I am 74. In 1971 we used these calculators to calculate ore reserves at Mt Isa Mines in Queensland Australia. The office was very noisy. The good operators were very fast. If I remember correctly they had shortcuts that speeded up the calculations. We eventually got electronic Canon calculators with red numbers. As big as a typewriter.
There are indeed some clever shortcuts for some calculations, but many of them required that the operators had good understanding of arithmetics. For instance, one extremely efficient method to extract Square roots is the Babylonian method (see my other clip), which does require good understanding of the algorithmic flow of the algorithm. One weakness of the mechanical calculators was that they literally had no concept of negative numbers. The calculators were best for addition, multiplication and division. Subtraction to a negative result would return a result written in 10s complement with the result written out prefixed with all 9s, requiring the operator to do mental aritmetics to reach the correct number. Electronic calculators to the rescue :-)
I vaguely remember playing around with these weird office machines my grandpa had. Nobody used them anymore (it was the 90s), so we were allowed to play with them. I specifically remember one of those having an odd keyboard layout, with the numbers all of out of order, some very satisfying ratchety levers on the sides, and red buttons with arrows on them 😅 Holy crap, this video unlocked memories of half forgotten, wonderful moments! Thank you! ☺️ Btw I didn't even know at the time these things were adding machines... Let alone how to use one. Most of the time I would get frustrated at how the keys were locked out when the crank was out of its home position. I was like 5 y/o, and I just wanted to press the fun buttons.
For turning the lever do not use the index and thumb fingers. Hold the lever between middle and index fingers for turning. You will notice that your wrist makes a more natural circle in turning the lever and much faster. The rest of your arm is now at an almost standstill. Here in South Africa we called it the 'Coffee mill'. As a mining surveyor I used it with Natural Trigonometrical Tables- Six Figures. Still got mine in my museum as well with ages old theodolites, dumpy levels, slide rule etc. Thank you for the explanation how to use it.
Hello, after watching this video among other ones i fell in love with mechanical calculators. Do you possibly know where i can get one. Also they must ship to greece. Thank you.
I am glad you enjoy the material. Yes, mechanical calculators do have a unique appeal apart from being great conversation pieces. There are many places that you may get second-hand mechanical calculator, although getting a good one and having it arriving in good order can be tricky. Your best bet would be looking in local classified ads or flea markets where you can try before you buy. Online auctions on ebay.de frequently feature some nice specimens, but you will probably pay more. Be sure to get the seller to specify that the calculator is in fully working order. Could be tricky, though, as most people today have absolutely no clue about how these things work. Be prepared to do some cleaning and slight adjustments (like loosening and re-tightening screws) after arrival because shipping can be tough on these heavy devices and cause them to lock up. Keep in mind that many calculators that seem out of order just need relatively simple adjustment and to be cleaned from gummed up oil - this gumming happens with old lubricants and is usually fixable with a little effort. The later Facit calculators like the one featured in the clip is one of the best made mechanical calculators out there, and worked perfectly when I got it after probably 30+ years sitting with no use - but this is the only one that worked perfectly when I received it. Good luck calculator-hunting, and please let me know which model you get :-)
@@RetroTechyNerdyStuff Sorry ichecked on this so late. Looking up on ebay germany the keywords "facit mechanical calculator" i found many and even one almost like yours. 🙂 Edit: however most of them are c1-13 and even some that dont say model, they just say "vintage facit mechanical calculator sweden - FREE UK SHIPPING" and theres even one that says it's for decor! and one of them looks exactly like yours with a little difference in shape. I just noticed there's even a curta handheld mechanical calculator but the price was high almost 1.500 eur. anyway the one i told you about above doesnt have any bids, so i should be able to get it now or later (probably later but i don't talk about that) anyway wish me luck.
I got mine from my grandfather's estate years ago. But these sell at at online auction sites for around 100 EUR. Beware that some of them need a little care and cleaning before working as smoothly as this one.
Take the casing off and stare at the mechanism for a while to see if something is sticking. You can fix a lot of issues with a few drops of oil in the right place.
Oil can indeed help, but should be used extremely cautiously. Many of the old calculators that aren't working anymore simply suffer from gummed up lubricant, and adding more in the wrong places might make things worse. I have had good results using methylated spirits on a small paintbrush to "ungum" the old lubricants and help in removing them. This too should be applied with care.
I am 74. In 1971 we used these calculators to calculate ore reserves at Mt Isa Mines in Queensland Australia. The office was very noisy. The good operators were very fast. If I remember correctly they had shortcuts that speeded up the calculations. We eventually got electronic Canon calculators with red numbers. As big as a typewriter.
