit.edu> • 617-253-1766 telephone • 617-253-8994 facsimile • http://mitmuseum.mit.edu<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmitmuseum.mit.edu%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C2e6aa2740d714d5f570908dae51fc86e%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074221921061147%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pejFWV5dTa0tEnOaNHQsTMK8PKhhBmL33AAXOQ2V8wM%3D&reserved=0> • she/her/hers From: Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> on behalf of JoAnne Yates via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org> Date: Friday, December 23, 2022 at 2:08 PM To: Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu>, members@lists.sigcis.org <members@lists.sigcis.org> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello, Dave— On pp. 25-26 (and associated footnotes) of my book Structuring the Information Age: Life Insurance and Technology in the Twentieth Century, I talk about devices used by insurance firms and actuaries in the late 19th century, including the “Arithmeter” that American actuary Elizur Wright invented (based on European models) and began marketing to insurance firms in 1869. It didn’t compete well with its British rival, Tate’s Arithmometer, but some American insurance firms used it during this period. Good luck on your paper, JoAnne JoAnne Yates Sloan Distinguished Professor of Management, Emerita Sloan School of Management MIT E62-335 100 Main St. Cambridge, MA 02142 From: Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> On Behalf Of Foster, David via Members Sent: Friday, December 23, 2022 12:49 PM To: members@lists.sigcis.org Subject: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello SIGCIS! I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s Before the Computer and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays & New Year! Regards, Dave Dave Foster PhD Student Department of History Texas Tech University davidfos@ttu.edu<mailto:davidfos@ttu.edu> linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster 806-282-4856 [47HZJ4QTcZx7w2e2Swgm4zzzgs9v9DxTQbyVFNkAgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC] Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input
At CBI we have the Burrough Adding Machine/Burrough Corporation Records, a large collection of 800 or so boxes. The collection goes back to its origins as the American Arithmometer in the mid 1880s. It started in St. Louis and a name change and move to Detroit came in the early 1900s. Best, Jeff *Please connect at:* *Mastodon <https://mastodon.social/@JustCodeCulture> Twitter <https://twitter.com/justcodeculture> ** Linkedin <https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-yost-b714566>* *Jeffrey Yost, Ph.D. * Director, Charles Babbage Institute <http://www.cse.umn.edu/cbi>; Research Professor, History Sci/Tech/Med 222 21st Avenue South, University of Minnesota; Minneapolis, MN 55455 *Studies in Computing and Culture book series, Johns Hopkins U. Press * Co-Editor *PI, NSF-funded CBI project "Mining a Useable Past: Perspectives, Paradoxes, and Possibilities with Security and Privacy."* *Blockchain & Society Blog and Site* <https://www.blockchainandsociety.com> (Founder/Leader) *Interfaces: Essays and Reviews in Computing and Culture <https://cse.umn.edu/cbi/interfaces> *Co-Editor (w/ Amanda Wick) *Committee Member, National Academy of Engineering Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society* *Making IT Work: A History of the Computer Services Industry (MIT Press) <https://amzn.to/3gqe4R6>* On Fri, Dec 23, 2022 at 1:56 PM Deborah Douglas via Members < members@lists.sigcis.org> wrote:
We have one of those arithmeters in our collection <https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/collections/object/2006.004.001?query=arithmeter&resultIndex=0>. Debbie Warner wrote a good article in the small journal Rittenhouse about this particular instrument. Look for J.A.V. Turck’s 1921 “Origin of Modern Calculating Machines” and Ernst Martin’s “The Calculating Machines: Their History and Development” (1925 but translated and published by MIT in 1992. Peggy Kidwell is the true expert on this subject!
Debbie Douglas
*Deborah G. Douglas, PhD *• Director of Collections and Curator of Science and Technology, MIT Museum; Research Associate, Program in Science, Technology, and Society • Room E28-320B • 314 Main Street • Gambrill Center • Cambridge, MA 02142 • ddouglas@mit.edu • 617-253-1766 telephone • 617-253-8994 facsimile • http://mitmuseum.mit.edu • she/her/hers
*From: *Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> on behalf of JoAnne Yates via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org> *Date: *Friday, December 23, 2022 at 2:08 PM *To: *Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu>, members@lists.sigcis.org < members@lists.sigcis.org> *Subject: *Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877
Hello, Dave—
On pp. 25-26 (and associated footnotes) of my book *Structuring the Information Age: Life Insurance and Technology in the Twentieth Century, *I talk about devices used by insurance firms and actuaries in the late 19th century, including the “Arithmeter” that American actuary Elizur Wright invented (based on European models) and began marketing to insurance firms in 1869. It didn’t compete well with its British rival, Tate’s Arithmometer, but some American insurance firms used it during this period.
