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| Friden Model SVE, c.1965 |
As a Professional Engineer, I have long been fascinated by the workings of mechanical and early electronic calculating machines. Although never setting out to "collect" calculators, I do seem to have acquired a fair selection from various parts of Australia over the past 35 years or so. As a hobby interest, I have frequently dis-assembled (and re-assembled) machines to study and document their mechanisms. I have taken further notes from books, manuals, patents, and many related items to provide a technical and a social background to the machines, and to the companies and the men who built them. In recent years I have started collating some of this information in electronic rather than hard-copy form.
My aims in making this material accessible through this "web museum" are:
The machines in these pages are organised into categories according to their basic technology, with separate pages for manufacturers where there are sufficient examples. Each machine entry has a photo and a brief technical specification, with explanatory notes where appropriate. The photos on the listing pages have been kept small (8-10kb) for rapid browsing, but clicking on these images will generally bring up a more detailed version (about 30kb). A full Index by Make and Model is available on a separate page. Detailed technical descriptions are being added to the Technical and Reference section as the opportunity arises.
The explanatory notes and technical descriptions were prepared initially for my own use, to assist me in understanding (and remembering) the details of the machines in my own collection. They are drawn primarily from my own observations, supplemented with material collated from a variety of published sources. The notes are presented in good faith, but with no guarantees of accuracy or completeness. Useful resources for further information are listed on the relevant pages.
This web museum does not aim to provide a complete or comprehensive listing of all makes and models. It consists primarily of machines which I have personally acquired within Australia, and which were (to the best of my knowledge) originally sold and used within this country. The number of examples of each type may provide a rough indication of their relative popularity. In 2006 the museum incorporated a similar collection assembled by Mr John Blackler, a retired engineer from Sydney, Australia, and a number of machines from the collection of the late Professor Alan Bromley of The University of Sydney. Some of these latter machines were collected overseas. Provenance is noted where appropriate.
Original text and images on these pages are copyright ©, and may not be reproduced without permission. Permission will generally be freely given for private, educational, or non-commercial purposes. Larger or higher-resolution images for publication can be provided by arrangement. Deep links into this site should be avoided, as the structure and content are still under active development.
Please note that this "web museum" is strictly a part-time hobby - it is not a business. The machines illustrated are all part of my personal collection, and are not for sale. I do not deal in calculators, although I may occasionally dispose of spare or duplicate machines. I regret that I am unable to offer repair services on a commercial basis, but I will try to answer technical queries by email. I am always happy to provide a home for unwanted calculators, instruction manuals, or calculator-related documents, and to share and exchange with like-minded enthusiasts.
I would be happy to receive feedback or comments from visitors, and would especially welcome corrections or further information about the machines or companies listed.