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   CALCULATING MACHINE   
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  Surveying Instrument Collection 

Maker

Facit AB (Sweden)

Model

CM 2-16

Serial Number

1420281

Dimensions

Length 270mm, Width 240mm, Height 160mm 

Image

Facit AB CM 2-16 Calculating Machine

Description

This Calculating Machine is a later model introduced by FACIT in about 1950. The machine incorporates a barrel-type mechanical design with a 'ten-key' keyboard consisting of numbers labelled 0 to 9. The machine carries three registers, the product register (register for showing the results of additions) on the top left, the multiplier register on the top right and the 16-digit setting register on the bottom left. The setting register is fed by the ten-key keyboard at the bottom. Each number is typed on the keyboard, digit by digit, and the setting register moves one space to the left each time a digit is entered. The main handle and the setting register clearance handle are at the right, as usual, and the four red-coloured keys situated next to the ten-key keyboard are for controlling the carriage movement. This ten-key machine allows very simple touch operation, but necessitates a zero being entered wherever it is required. On the other hand, ten-key machines tend to be smaller and lighter than their full-keyboard competitors. The machine provides the provision for all four arithmetic operations to take place, namely addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. 

History & comments

The Facit calculating machine has perhaps been, in the past, the second most widely applied arithmetic instrument, with the Brunsviga being the first. 

These types of mechanical calculators (with numerical tables of trigonometric functions) replaced logarithmic tables and calculations in surveying. They were later superseded by electronic pocket calculators (Hewlett Packard HP35 in about 1973) and desktop computers. 

Conservation

In a container

Condition

Operational

Remarks
  • Catalogued by T. Ko
  • Updated by F. Pall

Dates

Manufactured in 1950 (approx.). Catalogued in 1997

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