Klarinet Archive - Posting 000054.txt from 2012/02

From: George Kidder <gkidder@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] IBM 1620
Date: Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:45:00 -0500

Fascinating machine. The one I used in Grad School divided by serial
subtraction - and make a hell of a racket, as Fred noticed. There was an
earlier model with no motor - just a crank! Dividing on that was a workout.

George

At 03:32 PM 2/2/2012, you wrote:
>YUP!
>
>In the 1970's I bought a BIG Friden mechanical calculator (the kind
>with the movable carriage and second smaller keypad to the left of
>the huge main one, and the little windows for the numbers to spin
>by). It weighed a ton but I got it at a mail order surplus house for
>$10 plus $5 shipping. It didn't work 100%, but I dug in and sort of
>got it working. I was awed by the fact that this all mechanical
>machine could multiply and divide. It was NOISY too! I eventually
>stored it at work for a couple of decades. When it was time for me
>to retire, I tried it one more time, but the motor had frozen and it
>was, alas, silent. I think the same thing is going to happen to me.
>
>But anyway, I DID get a Curta type II calculator on eBay that is in
>perfect condition. I am awed by such purely mechanical things. I
>remember in 1960 when I got my first clarinet I was awed by the
>mechanism, and how it affected the different sounds the horn
>made. It was love at first toot. I shall continue tooting
>'till,alas, I can toot no more.
>
>Fred
>

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