Monroe High Speed Adding Calculator (<span>LA5-160x)</span>
Mathematics; Business; Physics; Engineering
<h3>Physical Description</h3>
<p>The calculator generally comprises three main parts: the main housing, the keypad, and the output carriage.<br /><br />The main housing for the calculator is rectangular as seen from the top, with one pale green slanted face on the front where the keypad is located, similar to a typewriter or cash register. The main housing is a shiny dark green in color with the appearance of a scale-like texture. On the bottom of the main housing are four feet which are steel with a rubber boot. On the front of the main housing, just below the slanted face, a "T" shaped knob protrudes. The knob has a small polished aluminum shaft (15mm long, 6mm diameter) with small black enamel handles (12mm long). Then, on the face to the right of the slanted face (when viewed straight on as if operating) is a knurled aluminum knob about 25mm in diameter. On the back of the calculator (opposite the slanted face) is an electrical connector that is on the right side of the calculator. Lastly, there are "MONROE" logos with yellow letters outlined in red on the front face below the slanted face and centered on the back, under both of which there are the words "HIGH SPEED ADDING CALCULATOR" in yellow. The logo on the back is much larger, while the logo on the front is about half the size and positioned towards the right. Additionally, on the bottom of the calculator in the center is a yellow tag that has the same logo in black letters with additional product information writtten below it.<br /><br />Housed on the slanted face is the keypad. This pale green panel contains a 10x8 array of white buttons (6mm diam.) with black numerals, 0 through 9. Each column starts with a zeroing key at the bottom and increases to nine at the topmost row. To the right of the number pad is another column of various buttons. Starting at the top is the subtraction button (with an inscribed - symbol) which is long, rectangular (35mm long, 13mm wide), and black in color. Directly below that is the addition button (with an inscribed + symbol) with the same shape, orientation, and color. Under that is a 6mm diameter red button that has no symbol. Then under that is another 6mm diameter red button with a darker red "R" on it. Last below that button is a larger red button (14mm diameter) with a pale green zero. The final component on the front panel is a small aluminum lever directly to the left of the left-most "1" button that stands 10mm tall.<br /><br />At the top rear is the output carriage. The carriage is primarily the same dark shiny green as the main body. The carriage is a triangular prism in shape with one of the long flat faces facing the operator, which is at the same angle as the input panel. On this primary face are two rows of small windows (5mm tall and 4mm wide). The bottom row closest to the number pad consists of 16 windows, while the top row consists of 8 windows that are directly above the eight rightmost widows of the bottom rows. Inside each of the windows are black numbers (on the top row, there is also a set of red numbers for subtraction) on a white roller much like a slot machine. Directly above the lower set of windows is a rail with yellow numbers above each window, starting with one on the left and ending with 16 on the right. Along this rail is a set of 5 brass sliders with very small knobs (3mm diameter) that are attached to red arrows that point down towards the lower set of windows. Directly above this rail and below the upper set of windows is another shorter rail that matches the shorter number of windows. This rail has eight numbers and one slider that points upwards. A large steel knob (15mm in diameter) is to the right of these rails. Lastly, on the right face of the carriage is a crank with a dark wooden knob about 10mm in diameter with a polished aluminum arm (20mm long).</p>
<h3>Functional Description<strong><strong><br /></strong></strong></h3>
<p>The purpose of this calculator is complete simple arithmetic such as adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.</p>
<p>Before doing any calculations, users will need to reset the registers (number windows on the carriage). Operators can do this by rotating the crank attached to the carriage until the register reads zero.</p>
<p>For adding, users type in the first number into the keypad by depressing the corresponding buttons, where the number furthest to the right is the smallest digit (which could represent a decimal). Then, the user shall click the plus button causing an electric motor to spin and load the number into the lower register (the longest set of windows). After that, users type the next number to which they would like to add in the same manner. Then, after selecting the add button, the value in the lower register will be the sum that the user is looking for.</p>
<p>For subtracting, the user should perform a similar process where they type in the larger of the two numbers and then press the add button to add the larger value to the register. After that, operators should input the subtracting value into the keypad. Then the user shall select the subtraction key, causing the motor to spin in the opposite direction. This will yield the desired difference in the lower register.</p>
