Post AUxWHQZYVwXJFc7ydM by cavaughan@mastodon.arch-linux.cz
 (DIR) More posts by cavaughan@mastodon.arch-linux.cz
 (DIR) Post #AUx9heuPXKUoIWQCDw by kyle@social.librem.one
       2023-04-23T19:22:24Z
       
       1 likes, 1 repeats
       
       This Monroe Model G mechanical calculator was made some time between 1918 and 1920, and  is the one I used on the cover of my new book. I also featured non-blurry pictures of it as the background image on each chapter, and in those cases left a little easter egg for keen-eyed readers.#calculators #writing
       
 (DIR) Post #AUxHcwhUl8xnfAdz04 by Konqi@mastodon.social
       2023-04-23T20:51:10Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @kyle People go crazy with mechanical keyboards, imagine having these...
       
 (DIR) Post #AUxItmYdp6FH5C5vpA by kyle@social.librem.one
       2023-04-23T21:05:27Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @Konqi For Comptometers in particular, professionals received training very similar to professional typists. They touch typed without looking at the keys (eyes and other hand was on the document with the figures).For speed, they not only chorded the keys (an advantage to full-keyboard calculators versus ones that only had a single set of 0-9), they also only pressed 1-5 to keep their hand on "home row" and to make, say, 7, would type 3 then 4. Pros were *very* fast at this.
       
 (DIR) Post #AUxQNB6iKKMbIazoem by Konqi@mastodon.social
       2023-04-23T22:29:11Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @kyle I find your collection of ancient machinery very interesting, also the homebrewing procedures you shared sometime ago.
       
 (DIR) Post #AUxSe4RIZU0tRwo5xo by cavaughan@mastodon.arch-linux.cz
       2023-04-23T22:54:36Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @kyle yeah the pic at the start is every chapter reminds me of
       
 (DIR) Post #AUxTWJ1iYGmqKTheUa by kyle@social.librem.one
       2023-04-23T23:04:27Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @cavaughan I have a pinwheel calculator just like that! But not a Russian model, it is a Brunswiga.
       
 (DIR) Post #AUxVail11mJ9CL7jrU by cavaughan@mastodon.arch-linux.cz
       2023-04-23T23:27:39Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @kyle Still haven't delved into how to do complex math.
       
 (DIR) Post #AUxVpwy6TPgXcIVWK0 by kyle@social.librem.one
       2023-04-23T23:30:25Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @cavaughan Once you know addition and subtraction, then multiplication is just repeated addition, with shifts to the left for each digit in the multiplier. Division is similar, but starts at the left of the dividend, and you subtract repeatedly until it underflows (the machine will ring a bell!) and then you add one back and shift right. Repeat until you have enough digits of precision to suit you.
       
 (DIR) Post #AUxW0WkeHuhrUXG2QS by kyle@social.librem.one
       2023-04-23T23:32:20Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @cavaughan I have a Comptometer manual that goes into how to do more advanced things like roots, but it seemed complicated enough that I'd never know if I got the right answer.
       
 (DIR) Post #AUxWHQZYVwXJFc7ydM by cavaughan@mastodon.arch-linux.cz
       2023-04-23T23:35:22Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @kyle yeah I got all the primary math. My notes are here: https://vintagecomputers.avantguardsystems.com/calculators/arithmometer