Accounting machine

An accounting machine, or bookkeeping machine or recording-adder, was generally a calculator and printer combination tailored for a specific commercial activity such as billing, payroll, or ledger.[1][2] Accounting machines were widespread from the early 1900s to 1980s,[3] but were rendered obsolete by the availability of low-cost computers such as the IBM PC.

This type of machine is generally distinct from unit record equipment (some unit record machines were also called accounting machines).

List of Vendors/Accounting Machines

• Burroughs Sensimatic[4]
• Burroughs Sensitronic
• Burroughs B80
• Burroughs E103[5]
• Burroughs Computer F2000[4]
• Burroughs L500
• Burroughs E1400 Electronic Computing/Accounting Machine with Magnetic Striped Ledger[6]
• Dalton Adding Machine Company[2]
• Electronics Corporation of America: Magnefile-B[7]
• Electronics Corporation of America: Magnefile-D[7]
• Elliott-Fisher[2]
• Federal Adding Machines[2]
• IBM 632
• IBM 858 Cardatype Accounting Machine [8]
• IBM 6400 Series
• Laboratory for Electronics: The Inventory Machine II (TIM-II)[7]
• Monroe Calculator Company: Model 200
• Monroe Calculator Company: Synchro-Monroe President[4]
• Monroe Calculator Company: Monrobot IX[4]
• NCR Post-Tronic Bookkeeping Machine - Class 29[4]
• NCR Compu-Tronic Accounting Machine[4]
• NCR Accounting Machine - Class 33[4]
• NCR Window Posting Machine - Class 42[4]
• Olivetti: General Bookkeeping Machine (GBM)[7]
• J. B. Rea Company: READIX,[9][10][11] c. 1955[12][7]
• Sundstrand Adding Machines[2]
• Underwood Elecom 50 "The First Electronic Accounting Machine" [5][7][13][14]
• Underwood Elecom 125, 125 FP (File Processor),[5][7][15] 1956[16]

See also

• Unit record equipment

References

1. Turck, J.A.V. (1921). Origin of Modern calculating Machines. The Western Society of Engineers.
2. Cortada, James W (1993). Before the Computer; IBM, NCR, Burroughs & Remmington Rand & The Industry They Created 1865-1956. Princeton University Press. pp. 158–162. ISBN 0-691-04807-X.
3. Akera, Atsushi; Nebeker, Frederik (2002). From 0 to 1: An Authoritative History of Modern Computing. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-514025-7.
4. Mecham (ed.), Alan D. (1961). Data Processing Equipment Encyclopedia vol.1: Electromechanical Devices. Gille.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
5. Mecham (ed.), Alan D. (1961). Data Processing Equipment Encyclopedia vol.2: Electronic Devices. Gille.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
6. Burroughs E1400
7. Weik, Martin H. (1955). A Survey of Domestic Electronic Digital Computing Systems. Ballistic Research Laboratories.
8. Fierheller, George A. (2006). Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutilate: The 'Hole' Story of Punched Cards. Stewart. ISBN 1-894183-86-X.
9. Weik, Martin H. (Mar 1961). "READIX". ed-thelen.org. A Third Survey of Domestic Electronic Digital Computing Systems.
10. "10. READIX (J. B. Rea Company)". Digital Computer Newsletter. 8 (1): 6–9. Jan 1956.
11. "READIX General Purpose Computer". ADP Equipment (Bull Machine Company Gamma 60; Philco Transac S-2000 Data Processing System Enclosed) Reports: 209–219 (543–553). 1 November 1957.
12. • Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security. Bukupedia. 2004. p. 76. ISBN 9780787675462.
    Photo of ATIC computer:
    • "NASIC's first computer". www.nasic.af.mil. 1958.
    Installations:
    • "MISCELLANEOUS: 3. J. B. Rea Co., Santa Monica, Calif". Digital Computer Newsletter. 9 (2): 18–19. Apr 1957.
13. "Elecom "50" advertisement | 102646271 | Computer History Museum". www.computerhistory.org. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
14. • "15. Underwood Corporation". Digital Computer Newsletter. 7 (2): 10. Apr 1955.
    • Brown, Richard Hunt. (1955). "20. PRINCIPAL ELECTRONIC BUSINESS COMPUTERS. GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS, PICTURES AND PRICES". Underwood ELECOM 50 Computer. Office automation; integrated and electronic data processing. New York: Automation Consultants. p. 148.
    • John Diebold & Associates. (7 September 1956). The Use of Three Elecom 50s in a Small Service Bureau. Automatic data processing: Methods reports [and orientation]. Chicago: Cudahy Pub. Co.
15. "COMPUTERS, U. S. A.: 3. ELECOM, Underwood Corporation". Digital Computer Newsletter. 8 (2): 3–4. Apr 1956.
16. "NEWS RELEASES: Election Predictions by Electronic Computer" (PDF). Computers and Automation. 5 (12): 29. Dec 1956. Retrieved 2020-09-05.