<p>For multiplication, the user must input the larger value into the number pad. The operators shall select the red key with an R. This locks the number so that after the addition key is selected, the number pad will not reset. If the small number of the multiplication is less than ten, the user shall select the addition key as many times as the smaller number. The upper register will count the number of times the user has selected the addition key, and the lower register will display the product.</p>
<p>If the smaller number happens to be larger than ten, the user can select the add key for the smallest digit of the smaller number, and then they can shift the entire carriage with the T-shaped knob so that they add to the power of ten more. Operators should repeat this process until the upper register shows the smaller number of the multiplication, and the resultant in the lower register will be the product.</p>
<p>Operators can perform division in the same manner as a multiplication; however, they shall input the larger number into the lower register. Then, they can use the subtraction key instead of the addition key until the lower register reads as close to zero as possible (remainders may exist). The operator can then read the result of the division in the upper register in red numbers.</p>
<p>In addition, the calculator has some extra useful functions. One is at the bottom of each column is a zeroing button which can be used to clear a column if the incorrect value is selected. Similarly, there is a larger read zeroing buttons that clear the whole number pad. Another feature is a small lever that users can move to hold down the leftmost one on the number pad. This will cause the leftmost digit in the register to count the number of additions or subtractions performed. Another functional feature is the set of sliders on the registers. Ultimately, these sliders are used for the reference of the user and are often used for dealing with decimal numbers where the digits furthest to the right are the smallest decimal value or unit of precision. Lastly, there is a knob on the right side of the calculator that can be used to spin the motor and perform calculations without electricity. In this case, the knob shall be rotated clockwise to add and counterclockwise to subtract.<strong><br /></strong></p>
Isaac Couling
1940-1950
English
Physical Object
no accession number
United States of America
Pressure Gage Testing Apparatus
gauges; steam engineering; mechanical engineering; boilers
<h4>Physical Description</h4>
A brass pressure gauge testing apparatus kit inside a fitted wooden case. The kit consists of a wooden base, brass cylinders, a reflective metallic weigh plate, four bolts, an oil pan, two notepads, and a steel wrench. <br /><br />The main brass body of the instrument is composed of 3 cylinders: 1) a main upright cylinder with threaded cap that is removed to insert the weigh plate; 2) an L-shaped arm with a horizontal cylinder perpendicular to the main one whose diameter varies by about 10mm and a 90° upward bend, terminating in a threaded opening; and 3) an upright diagonal cylinder that has a threaded adjustment arm within for adjusting pressure inside the apparatus during the testing of a pressure gauge. The L-shaped arm has a valve release knob on its horizontal portion and a threaded top on its vertical portion where a threaded pressure gauge attaches. <br /><br />The rest of the kit is organized in engineered slots for all of the components. The instrument fits snugly within the wooden case, the metallic weigh plate is held in place on the wooden kit base with 3 adjustable wooden pegs. Four pressure gauge adapters for different thread combinations fit into four wooden holes to the right of the wooden kit base, and the oil pan fits just underneath an oil release valve on the horizontal portion of the L-shaped arm. In addition, notepads and a wrench are kept in the case, but without dedicated spots. <br /><br />The wooden case itself has a single metal latch on the front face and a handle on the top. It is marked with a Michigan College of Mining and Technology property tag underneath the latch that reads “MCMT-1 741 1” ,which places the date of acquisition of this instrument between 1925 and 1967, the period in which out university bore that name. (A paper tag that reads “5” attached with cellophane tape is presumably just a collection number for the MEEM department records). <br /><br />There are several inscriptions engraved on the instrument. On the top of the wooden base at the rear there is “1073” likely indicating a production number, the 1073rd apparatus to come out of production from Crosby Steam Gage & Valve Co. On the main upright cylinder is engraved “PAT. MAR 11 1884”, signifying the date a U.S. patent was granted. On the knob of the perpendicular cylinder, “DRAIN” and “OPEN” are on the flat faces to signify the position on the internal drain valve. “X” appears on both of the small side faces of the knob to signify the stoppage of oil flow. The inside face on the spout of the oil pan also has an engraving “PAT. U.S.A. DEVERALL’S”, signifying the producer of the pan.
