I'm sure it worked great 60 years ago. But it's true that with these mechanical calculators, adding automation literally means adding more and more mechanical parts that can go wrong.
Great demonstration. My Father was a Friden serviceman who worked on these. Your demo is just like when I try to show my machines to someone, they always seem to act up. I've done the square root algorithm on my STW.
It's interesting how, before they all went electronic, there was something of a gap in calculating devices: digital machines, like this one, could give you incredible precision but struggled to go beyond the four basic operations (automatic square root was at the very edge of feasibility for a desktop machine). Analog devices, like slide rules and nomograms, could play in the realm of transcendental functions without breaking a sweat, but only gave you a few significant figures. Beyond that, you were probably going to be looking things up in books of tables. Electronics bridged that gap.
I received a model B for Christmas and I'm excited to play with it. But the handle on my clearing mechanism is bent. I'm afraid to bend it back for fear of snapping. I wonder if you have any suggestions on how to fix it - or how to find a replacement handle.
Hello! I have a marchant model M. Seems to be jammed up by the lubricant from being not in use but who knows. I don’t know if you take on customers or what but if we can get it touch let me know. :)
@@someonespadreOh, won't be that easy with mind. Completely jammed. Have to dig into it to figure it out but that'll be about three projects from now. 🙂
There's something so appealing about these old devices that just run mechanically (or mostly so). The sounds, the mechanical counters. I love it
“You’ll get the right answer some of the time“ is a terrible slogan for a calculator company.
I'm sure it worked great 60 years ago. But it's true that with these mechanical calculators, adding automation literally means adding more and more mechanical parts that can go wrong.
Great demonstration. My Father was a Friden serviceman who worked on these. Your demo is just like when I try to show my machines to someone, they always seem to act up. I've done the square root algorithm on my STW.
Carl Friden, mechanical engineer, inventor and founder of Friden Calculator Company was my grandfather. Love seeing these videos.
Thanks for the video. Your videos helped me fix a Marchant.
Thanks for posting. Its a truely an amazing machine.
It's interesting how, before they all went electronic, there was something of a gap in calculating devices: digital machines, like this one, could give you incredible precision but struggled to go beyond the four basic operations (automatic square root was at the very edge of feasibility for a desktop machine). Analog devices, like slide rules and nomograms, could play in the realm of transcendental functions without breaking a sweat, but only gave you a few significant figures. Beyond that, you were probably going to be looking things up in books of tables. Electronics bridged that gap.
I received a model B for Christmas and I'm excited to play with it. But the handle on my clearing mechanism is bent. I'm afraid to bend it back for fear of snapping. I wonder if you have any suggestions on how to fix it - or how to find a replacement handle.
Hello! I have a marchant model M. Seems to be jammed up by the lubricant from being not in use but who knows. I don’t know if you take on customers or what but if we can get it touch let me know. :)
Why don't upload on TH-cam brother?
Very nice - at least it doesn't block, these days that is already something!
Really people have run away from engineering
I’m just hoping to get my Monroe LA5 working
Same with an LA7 here.... 🤔
@@bwhog I made a handle to attach to the crank hole cover and use it manually. It works almost perfectly that way.
@@someonespadreOh, won't be that easy with mind. Completely jammed. Have to dig into it to figure it out but that'll be about three projects from now. 🙂
@@bwhog the sliding step gears were stuck, just took WD-40, wait, work it, blow it out, over and over. Fortunately nothing else was jammed