The camming action was outward and away from the center, and thus released the carrying stop from its locking position with the numeral wheel, and continued rotation of the pinion and cam disc would hold the lock out of action until the parts had returned to normal.
With the return action of the keys, segment lever, pinion and cam disc, through the action of a spring attached to the segment lever, the carrying stop detent will again engage and lock the numeral wheel.
Manufacture of the Felt calculator
Felt really started to manufacture his calculating machine in the fall of 1886, after perfecting his invention. Having only a very limited amount of money with which to produce machines, young Felt, then but 24 years of age, was obliged to make the machines himself, but with the aid of some dies which he had made for some of the principal parts ([see reproduction of bill] for dies on opposite page), he was able to produce eight finished machines before September, 1887. Two of these machines were immediately put into service, for the training of operators, as soon as they were finished.
Trade name of Felt calculator
Of the first trained operators to operate these machines, which were given the trademark name “Comptometer,” one was Geo. D. Mackay, and another was Geo. W. Martin. After three or four months’ practice Mr. Martin demonstrated one of these machines to such firms as Sprague, Warner & Co., Pitkin & Brooks, The Chicago Daily News, and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R. R. Co., and finally took employment with the Equitable Gas Light & Fuel Co. of Chicago ([see letter on opposite page]) as operator of the “Comptometer.” The Gas Co. has since been merged with several other companies into the Peoples Gas Light & Coke Co. of Chicago.
A very high testimonial of the qualities of the Felt invention was given by Mr. Martin in 1888, a year after he entered the employment of the Gas Co., and is [reproduced on page 72].
Another fine testimonial was given by Geo. A. Yulle, Secy. & Treas. of the Chicago Gas Light & Coke Co., in September, 1888 ([see page 74]). Mr. Mackay, the other operator, secured employment with Albert Dickinson & Co., Seed Merchants, as operator of the “Comptometer.” Mr. Mackay was interviewed a few months ago, and was at that time, after thirty years, still with the same firm, and a strong advocate of the “Comptometer.”
Letter from Geo. W. Martin