<h4>Functional Description</h4>
The instrument is intended to be attached to pressure gauges on steam engines and other steam machinery with pressure gauge displays to test their accuracy. <br /><br />To properly use the instrument, one would unscrew the cap on the main upright brass cylinder and insert the metallic weight plate. Then, they would select one of the four adapters that matches the threading type and size (they take the ¾-16 thread to either 13mm(male), 13mm(female), 9mm(female), or 4mm(male)) of the pressure gauge to be tested and screw that into the receptacle at the end of the L-arm. The kit-provided wrench may be used to tighten the bolt, and a weight (not included with the kit) would be placed on top of the metallic weigh plate. The threaded adjustment arm in the diagonal cylinder would then be screwed in or out to bleed off the appropriate amount of pressure as to not launch the weigh plate off of the apparatus, and the pressure gauge would then be screwed into the aforementioned bolt on the perpendicular arm to begin testing. The results would then be recorded on the provided notepad. Oil that collects inside the apparatus from the steam is periodically drained into the provided pan and refilled as necessary to prevent pressure buildup or malfunction in the instrument. <br /><br />It is not known the methods for which the threaded pressure adjustment arm in the diagonal cylinder are properly used, as there are no provided instructions or documentation with the instrument or available in records online. It can be assumed that the calculations for how much pressure to release when testing are able to be performed by hand based on the amount of pressure the gauge being tested is responsible for.
Peyton Hall
c.1884
physical object
English
MTU (MCMT) property tag 17411. MEEM Inventory #5
United States of America
Pickett Model N600-ES Log Log Speed Rule
Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Mathematics
Physical Description:
The Pickett Model N600-ES Log Log slide rule is constructed using three yellow painted aluminum bars. The “ES” in the model name means “Eye-Saver” and refers to the yellow painted construction. The two outer bars are called the stators and are attached by a brace on both ends. The braces create a gap between the two stators where the third aluminum bar, called the slide, fits into the grooves between the two stators. A clear plastic cursor slides along the outside of the stators. The cursor has a vertical hairline marker on both sides of the slide rule for lining up the scales between the slide and stators. The upper stator has LL1 and A scales on the front side and LL2 and DF scales on the backside. The lower stator has D, DI, and K scales on the front side and D and LL3 scales on the backside. The slide has B, ST, T, S, and C scales on the front side and CF, Ln, L, CI, and C scales on the backside. The scales are usually logarithmic with a few exceptions such as the L and Ln scale which are log operations with a linear scale. The index of a scale is the furthest left number for the left index or the furthest right number for the right index. The scale ranges and operations are described under inscriptions.
Functional Description:
The Pickett Model N600-ES Log Log slide rule is a duplex slide rule. A duplex slide rule has scales on both sides of the slide rule and a dual-faced cursor. The dual-faced cursor allows for relating one side of the scale to the other side for a greater number of calculations. Logarithmic scales have a multiplication and division property discovered by William Oughtred in 1630 that allow for the operations of multiplication and division instead of addition and subtraction of linear scales. Multiplication is the simplest operation on a slide rule using the two fundamental scales, C and D. To multiply two numbers, x and y, the left index of C is positioned over x on the D scale. Then the cursor is position over y on the C scale. The value of the cursor on the D scale is the solution to x multiplied by y. The decimal place may need to be adjusted to get the correct order of magnitude since the C and D scale has values ranging from 1 to 10. The other scales are used to perform different operations such as squares, reciprocals, exponentials, and sines, cosines, and tangents.