There are indeed some clever shortcuts for some calculations, but many of them required that the operators had good understanding of arithmetics. For instance, one extremely efficient method to extract Square roots is the Babylonian method (see my other clip), which does require good understanding of the algorithmic flow of the algorithm. One weakness of the mechanical calculators was that they literally had no concept of negative numbers. The calculators were best for addition, multiplication and division. Subtraction to a negative result would return a result written in 10s complement with the result written out prefixed with all 9s, requiring the operator to do mental aritmetics to reach the correct number. Electronic calculators to the rescue :-)
I vaguely remember playing around with these weird office machines my grandpa had. Nobody used them anymore (it was the 90s), so we were allowed to play with them.
I specifically remember one of those having an odd keyboard layout, with the numbers all of out of order, some very satisfying ratchety levers on the sides, and red buttons with arrows on them 😅
Holy crap, this video unlocked memories of half forgotten, wonderful moments! Thank you! ☺️
Btw I didn't even know at the time these things were adding machines... Let alone how to use one. Most of the time I would get frustrated at how the keys were locked out when the crank was out of its home position. I was like 5 y/o, and I just wanted to press the fun buttons.
I still have this from my grandfathers office. Works amazing even after years of neglect and inactivity. Built like a tank. Heavy AF.
My old memory replayed. I have used in 1971-72. Very good and durable machine. Very rough n tuff machine. Never breakdown.
For turning the lever do not use the index and thumb fingers. Hold the lever between middle and index fingers for turning. You will notice that your wrist makes a more natural circle in turning the lever and much faster. The rest of your arm is now at an almost standstill.
Here in South Africa we called it the 'Coffee mill'. As a mining surveyor I used it with Natural Trigonometrical Tables- Six Figures.
Still got mine in my museum as well with ages old theodolites, dumpy levels, slide rule etc. Thank you for the explanation how to use it.
Super intéressant 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
I have the brochure of it printed in sweden and 40+ other calculators of at that time
I still have my Facit! 😍
Very useful
Hello, after watching this video among other ones i fell in love with mechanical calculators. Do you possibly know where i can get one. Also they must ship to greece. Thank you.
I am glad you enjoy the material. Yes, mechanical calculators do have a unique appeal apart from being great conversation pieces. There are many places that you may get second-hand mechanical calculator, although getting a good one and having it arriving in good order can be tricky. Your best bet would be looking in local classified ads or flea markets where you can try before you buy. Online auctions on ebay.de frequently feature some nice specimens, but you will probably pay more. Be sure to get the seller to specify that the calculator is in fully working order. Could be tricky, though, as most people today have absolutely no clue about how these things work. Be prepared to do some cleaning and slight adjustments (like loosening and re-tightening screws) after arrival because shipping can be tough on these heavy devices and cause them to lock up. Keep in mind that many calculators that seem out of order just need relatively simple adjustment and to be cleaned from gummed up oil - this gumming happens with old lubricants and is usually fixable with a little effort. The later Facit calculators like the one featured in the clip is one of the best made mechanical calculators out there, and worked perfectly when I got it after probably 30+ years sitting with no use - but this is the only one that worked perfectly when I received it. Good luck calculator-hunting, and please let me know which model you get :-)
@@RetroTechyNerdyStuff Sorry ichecked on this so late.
Looking up on ebay germany the keywords "facit mechanical calculator" i found many and even one almost like yours. 🙂
Edit: however most of them are c1-13 and even some that dont say model, they just say "vintage facit mechanical calculator sweden - FREE UK SHIPPING" and theres even one that says it's for decor!
and one of them looks exactly like yours with a little difference in shape.
I just noticed there's even a curta handheld mechanical calculator but the price was high almost 1.500 eur.
anyway the one i told you about above doesnt have any bids, so i should be able to get it now or later (probably later but i don't talk about that) anyway wish me luck.
I have this one...and will please to gift you as you want to keep it safe but I have no idea, how to ship it to Greece
Wow
I have this calculator..😮😮
عندى هذه الاله واريد بيعها
Porfa donde la puedo comprar cuanto vale
I got mine from my grandfather's estate years ago. But these sell at at online auction sites for around 100 EUR. Beware that some of them need a little care and cleaning before working as smoothly as this one.
I've one. Is anybody to repair it?
I have 1 piece not workimg
Take the casing off and stare at the mechanism for a while to see if something is sticking. You can fix a lot of issues with a few drops of oil in the right place.
Oil can indeed help, but should be used extremely cautiously. Many of the old calculators that aren't working anymore simply suffer from gummed up lubricant, and adding more in the wrong places might make things worse. I have had good results using methylated spirits on a small paintbrush to "ungum" the old lubricants and help in removing them. This too should be applied with care.
@@RetroTechyNerdyStuff This is true, I should've been more specific about also cleaning off old lubricant.
Analog computer.