This object is part of a collection relating to the history and development of computing and other information technology assembled by Assoc Professor Allan Bromley of Sydney University, comprising of calculators, mechanical and electronic analogue computers, computer components, kit computers, education computers, and associated ephemera.

Allan Bromley was a lecturer and researcher at the University of Sydney Basser Department of Computer Science from 1978 until his untimely death in August 2002. He specialised in Computer Architecture, Computer Logic and in particular the History of Computing. He was regarded as the world authority on Charles Babbage's Calculating Engines (instigating the rebuilt of DE2 at the Science Museum London) and the Ankithera Mechanism and had extensive knowledge on calculators, analogue computers, logic, stereopsis, totalisators, clocks and time keeping and mechanical engineering.

Felt and Tarrant, Chicago Illinois, United States of America, 1915-1920.

Mechanical desktop calculator, direct key, Comptometer, metal / plastic, made by Felt and Tarrant, Chicago. Illinois, United States of America, 1915-1920

A comptometer that consists of series of metal and plastic keys fixed into thirteen rows on a rectangular tan metal keyboard. The plastic tops of the keys are green or yellow and each has a black or a white number written across them. At the front of the keyboard is a row of eleven round windows that display numbers. Decorative scrollwork has been attached to either side of the keyboard. There is a metal lever with a black handle attached to the right side of the keyboard. A rectangular metal dust cover accompanies the comptometer.

Made: 1915 - 1920

2010/1/220

1915 - 1920

155 mm

280 mm