Gideon Hoekstra, Nick Renke, Donovan Doran, Erik Madson
1962
English
Wang Laboratories Model 370 Programming Calculator
Mathematics; Science; Engineering; Financial Services.
A rectangular shaped (304.4 Length X 165.1Width X 355.6 Height mm) device. This frame is made of metal that is painted everywhere except the stainless steel bottom. The front of the calculator contains a panel and display board. The panel holds 56 plastic keys of different shapes (Key Shape 1: 17.5 X 9.5 X 17.5 mm & Key Shape 2: 38.1 X 9.5 X 17.5 mm) and colors (black, gray, white, and blue) and 12 small white switches. The display board is a clear plastic sheet with a 14-digit display of nixie tubes behind it. On top there are multiple openings, likely for ventilation. On the back near the bottom is a black plastic knob, a switch for power, 2 slots for inputting cords, and 2 cords that go out.
Functional Description:
The Wang Model 370 Programmer is a primitive calculator that was capable of being programmed for adding loops, logical tests, jumps, and subroutine calls. This turned the calculator into a small computer.
On the keyboard are many different commands for programming and many basic calculator operations (such as add, subtract, multiply, divide, etc.). The 370 Programmer calculates operations and displays them on through the clear plastic screen via lighting up different nixie tubes shaped into numbers.
The 370 was capable of programming and reading code. It could use the programming keys on the keyboard to create a code. It could attach to a card reader that would read punch out sheets and translate the card into code for the 370 to use. Both methods could then store the code on the 370 to be used later.
Gideon Hoekstra, Donovan Doran, Erik Madson, Nick Renke
1967-1968
English
Weston D.C. Voltmeter, Model 45
Electrical Measurement
Front face with lid opened:
Knobs: Toward the top of the box on the front face, there are 3 screw knobs (two on the left, one on the right). Each dial has a knurled surface, and when unscrewed, reveals a metal electrical lead. Above the knobs on the left are circular labels with white text that say “300” and “150”. On the right, a similarly formatted inscription above the right knob has a “+”.
Front face surface: the entire surface is a black, knurly surface. On it is a circular boss that drops below the hinge mounts, such that the user can only see half of the circle. In the boss, there is a quarter-circular slot with glass in it such that the user can see the white label underneath it. A singular needle points to labels marked from 0 to 300, with increments of 20. Below those markings, there are similar markings in red instead of black, that increment by 10 and go from 0 to 150. Below that is the label “WESTON D.C. VOLTMETER”. The individual line increments on the white portion have 10 increments in between each labeled increment, with a longer split marking 5 increments.
Functional Description: This object is intended to measure voltage through use of the leads underneath the screw knobs. One attaches their charged leads to either the 300 or 150 lead and the “+” lead. When this is done, the needle points to the amount of voltage between the user’s charged leads.
The holes on the inside of the lid are probably for storing the electrical lead screw knobs, such that they do not get lost.
The instrument can be used on its back or on its bottom, and the user can use the latch to close the device during storage. When the leather strap was still there, it could be used to carry the device around.
The “correction” knob on the front can be used for fine-tuning/calibrating the instrument’s measurements.
The measurement of voltage can suit many applications, but in this case, it looks like it was for a specific class (The “EE” course prefix probably signifies the electrical engineering department).
