1st
Model Webb Adder / Calculator The Webb Adder was first patented
near the turn of the century and the first model had a brass face and mahogany back
as seen here. They were also marked with a serial # and this one is # A-5664.
The next generation were all metal and nickel plated like the ones just below.
The patina on this one is great, and it seems to operate just fine and does carry.
The earlier versions are becoming very difficult to find, hardly ever offered for
sale and this is a great looking specimen. Very Nice!!
Good+ . . . . . $695.00
PF-WA-1
Three
Different Webb Adder / Calculators The Webb adder was first patented
near the turn of the century. The first models were brass and mounted on a
wooden board. The next generation looked like the one on the left. After
that other versions appeared such as the Herring Calculator in the middle.
These were designed to calculator / add weights or loads of rail cars.
It is a hard to find variation of this calculator. Finally on the right we
have what has become the norm in our lives, an unmarked knockoff that was offered
at the time as the real thing. . Much like most of the name brand stuff
you see at flea markets today, unless of course the parent company moved production
there, then it is called progress or Global something. It does not add up.
Anyway, all three of these are pretty nice, and all seem to operate. Fill
out the collection.
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Left ..... Good+ . . . . $295.00 BS-3WA-1
Middle ..... Good+ . . . . . $395.00 BS-3WA-2 SOLD!
Right ..... Good+ . . . . . $225.00 BS-3WA-3
The
Standard Calcumeter This is an interesting dial type adder /
calculator. These can be found with different numbers of dials. This
is an upgraded model with a reset dial on the far right. The patent info is
on the side, and the ends are marked with a location and the serial number.
Just what every money changer needed to add up the days take or to calculate out his bonus. Very Nice!!
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BS-SC-1
Excellent . . . . . $175.00
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PF-LIGHT-MADD-2 Good + . . . . . $125.00 / choice
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Click for Pic BS-3ADR-1 BS-3ADR-2 BS-3ADR-3 Top . . . .Good+ . . . . . $65.00 Middle
. . . . Good+ . . . . . $75.00 Bottom . . . . . Good+
. . . . . $95.00
Left ..... Good+ ..... $295.00
PF-S-ADD-1
Right ..... Good+ ..... $225.00
PF-S-ADD-2
SOLD
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Click for Pic BS-Jeffers Excellent ..... $495.00
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Click for Pic BS-Lock Good ..... $650.00 BS-Pen-2 Good+ ..... $125.00 BS-GSC-1 Good+ ..... $75.00 Please See
Sales Archives for Examples of Past Sales We can help you
sell your quality Antiques in this and other categories of Antiques.
If you have similar antiques or collectibles you want to sell please see our 
Lightning
Calculator Here are two different versions of the same style
adder. I wonder if the guys at AIG were using these or???? Very Nice!!
3
Dial Adders / Calculators Here are 3 different dial type
adders / calculators. All 3 are in nice condition.
There were a lot of these devices available and being patented
and produced in the period from the turn of the century and up till the beginning
of the Great Depression. I guess a lot of people had a lot of money they needed
to count up before the depression hit. I guess the stock market crash and
depression took care of that need and the businesses that were making these sorts
of things at the same time.
2
Stephenson Patent Adders The left one is identical to the one
above. On the right is a different version that is marked differently on the
back side. It says C. B. Simmons -- Oil City PA, and has the patent date of
March 25 1873. It is a earlier and more simple design that the nickel plated
one. Very Nice!!
"The
Jeffers" Calculator This is a very
unusual and complex Agricultural related calculator. It is in super near unused
condition. It is a wooden box that opens to reveal the calculator inside.
It measures approx 5 x7". Inside the front door on the left side are the instructions
and explanation of what you would need this for and how to use it. Basically
it is for computing just the right mixtures of feed and ingredients for livestock
nutrition derived from different ratios of mixtures of different grains and meals.
Sound complicated, just try using it to see how tedious it is.
I think that pretty much explains the condition, as I would be willing to bet most
of the livestock got whatever was available in the way of leftovers from the corn
crop or other grain crops, and that was pretty much it. There must be
60-70 different printed slides stored on the left which you would put into the holders
on the right, and start computing the ratios, cost, weight and so forth. I
have a feeling this did not go over real big with the typical country farmer, and
back then, when the farms were pretty much family owned something like this was
not really needed or desired. Perhaps today, and perhaps the Chinese should
be using something like it before they add to much of whatever to the next batch
of dog food, or your food.
I looked it over, and tried it out, and I can confirm it is pretty
much non understandable. That is what makes it
a great collectible in the field of calculation.
"The
Locke Adder" This unusual sliding
bar adder / calculator was patented in Kensett Iowa in 1901. These unusual
adding machines can be found marked with a second patent date from 1905 as well,
and so I assume we can call this the first model.
This adder seems kind simplistic
in the scheme of things as the design of calculators and adders had been progressing
rapidly and was well advanced past this design by 1900, but I guess they had not
heard that in outer Iowa and about what was going on in the rest of the world.
This probably helps explain its relative scarcity as it probably was not very popular
outside of that area and seemed dated to potential buyers elsewhere it was offered
to. That old world view probably explains some of the goings on in Iowa today
as well.
This example is in excellent condition
and show little signs of wear or tear. The main body is pressed steel in a
copper flash finish, and the sliding adding bars have nearly all of their original
paint. The slides all function as they should. An interesting
piece that clearly demonstrates just how far the field of calculation has come and
how Iowa fits into the picture.
Percentage
Calculator These are usually associated
with stores where the operator was trying to figure out his profit or discount to
be given. This one is Tole Painted and probably dates from just after the
turn of the century from the look of it.
General
Store / Shop Keepers Under Counter Roll Out Calculator These
were meant to mount under the counter
so the clerk could pull it out and calculate volume discounts or large purchases.
I doubt it got used very often, even if needed.
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(1998 - 2009)
Larry & Carole Meeker
