Multiplication Maschine according to Priwitz (1869)

Structure of mechanism

Function

In 1869 the Geometer Pirwitz from Wroclaw applied for a patent on a calculator to multiply two numbers.
In a time when there were no calculators or computers, this was a great relief.
Pirwitz was a land surveyor and used the multiplication machine itself. This consists of rectangular crossing sliders.
On the vertical sliders tables with digits are printed.
In the horizontal sliders, viewing holes are placed, which causes that in interaction with the overlying slot shield only certain numbers become visible.
The individual digits of the first number are set by means of vertical slides such that each point on the stepped end is just visible.
As a stop for fast operation the edge of the base plate is used.
The other number is set with horizontal sliders in the same way.
The digits within each range, separated by diagonal stripes, are each added together to get the number of the product.

Collections

Selected historical patents of the Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin

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