6.3 Mechanical calculators
In 1873 Odner replaced Leibniz cylinders with movable toothed wheels, making the machines more compact and faster to use. This marked the beginning of the Brunsviga series. The operation is similar to that of the arithmometer: the lever on the right is turned clockwise to add, counter-clockwise to subtract. Resetting levers are also added.
Using these calculators and a bit of ingenuity, it was possible not only to perform the four operations, but also to speed up much more complex calculations, using appropriate algorithms.
The Brunsviga in the image is a working model from the 1950s, and it can be tried in the presence of staff.