| BriCal |
| Model |
|
|
| Maker |
|
British Calculators
Ltd |
| Origin |
|
England |
| Date |
|
Probably 1910 to
1920 |
| Serial |
|
A 913 |
|
| |
| Patented by H. and M. Dickinson and manufactured
between the beginning of the twentieth century
and the Great War by The British Calculators
Ltd.. The lettering reads Bri-Cal Adding Machines. |
| |
| The disc is operated by inserting a stylus
in the appropriate slot and moving clockwise.
Addition is immediate so the amount can be
entered in any order. The result is displayed
in four small windows. |
| |
| The pence selector is in halfpenny steps. |
| |
| To clear the total to zero, the stylus is
inserted in the red slot of the outermost
ring and pulled as far as it will go, again
clockwise. This is repeated for each ring
in turn, moving towards the centre. |
| |
| Originally there would have been a pair
of styli but these have been lost. |
| |
| The Bri-Cal, which has a felt pad on the
back, should be placed on a desk and held
with the left hand while the stylus is worked
with the right. The machine is not suitable
for holding in the hand. |
| |
| The circular design makes operation easy
for right handed people but it is difficult
if you are left handed. At the start of the
twentieth century being left handed was considered
abnormal. |
| |
| There is a felt-lined wooden box with the
Bri-Cal. This is currently awaiting repair. |
