Marchant Model A Standard Calculating Machine, circa 1917 — MINT CONDITION

Description

RARE Museum Quality Marchant Model A Standard Calculating Machine, manufactured circa 1917.
In fine condition. Still in working order. Highly collectible.
The same model Marchant Model A (with some missing parts) is now in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution / National Museum of American History in Washington DC. This example is intact with no missing parts but does not include the top case
that originally covered the unit
.
Description of
the
Marchant Model A at the National Museum of American History website says:
"On February 23, 1911, Rodney H. Marchant of Oakland, California applied for a patent for an improvement in calculating machines. The machine he envisioned was a pinwheel device, with a superior carriage to that of the Odhner, Brunsviga, and Dactyle calculating machines. R. H. Marchant soon joined with his brother to manufacture machines under the name of Marchant Brothers. In 1913, the Marchant Calculating Machine Company took over the assets of Marchant Brothers and began a systematic campaign to sell its machines, particularly in the western United States. This is an example of a relatively early machine, manufactured under 1911 and 1916 patents of R. H. Marchant.
The lever-set non-printing pinwheel machine has a black steel housing, a wooden base, and a black metal case. Nine levers rotate to set the pinwheels, with color-coded numbers marked on the spaces between them. A bar in front of the levers can be shifted to assist in zeroing them. A steel crank with a wooden handle that extends from the right side of the machine rotates backward (clockwise) for addition and multiplication and forward (counterclockwise) for subtraction and division.
At the front of the machine is a movable carriage with 13 windows that show dials of the result register on the right and eight windows for the revolution register on the left. The revolution register has no carry mechanism. The digits in this register are white for additions and red for subtractions. Decimal markers slide above both the registers on the carriage. A lever at the bottom front of the machine is depressed to allow shifting of the carriage. Wing nuts at the ends of the carriage zero the registers on it. A bell on the left end of the carriage rings when the result passes through zero.
A mark on a metal tag attached to the front of the machine reads: The (/) Marchant (/) MANUFACTURED BY (/) MARCHANT CALCULATING (/) MACHINE CO., Inc. (/) OAKLAND, CAL. (/) PATENTED JUNE 6. 1911 (/) FEB. 22. 1916.
"
Unlike the example at the National Museum of American History, which does not include t
he screws holding the machine to the base, this item includes the original screws along with felt layer between the machine and wooden base and original rubber feet.
Wooden base is 13-1/4 inches wide.
The unit weighs 15 pounds and will be securely packed; the successful purchaser pays USPS shipping. I only ship to Ebay-registered addresses within the 48 United States; not to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico or Canada.