The first practical adding machine, the Pascaline was invented by Blaise Pascal, a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist in 1642. Inspired by Hero of Alexandria’s design that computed the distance a carriage travelled. Numbers were entered by turning 10-tooth dial wheels linked to a gear train while up to eight numbers addition and subtraction could be performed. The Pascaline performed faster and more accurately than manual calculations, yet only Pascal knew how to repair the device making it more costly than previous calculators. The basic principle is still in used with water meters and odometers. The arithmometer was the first calculator for sale invented by Frenchman, Charles Xavier Thomas de Colmar in 1820.

Date:
      1642, 1820
Name(s):
      Blaise Pascal
Occupation:
      Philosopher, Mathematician, Scientist
Location:
      France

Additional Information:

• Pascal’s calculator – Wikipedia
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• Adding machine – Wikipedia
  An adding machine Is a class of mechanical calculator, usually specialized for bookkeeping calculations. In the United States, the earliest adding machines were …
• Pascaline of Blaise Pascal – History of Computers, Computing and …
  The first variant of the machine was ready next year, and the young genius continued his work on improving his calculating machine. ….. The manuscript Usage de la machine (this is the earliest known manuscript for Pascaline, from the 18th …
• Pascaline | technology | Britannica.com
  Pascaline, also called Arithmetic Machine, the first calculator or adding machine to be produced in any quantity and actually used. The Pascaline was designed …