Good luck on your paper,
JoAnne
JoAnne Yates
Sloan Distinguished Professor of Management, Emerita
Sloan School of Management
MIT E62-335
100 Main St.
Cambridge, MA 02142
*From:* Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org> *On Behalf Of *Foster, David via Members *Sent:* Friday, December 23, 2022 12:49 PM *To:* members@lists.sigcis.org *Subject:* [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877
Hello SIGCIS!
I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s *Before the Computer* and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated.
Happy Holidays & New Year!
Regards, Dave
*Dave Foster*
PhD Student
Department of History
*Texas Tech University*
davidfos@ttu.edu
linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster
806-282-4856
[image: 47HZJ4QTcZx7w2e2Swgm4zzzgs9v9DxTQbyVFNkAgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC]
Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input
_______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/ and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org
Thank you, Sir. I plan on a visit to the CBI archives during my dissertation stage (this will be mid-20th century computing). Regards, Dave From: Jeffrey Yost <yostx003@umn.edu> Date: Friday, December 23, 2022 at 14:11 To: Deborah Douglas <ddouglas@mit.edu> Cc: JoAnne Yates <jyates@mit.edu>, Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu>, members@lists.sigcis.org <members@lists.sigcis.org> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 This email originated outside TTU. Please exercise caution<https://askit.ttu.edu/phishing>! At CBI we have the Burrough Adding Machine/Burrough Corporation Records, a large collection of 800 or so boxes. The collection goes back to its origins as the American Arithmometer in the mid 1880s. It started in St. Louis and a name change and move to Detroit came in the early 1900s. Best, Jeff Please connect at: Mastodon<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmastodon.social%2F%40JustCodeCulture&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C00398f6c6b5d4f8e5afd08dae521e003%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074230915531841%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=40aRz%2BvRVWiP%2BN%2Bsccjz4g57uPOwW02J7QkzQopLC%2Bg%3D&reserved=0> Twitter<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fjustcodeculture&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C00398f6c6b5d4f8e5afd08dae521e003%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074230915531841%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PmvuFrmFK7brTVzqF3MwNsN0fCz3DX9%2BFk4lrGrQhFs%3D&reserved=0> Linkedin<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fjeffrey-yost-b714566&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C00398f6c6b5d4f8e5afd08dae521e003%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074230915531841%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4Dy7LWEs39Y8jtJ2Flf%2Fjh03RtoYk%2FbjIdUvU7Vx3x0%3D&reserved=0> Jeffrey Yost, Ph.D. Director, Charles Babbage Institute<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cse.umn.edu%2Fcbi&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C00398f6c6b5d4f8e5afd08dae521e003%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074230915531841%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=S1OxyNPgVap1CffE%2Fh5w80xiIgyRPdRqhvbUs8wb2Rc%3D&reserved=0>; Research Professor, History Sci/Tech/Med 222 21st Avenue South, University of Minnesota; Minneapolis, MN 55455 Studies in Computing and Culture book series, Johns Hopkins U. Press Co-Editor PI, NSF-funded CBI project "Mining a Useable Past: Perspectives, Paradoxes, and Possibilities with Security and Privacy." Blockchain & Society Blog and Site<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blockchainandsociety.com%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C00398f6c6b5d4f8e5afd08dae521e003%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074230915531841%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Xe4sIecj7bcNPsu2BBAPkhDELs%2F0RfVuDTowb9BX32U%3D&reserved=0> (Founder/Leader) Interfaces: Essays and Reviews in Computing and Culture<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcse.umn.edu%2Fcbi%2Finterfaces&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C00398f6c6b5d4f8e5afd08dae521e003%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074230915531841%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GyTBTgCylCIG7iu2MAVFomdEtOAaCZq%2F25WbO6MCB6c%3D&reserved=0> Co-Editor (w/ Amanda Wick) Committee Member, National Academy of Engineering Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society Making IT Work: A History of the Computer Services Industry (MIT Press)<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F3gqe4R6&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C00398f6c6b5d4f8e5afd08dae521e003%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074230915531841%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RqD%2BrFtI5LbYmzj%2BNx3pRt7rhCpUcSqMvS6uPTHCnfk%3D&reserved=0> On Fri, Dec 23, 2022 at 1:56 PM Deborah Douglas via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org<mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org>> wrote: We have one of those arithmeters in our collection<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmitmuseum.mit.edu%2Fcollections%2Fobject%2F2006.004.001%3Fquery%3Darithmeter%26resultIndex%3D0&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C00398f6c6b5d4f8e5afd08dae521e003%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074230915688089%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3Ax93BQNb4ruvESNHGYj8lVVeCvnrp6JOZ6daO%2FSAZ0%3D&reserved=0>. Debbie Warner wrote a