Fun video! I think the phrase "on the beam" referred to a balance beam, like things are level and "even-steven". Ha! See what I did there? Balance beam scales were often used in retail commerce.
Thanks Joe! I actually looked up "on the beam" and found that it was a common saying, but it still sounds silly to me and I liked the video better with me not knowing what it means. By the way I just found your new comptometer video- good stuff. And lots more! Great that you seem to have a real audience for your videos. I think the typewriters are a bit more mainstream than these old adders. I did some videos on the REAL comptometer, and a Burroughs too like yours. Keep up the good work-
4:13 Is there something preventing you from just moving it clockwise from 0 to 90? As long as you're holding the indicator down and the teeth are disengaged wouldn't the direction of travel not matter? You'd still need to go all the way around for the adding part but that would eliminate almost half of the travel.
I have a digital wrist watch with a built in calculator, and while I don't really use it like you would an Add-A-Mite, I did find a use for it at the grocery store. See, I used to live abroad, and because everything was in a different currency, it wasn't always easy to estimate how much something cost (especially when the pandemic hit and exchange rates started fluctuating wildly). However, the calculator had a feature were you could store an exchange rate, and then all you needed to do was input a number, press '=' and then it would give you the equivalent. I also had a job once where I needed to read an instrument in the other end of the building and then go back to write it down (I know that sounds dumb, but a "clever solution" like automating it would have just overcomplicated things). And for that it was really handy to be able to just type the numbers on the calculator and then walk back.
My guess is that "beam" refers to a navigation beam - invented in WW2 to steer bombers to the target. So the Add-A-Mite keeps your budget on target. A term so familiar in the era that it's used in a song in the musical "South Pacific" - ". . . when a man don't understand you, when you fly on separate beams. . ."
Radio ranges had 4 courses. If you were left of course then you heard a repeated Morse code N _ . (dah dit), If right you heard an A . _ (dit dah). If you were on course they blended into a solid tone.
I think with this, as well as the itemizer, the point was more than just adding, it was being able to keep a running total that you didn't have to write down or remember.
I assume it can subtract as well because it's not ratcheting? Anyways I kinda get the vibe from it that it was more of a design piece, which would both explain the other stuff you found by the brand and why the mechanism isn't too handy. So more like a calculator designed and produced by GAP than by Casio. We still have such oddities to this day but there's no particular example off the top of my head.
When I'm at the store I add my stuff up by rounding up to the next dollar and keep track so I always over estimate and always have enough money to check out when my card is low
5:42 It means balance beam, like gymnastics. you balance your budget, so they are making a bit of a pun between balance your budget and stay on the balance beam. no one really says "balance your budget" anymore lol
Fun video! I think the phrase "on the beam" referred to a balance beam, like things are level and "even-steven". Ha! See what I did there? Balance beam scales were often used in retail commerce.
Thanks Joe! I actually looked up "on the beam" and found that it was a common saying, but it still sounds silly to me and I liked the video better with me not knowing what it means.
By the way I just found your new comptometer video- good stuff. And lots more! Great that you seem to have a real audience for your videos. I think the typewriters are a bit more mainstream than these old adders. I did some videos on the REAL comptometer, and a Burroughs too like yours. Keep up the good work-
4:13 Is there something preventing you from just moving it clockwise from 0 to 90? As long as you're holding the indicator down and the teeth are disengaged wouldn't the direction of travel not matter? You'd still need to go all the way around for the adding part but that would eliminate almost half of the travel.
I think you're right- I was milking it a little bit to show my frustration. In practice it's maybe not quite as bad as I suggest.
Are you trying to put a permanent rip in the fabric of space time?
I have a digital wrist watch with a built in calculator, and while I don't really use it like you would an Add-A-Mite, I did find a use for it at the grocery store.
See, I used to live abroad, and because everything was in a different currency, it wasn't always easy to estimate how much something cost (especially when the pandemic hit and exchange rates started fluctuating wildly). However, the calculator had a feature were you could store an exchange rate, and then all you needed to do was input a number, press '=' and then it would give you the equivalent.
I also had a job once where I needed to read an instrument in the other end of the building and then go back to write it down (I know that sounds dumb, but a "clever solution" like automating it would have just overcomplicated things). And for that it was really handy to be able to just type the numbers on the calculator and then walk back.
My guess is that "beam" refers to a navigation beam - invented in WW2 to steer bombers to the target. So the Add-A-Mite keeps your budget on target. A term so familiar in the era that it's used in a song in the musical "South Pacific" - ". . . when a man don't understand you, when you fly on separate beams. . ."
Obviously...
I balance my budget, so I was thinking a balance beam. (???)
@@anthonytonev1357 Not helpful, Tony.
Radio ranges had 4 courses. If you were left of course then you heard a repeated Morse code N _ . (dah dit), If right you heard an A . _ (dit dah). If you were on course they blended into a solid tone.
It is a decimal counting device that functions as a serial adder.
The mechanical adding machines are really fascinating. Great video.
I think with this, as well as the itemizer, the point was more than just adding, it was being able to keep a running total that you didn't have to write down or remember.
Yes- more of a number storage device with adding capabilities than a real calculating machine.
The beam rant was worth the price of admission 😂😂😂
I assume it can subtract as well because it's not ratcheting?
Anyways I kinda get the vibe from it that it was more of a design piece, which would both explain the other stuff you found by the brand and why the mechanism isn't too handy. So more like a calculator designed and produced by GAP than by Casio. We still have such oddities to this day but there's no particular example off the top of my head.
That's a great looking mammogram
When I'm at the store I add my stuff up by rounding up to the next dollar and keep track so I always over estimate and always have enough money to check out when my card is low
It's the Beams Kneems!
5:42 It means balance beam, like gymnastics. you balance your budget, so they are making a bit of a pun between balance your budget and stay on the balance beam. no one really says "balance your budget" anymore lol
Keep you budget balanced, like on a beam??? Balance beam???
I comment to help statistics
Adamite pocket calculators are the most useless item. You can't have pockets if you don't wear any clothes.
But it’s better than their bungled marketing campaign for calculating how much sod you’d need for landscaping.
Beam me up Scotty!
On the beam is an idiom. Try Google 😉
What an unfortunate name. We don't want any more mites.
You’ve got to say what your wife thinks…
STARTING WITH:
42 CENTS
91 CENTS
23 CENTS
17 CENTS
THAT'S ALL.
THE ANSWER IS 1 DOLLAR 37 CENTS
STARTING WITH:
42 CENTS
91 CENTS
23 CENTS
17 CENTS
THAT'S ALL.
THE ANSWER IS 1 DOLLAR 73 CENTS.