Cooper Sheldon, John Wyrzykowski, Ben Weigand, Nick Silvestri
March 1930
English
4242 compensating polar planimeter
Engineering; Mathematics
<strong>Physical Description</strong>: The Keuffel and Esser polar planimeter is composed of two individual pieces. One being the main body, and the other a tracer arm. Both sections are comprised of tarnished silver square rods with black markings indicating distance in millimeter; these rods being made of some black painted metal. Two dials are attached to the main body or larger section; one is horizontal, the other vertical. These dials are made of black painted metal with white lines and white numbers. The tracer arm is composed of a long square sections with a large balled pin on one end, and a large cylindrical mass on the other end that has a small pin on the bottom. The main body has a long square rod made of tarnished silver, with a black painted metal portion attached. This metal portion holds the aforementioned two dials. On the end of the silver square rod is a spike, this being attached to the rod via a black metal tab. The tracer arm and main body are combined by inserting the large balled pin into a hole on the surface of the main body. The object's case is a black rectangular box with a metallic clip latch. The inside of the case is lined with pear green felt material. On the inside of the lid is a white paper card with black old-style lettering. Inside the case and screwed to the bottom is a bronze stamped nameplate. <br /><br /><strong>Functional Description</strong>: The planimeter was used to measure the area of a 2d surface. It did this by having a tracer arm that remained stationary about a point, while the main body rotated and translated with the area’s curve. The dials attached measured the rotation and translation, and the resulting values could be used to calculate the area of the section enclosed by the device.
Cooper Sheldon, John Wyrzykowski, Ben Weigand, Nick Silvestri
1901-1936
physical object
English
Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Building, 3rd Floor, Second Case from the Left
American Thompson Steam Gauge
Steam Engines; Pressure Systems; Artillery
Physical Description:<br /><p dir="ltr"><span>The Thompson Improved Steam Indicator comes in a dark stained wooden box 285mm wide, 207mm deep, and 240mm tall. It opens about halfway up its height to reveal a number of objects. The box, as well as various components, are serial numbered 4994. Inside the box there are pockets as well as mounts for the various objects to go into which can be seen in the images provided.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>In the center is the steam indicator, which resembles two off-center attached cylinders screwed onto a mount. The cylinders are both 90mm in height and 50mm in diameter. The top cylinder has a slot to affix a cardstock, a stylus arm and pull string. The bottom cylinder has the arm holding the stylus and a spring inside to control the stylus arm. The bottom of the bottom cylinder has threads and ties to the mount on the bottom of the box, as well as thumb bars on the bottom to attach or unattach it by hand.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The steam indicator comes with 6 springs numbered 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, and 80, which range in length from 53-63mm long. These springs are threaded onto mounts on the upper half of the box and can replace the spring inside the bottom cylinder of the steam indicator. This allows the system to make more precise graphs depending on the pressure that the engine is putting out.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>In addition to the above, there are also two globe shut-off valves with thread sizes of 20 and 25mm. The valves come with caps for one side to prevent damage to the threads that could result in inadequate attachment . There is also a torque wrench used to tighten the lower cylinder onto the engine that the indicator will be attached to. There is also a small vial of oil, for the joints of the stylus arm or the springs. There was also a specialized wrench designed to tighten the components in order to prevent gas leaks. The final component was a ruler with a screw driver end that allowed for the dismantling of the indicator as well as measuring the height of the graphs drawn by the arm allowing the user to find the pressure in the system.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Functional Description:<br /></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>In order to use the Thompson steam indicator, the user fastened</span><span> the stainless-steel ball valve to the steam engine being analyzed. The indicator was then be fastened to the open end of the ball valve via a threaded connection. With the ball valve opened, the steam within the engine’s piston</span><span> exerts pressure on a spring enclosed within a 100 mm tall, 30 mm diam. cylinder of the indicator. A plunger connected to the spring is </span><span> </span><span>forced upward depending upon the force received by the spring. The motion of the plunger moves the 80 mm long arm vertically, which determines the markings made by the attached pencil. The pencil