good article in the small journal Rittenhouse about this particular instrument. Look for J.A.V. Turck’s 1921 “Origin of Modern Calculating Machines” and Ernst Martin’s “The Calculating Machines: Their History and Development” (1925 but translated and published by MIT in 1992. Peggy Kidwell is the true expert on this subject! Debbie Douglas Deborah G. Douglas, PhD • Director of Collections and Curator of Science and Technology, MIT Museum; Research Associate, Program in Science, Technology, and Society • Room E28-320B • 314 Main Street • Gambrill Center • Cambridge, MA 02142 • ddouglas@mit.edu<mailto:ddouglas@mit.edu> • 617-253-1766 telephone • 617-253-8994 facsimile • http://mitmuseum.mit.edu<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmitmuseum.mit.edu%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C00398f6c6b5d4f8e5afd08dae521e003%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074230915688089%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Jeh2OQ8FhfIHu3nIwzXBJl32nP9LJn4eO8QR7mefkaQ%3D&reserved=0> • she/her/hers From: Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org<mailto:members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org>> on behalf of JoAnne Yates via Members <members@lists.sigcis.org<mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org>> Date: Friday, December 23, 2022 at 2:08 PM To: Foster, David <davidfos@ttu.edu<mailto:davidfos@ttu.edu>>, members@lists.sigcis.org<mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org> <members@lists.sigcis.org<mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org>> Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello, Dave— On pp. 25-26 (and associated footnotes) of my book Structuring the Information Age: Life Insurance and Technology in the Twentieth Century, I talk about devices used by insurance firms and actuaries in the late 19th century, including the “Arithmeter” that American actuary Elizur Wright invented (based on European models) and began marketing to insurance firms in 1869. It didn’t compete well with its British rival, Tate’s Arithmometer, but some American insurance firms used it during this period. Good luck on your paper, JoAnne JoAnne Yates Sloan Distinguished Professor of Management, Emerita Sloan School of Management MIT E62-335 100 Main St. Cambridge, MA 02142 From: Members <members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org<mailto:members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org>> On Behalf Of Foster, David via Members Sent: Friday, December 23, 2022 12:49 PM To: members@lists.sigcis.org<mailto:members@lists.sigcis.org> Subject: [SIGCIS-Members] Seeking Information on Adding Machines, Mechanical Calculators, etc. Designed and Used in the U.S. Prior to 1877 Hello SIGCIS! I have the opportunity to do a research paper for a Spring term historiography course and I’d like to depart from the themes of the assigned readings and return to research in the realm of computing history. Given the chronological constraint of 1877 as the upper year, I can get just a bit into the beginning timeframe of James Cortada’s Before the Computer and had been thinking that devices like de Colmar’s Arithmometre (1820) must have made their way across the Atlantic and inspired some emulation or other ideas. The good people at the reference section of the LOC have given me some useful background and I’ve rec’d some valuable tips on patent search and organization methodologies. I have just started to search the patent history (calculators, adding machines, etc.), but any advice or insights on 19th century American “computing” from the group are greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays & New Year! Regards, Dave Dave Foster PhD Student Department of History Texas Tech University davidfos@ttu.edu<mailto:davidfos@ttu.edu> linkedin.com/in/david-w-foster<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flinkedin.com%2Fin%2Fdavid-w-foster&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C00398f6c6b5d4f8e5afd08dae521e003%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074230915688089%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kFWB9TCAR%2BC4BMSl8YHPGcIELLfXQgoJ5D2UIgoigeA%3D&reserved=0> 806-282-4856 [47HZJ4QTcZx7w2e2Swgm4zzzgs9v9DxTQbyVFNkAgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC] Learner | Intellection | Context | Ideation | Input _______________________________________________ This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsigcis.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C00398f6c6b5d4f8e5afd08dae521e003%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074230915688089%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=w%2BYdgGKFdKP6hlgzAOCBuFyKRSmxuQ7GhpqXxvv91AM%3D&reserved=0>, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.sigcis.org%2Fpipermail%2Fmembers-sigcis.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C00398f6c6b5d4f8e5afd08dae521e003%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074230915688089%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=uxvMzVEy%2BF%2FM4gM%2Fq%2FvGRJSVKBQ4F2zfopkPRryw3Sc%3D&reserved=0> and you can change your subscription options at http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.sigcis.org%2Flistinfo.cgi%2Fmembers-sigcis.org&data=05%7C01%7Cdavidfos%40ttu.edu%7C00398f6c6b5d4f8e5afd08dae521e003%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C638074230915688089%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=OFjsSgU%2FcxByTbbJCJkeRy6RKBsuhIzwE%2B%2FgAvs7RB0%3D&reserved=0>
participants (9)
-
Bernard Geoghegan -
Deborah Douglas -
Foster, David -
herbert.bruderer＠bluewin.ch -
James Cortada -
Jeffrey Yost -
JoAnne Yates -
Kidwell, Peggy -
Pierre Mounier-Kuhn