Details
A RARE EARLY 19TH CENTURY GILT AND LACQUERED BRASS MECHANICAL CALCULATOR (Rechenmaschine) by Johann Christoph Schuster, the drum shaped body enclosing the complex mechanism, the cover plate engraved
and signed within a reserve:
Rechnungs Maschine von Johann Christoph Schuster zu Ansbach in Franken angefangen 1820 vollendet 1822, with ten large and ten smaller enamelled dials each inscribed with numerals 0-9 in black and subsidiary counters in red, each dial hand adjusted by knurled knob, the supports with window aperture engraved for:- Einer, Zehen, Hundert, Tausend, 10 Tausend, 100 Tausend, Million, 10 Million, 100 Million and 1000 Million, the plate arranged so as to lock via a spring catch. The outer rim of the drum with ten counters similarly adjusted, but with vertical rack and pinion motion, the centre pointer and bridge decorated, pierced and engraved in the neo-classical manner, the detachable iron winder with lignum vitae handle, the two carrying handles missing; 8½in (21.5cm) diam, 3¾in (9.5cm) deep, with later mahogany carrying case
and signed within a reserve:
Rechnungs Maschine von Johann Christoph Schuster zu Ansbach in Franken angefangen 1820 vollendet 1822, with ten large and ten smaller enamelled dials each inscribed with numerals 0-9 in black and subsidiary counters in red, each dial hand adjusted by knurled knob, the supports with window aperture engraved for:- Einer, Zehen, Hundert, Tausend, 10 Tausend, 100 Tausend, Million, 10 Million, 100 Million and 1000 Million, the plate arranged so as to lock via a spring catch. The outer rim of the drum with ten counters similarly adjusted, but with vertical rack and pinion motion, the centre pointer and bridge decorated, pierced and engraved in the neo-classical manner, the detachable iron winder with lignum vitae handle, the two carrying handles missing; 8½in (21.5cm) diam, 3¾in (9.5cm) deep, with later mahogany carrying case