Details:

While competitors use the amount of displacement determined by an input module to transfer key-input to the accumulator,  this machine uses speed to transfer the entered digit. To do so keys in each column are connected to a kind of gearbox with 9 speeds.  If a “1” is pushed, the lowest gear is activated, if a “2” is pushed, the second gear is activated and so on.  When a calculation operation is activated (e.g. “+”) the machine makes a rotation to transfer the selected digits from all columns into the accumulator.

While this is an analogue operation, a smart construction properly digitises the results at the end of the operation.

 It’s advertised as  a “Silent speed mechanism”.  The fact that the actual calculation process is analogue allows for continuous rotation when adding/subtracting for multiplication and division.  It makes the machine fast enough to directly input the multiplier one digit after the other while the machine is calculating. As a result  there is no need for a multiplication register.

Furthermore, during division there is a smart detection system to predict wether a next subtraction will end with a negative result.  In that case the next division does not take place.  In stead the carriage is moved to the next position. Doing so saves an unnecessary subtraction as well as a the related corrective addition.  The silent speed mechanism + the prediction mechanism are the reasons why in particular  a division is executed much faster than on competitive machines.

Usage:

Addition/subtraction:

Enter a number and hit the “+” or the “-” key.

Multiplication:

Enter the first number in the main input field.  Enter the second number in the rightmost column.  Multiplication is immediately executed per entered digit. The order of input for the second number is right to left)

Division          

Enter the first number and hit the “+” key.  Enter the second number and hit the “:” key. The division is now executed. The result appears in the upper register.

Function of some keys, switches etc

• The keys “UPPER DIAL” and “MIDDLE DIAL”  reset the registers on the carriage.
• The key “CLEAR RETURN”  moves the carriage to the left most position or to the first tab that is encountered
• The buttons below the counter register set a tab-position.  A tab limits the nr of digits in the result of a division.
• The position of the switch next to the rightmost “9” determines whether the counter adds or subtracts.

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Serial number:

Built in:

Functions:

Rotation speed:

Market-introduction:

Production until:

Price:

R-8ADX 582317-H

1958/1959 (*)

Addition, Subtraction, Fully automatic  Multiplication and  Fully automatic Division

1000 additions or subtractions per min.

1953

1962 ?  It was still offered in 1962/1963 (Source: Büromaschinen Lexikon)

Approx. DM. 2975 in 1958     (Source: Büromaschinen Lexikon)

(*) The list in vintagecalculators.com  shows ascending numbers up to ADX548 in 1957.  This, together with the appearance in Büromaschinen Lexikon untill 1962 makes me believe that this machine was build one or two years later.  By that time Marchant had merged with Smith Corona to form the SCM Corporation (source: My Years with Marchant by Ernie Jorgenson).