class 3 Burroughs adding machine
Date1911-1927
Inventory Number1996-1-0374
ClassificationAdding Machine
Subject
Maker
Burroughs Adding Machine Company
1905 - 1986
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions25.5 × 34.5 × 49.3 cm (10 1/16 × 13 9/16 × 19 7/16 in.)
Material
Accessoriesleather dust cover
DescriptionBlack, rectangular, low keyboard adding machine with paper feed/printing mechanism on a raised top. Keyboard consists of nine columns of buttons, each with buttons for the numbers '1-9', from bottom to top. Left-most column is white, followed by three black, three white, and two black columns (from left to right). Crank on the right. Two black buttons to the left of the keyboard for 'TOTAL' and 'SUBTOTAL', two orange buttons on the left/front of the raised top for 'NON ADD' and 'NON PRINT', and a white 'repeat' button the the right/front of the raised top. Mechanical display below keyboard. Serial number etched on bronze plate on front.
Signedon front: Burroughs
Inscribedon front: 3-992260 [serial number]
on back: Burroughs THIS MACHINE PROTECTED BY U. S. AND FOREIGN PATENTS
Curatorial RemarksThe paper roll looks fairly new, and probably dates from no earlier than the 1970s, when the machine was acquired by the CHSI.
FunctionThe class 3 Burroughs adding machine was introduced in 1911 and advertised from 1913-1927. It consisted of nine columns of buttons, each with buttons for the numbers 1-9. Each column corresponded to a given place value so there was no need for zeros. A number was entered by simultaneously pressing on all the digits in the number (eg. for '509' one pressed a '5' in the hundreds column and a '9' in the ones column). After the number was entered, the crank was pulled to print the number and add or subtract it from the total. Totals and subtotals could be printed. Adding machines such as this were used well into the 1980s.
The Burroughs class 3 improved upon the class 1 and 2 models, because operators were able to view the printout at any time. It was therefore referred to as the 'visible model'.
A history of the Burroughs adding machine can be found on the following website.
The Burroughs class 3 improved upon the class 1 and 2 models, because operators were able to view the printout at any time. It was therefore referred to as the 'visible model'.
A history of the Burroughs adding machine can be found on the following website.
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