marks a piece of paper, which is wrapped around the upper cylinder (90 mm tall and 51 mm dia) of the indicator. Wrapped around this upper cylinder is a string whose function is to rotate the cylinder about its center. If the string were left free to hang, the steam pressure pushes the pencil upward, making a straight vertical line on the paper. However, the string was fastened to a component of the engine to allow for the engine piston and the cylinder to move in unison. The string moves the cylinder of the steam indicator in unison with the piston throughout the entire stroke, and a continuous marking is made to illustrate the pressure at each point of the stroke as the pencil is moved upward and downward while the cylinder pivots throughout the process. Thus, the vertical motion of the pencil graphs changes in pressure, while the rotation of the cylinder indicates the phase of the piston cycle, and so in unison the pencil plots a diagram of the pressure cycle in the engine.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The indicator was designed to record the stroke of a steam engine, particularly locomotives. At the start of the stroke, the inlet valve opens completely, allowing the maximum force to be applied to the spring by the steam. The pencil marks a horizontal line at its highest point in the cycle from left to right. At cut-off, the inlet valve closes and expansion of the steam occurs, during which the force gradually decreases. This phase is indicated by a pencil mark resembling an exponential decay curve. At release</span><span>, the exhaust valve opens, releasing the steam and the force is at its minimum, resulting in a straight horizontal pencil mark at the lowest point of the curve—this time from right to left. When the exhaust valve closes, compression occurs, causing a gradual rise in pressure. When the inlet valve opens again, the gradual increase in pressure becomes a sharp increase, causing the pencil to mark a straight vertical line returning to the first point of the cycle when the steam pressure exerts its greatest force on the spring. The end product of this device is a card illustrating the change in pressure throughout the continuous cycle of the steam engine. For an engine operating at 250 RPM, the device could generate one cycle plot (or card) per minute.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The spring within the indicator can be replaced with a larger spring to record higher steam engine pressures. The set of springs are marked according to their compressive strength: the spring marked #100 converts the force from 100 psi gauge-pressure</span><span>steam into a pencil movement of one inch, a #80 spring converts 80 psig steam into a movement of one inch, and so on.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Though the steam indicator was primarily used on locomotives, it could also be applied to traction engines and artillery</span><span>. Due to the high cost of the indicator, it was seldom used on traction engines beyond the confines of the factory in which it was produced. When applied to heavy artillery, the oil in the recoil chamber would replace the steam as the working fluid and exert a pressure on the spring.</span><span> The string would be fastened to the barrel to allow for the recoil movement to pull on the string.</span></p>
Elsa Schwartz, Collin Graf, Sarah Hartman, Joel VanLanen, and Patrick Demorest.
1904
English
Physical object
Serial no. 4994
United States of America
Radiotron
<em>Physical Description</em>: The Radiotron is a tall glass tube that stands 41cm high. The total width of the Radiotron is 25cm. The main glass sphere has a diameter of 18.34 cm. Attached to one side of this sphere is a tubular piece that has an outside diameter of 3.175 cm and an inside diameter of 2.5cm. The tubular piece is extruded 6 cm out from the sphere. The main body has two steel pegs that are used as electrical contact points. At the bottom of the structure there is a steel collar where wires are fed into the Radiotron. The Radiotron has many important internal parts; comprised of steel, steel mesh, and aluminum as seen in the figure which shows a detailed drawing of the Radiotron. <br /><br /><em>Functional Description</em>: The Radiotron is a triode vacuum-tube, working through a process known as thermionic emission, in which a cathode tube is heated so that it throws off electrons in the surrounding space. Surrounding the cathode is a metal plate which, if positively charged, will attract the ejected electrons, establishing a current. The radiotron is a triode vacuum tube, in which a small metal metsh is placed between the cathode and the anode plate. This mesh, if connected to a negative voltage, can reduce or shut off the stream of electrons from the cathode to the anode. This setup allows for small changes in voltage through the mesh to correspond to large voltage changes in the anode acting as an electric amplifier. The Radiotron is then attached as part of a larger circuit, in the case of our object, likely as a power amplifier aboard a navy ship.
Emily Oppliger, Grayson Hooper, Anthony Miller, Colton Kettlehut, Cam Dulong
Related to vacuum tubes
Physical Object
English