The first known aid to calculations was the Abacus, used by Sumerians and Egyptians earlier than 2,000 BC (with the possible exception of the Antikythera mechanism). By 1642, the mechanical calculator was invented by Blaise Pascal, an invention that allowed adding and subtracting of numbers directly and multiplication and division of numbers through a series of steps. By 1902, we had a pushbutton calculator in the form of the Dalton Adding Machine. Here is a pictorial montage of calculators and calculating machines of yesteryear.
Pictured in the montage:
Johann Helfrich von Muller’s Difference Engine (1786). Muller also invented a sun clock, air pump, air gun, and barometer. The W.T. Odhner arithmometer (1890), the Adall Calculator (1910), Monroe High Speed Adding Calculator (1920), Baby Calculator (1929), Remington Rand Calculator, Contex Mechanical Adding Machine (1955), Exactus Calculator (1960), Wizard Calculating Machine, Electronika, Victor 3900 Electronic Desktop Calculator, and a few other odd calculating devices.
Images courtesy: History of Computers, Heinz Nixdorf Museum, Nick Stahlkocher, Soviet Digital Electronic Museum, John Wolf’s Web Museum, Mark Wahl, Computer History Museum Gerson Lessa, Mechanical Calculator, George Shuklin, Scientific Tool Collectibles, Vintage Electronics, IBM, Daily Mail
