Allen-Wales Mechanical Adding Machine: Help?

[blackstone]

I'm both baffled and amazed at the insides of this adding machine. First of all, I'm not entirely sure how to operate it. Second, it does not work properly, so I don't know whether or not it is "pilot error." The display numbers do not change after pressing the keys; nor does the printing levers rise up and print. At times, the handle does not come forward, or return to its upright position.

I'm amazed at the intricate mechanism inside these machines. I thought that the inside of a Blackstone 350 transmission was a work of wonder; I can't imagine how anyone could have designed the internals of this adding machine. From the looks of it, I can see nothing broken or missing. I used some WD-40 in a few places, with minor success.

I would like to get this in working order. I saved it from our store, where it was in constant use. I remember playing with it as a kid. It did get replaced by an electric one at some point. Anyone have an idea of where I could get assistance in fixing this machine?

 

[petek]

Neat

The first office I worked in at the r.r. had some of those along with ancient comptometers both manual and electric.  Thankfully I never had to use one but the people that did and had been there since the 40's etc could go like the wind and I used to like playing with them and being shown how they worked. 

 

 

The number dials are called the register. 

On those type of adding machines which are a cross between a comptometer and manual adder I think they work similarly but whereas the register on a comptometer changes with each key press,  on yours you enter your numbers and then pull the handle to initiate the turning which will also print the entry on the paper tape and store the number in the accumulator. To get the total which will be showing on the register dials you now have to slide the lever to the right of the keyboard, it should say something like "total", and then pull the handle once again.  Before you begin a new tally you must always slide one of those levers which probably says "clear" and then pull the handle once again to zero the register and clear the accumulator. 

 

I can see two small levers on the side of your machine.. can you take a picture of the case . It's possible that it's jammed and there's a clearing/unlocking using one of them.

 

 

The first two rows are the less than 100 rows.. 0 to 99 (cents if you're talking money) 

The second row is the 100's row.. 1 to 9  or $1 to $99 and so on 

A dollar or 100 would be the bottom (1) on the 3rd row. 

 

 

You can also multiply by just pressing the same numbers over and over by how much you want..  ie  7 x 6.. You would press 7 (on row 1) six times.. However for larger numbers exceeding 10 lets say..  15 x 12  you would press 15 twice (the 2 in the number 12)  on the first two rows (giving you 30)  and then move over one row to the left and press 15 once on rows 3 and 2.. (give you 150).  Total 180.  

 

soon as I enter this here I know I'm gonna have screwed something up... was a loooong time ago  so don't take it as gospel 

 

 

 

[askolover]

mechanical things

like this and typewriters as well as many other machines amaze and fascinate me.  It took real engineering to design and produce, not just an electronic chip. 

 

[kb0nes]

It took real engineering... not just an electronic chip.

Well in fairness, I have the hunch that an electronic microprocessor is a pretty mean feat of engineering too. Probably as much or more so then a mechanical system.

Mechanical systems are interesting though as they are far more tangible. All of us can physically see and maybe even understand how they work.

Both ways are amazing though and can be appreciated in their own way

 

[petek]

Naturally as soon as I left the house driving to the casino tonight I'm thinking about this.LOL... If what I said about having to crank the lever after each entry to show up on the register dials along with turning the accumulator wheels then it would be a royal pain in the arse to do multiplication.  It would be something if it has a multiplier but somehow I doubt it..I don't think that sort of mechanical feature came along until mechanical adding machines went to the regular type calculator "keypad" .. Then I googled it... here's a description of the model 77,, in your picture it looks like a 77 by the serial number.. http://public.beuth-hochschule.de/hamann/workshop/allen-wales/index.html

 

[turquoisedude]

Paging cadman!  Cory may be able to help out... 

 

[blackstone]

Petek...

I have printed that website. That's about all that I could find on this machine.

One of the levers on the side is "Repeat"--lever "d". This works as described. Lever down, the numbers clear when the handle goes back. Lever up, the keys remain depressed. So, multiplication would be just repeated addition, pulling the handle repeatedly.

In photo #1, at the bottom right, there is a curved lever, with a small tab sticking out. Another small lever catches this tab when the handle is pulled down fully. This is why it does not return. I have to manually move the small lever to release the handle. I can't determine where this piece is connected; it seems to be related to the print heads.

In photo #3, what is that cylinder? There is oil at the bottom. I have seen similar-looking cylinders on other mechanical adding machines. Could be for lubrication, but why only on one moving part? Or is it designed to apply the correct mechanical resistance to everything else?

 

[petek]

From what I could find out the cylinder is a dampener  either cushion the printing mechanism and/or the crank handle return. 

 

[blackstone]

The lever attached to that cylinder does not move when the handle is pulled down. I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing.