Thomas. 1855

Charles Xavier Thomas de Colmar (1785-1870) was commissioned to build an arithmometer for the 1855 Paris Exposition. The whole mechanism, which consisted of 15 keys for input and allowed for 30 places of results, was mounted in a black cabinet resembling a piano and decorated with gilded filagree. In spite of its size, the machine was easily movable, accomplished operations with rapidity and had a good clearing action. The mechanism of the "piano" arithmometer, which won a medal at the Exposition, was exactly the same as Thomas's successful regular table model.

source: IBM

source: IBM

last updated: 21-Mrz-12