Friday 4 December 2015

Dear Santa this is my Christmas wish-list ~ (but number 5 would be favourite)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

5 comments:

  1. I'll have No 4 , the mechanical calculator. Never seen one like that before - looks even earlier than the Arithmometer

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    1. Was the Arithmometer in production from about 1814, do you know? The earliest one I can find was Patented in France by Thomas de Colmar in 1820, I think the most popular design was by a Swedish bloke called Odhmar who worked in Russia, producing them until the revolution in 1917. I wonder if Arthur Scherbius got his ideas for the enigma encryption machines from them?

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  2. Glad you like it Rog, it almost has that 'made it in me shed' look of the 1930s fret-work brigade. I couldn't find any details about it other than its obvious purpose.

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  3. (1) is a bronze Japanese cross bow lock, dating from around the 1st century B.C./A.D.

    (4) Appears to be a comptometer, circa 1930.

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    1. I'm with you on number 1. Mike, although I originally suspected Han dynasty, Chinese. (I have a Han period crossbow's bronze safety catch of about that period somewhere among my bits and bobs.)
      2. Is too obvious to mention (but I will) it's a John Deer tractor seat dated 1847.
      3. A Kushan gold dinar c.128-150 AD of Ardochsho (or possibly Asha Vahishta)
      4. Yes a manual calculator of about 1930. (a digital device in that it was operated by your digits.)
      5. A large stoneware double-faced jug by the Martin Brothers who produced the comically ugly Wally-birds (The eyes are the give-away.)
      6. A portable/pocket cuspidor (Yeughk!)
      7. Odd-Fellows ceremonial hoodwinks ?
      8. A rather fine silver-plated duck-press. (The legs are the give-away)
      9. A Martin Brothers' grotesque stoneware spoon warmer in the form of a frog.

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