Charles Weiss

On 31st of August, 1886, Charles Weiss of Brooklyn, New York, received a patent (USA patent No 348437) for a single-column adding machine. Weiss acted as a assignor to the Kruse Check & Adding Machine Company in New York, a firm, manufacturer of check machines.

Besides the patent, we don't have any information about the device, and the only reason, it to be mentioned as a separate article in this site, is that the machine is first adding device with electromagnetic operation.

The single-column adding machine of Weiss

The gear wheels are moved by means of an electromagnetic mechanism, powered by batteries. By pressing of a key, is closed particular contact and in this way is formed electromagnet, which is rotating a lever, connected with the gear-wheels. The angle of rotation of the lever depends on the location of the contacts.