Ernest-Narcisse Lobbé
In early 1850s Ernest-Narcisse Lobbé, a Parisian watchmaker and mechanic, created one of the first keyboard calculating machines in the world (after the machines of James White, Luigi Torchi, Jean-Baptiste Schwilgué and Du Bois D. Parmelee). The machine (so called Additionneur mécanique à touches) was patented in 1855 (French pat. №24582 from 04/11/1855, see the lower patent drawing).
![The patent drawing of Lobbe](https://history-computer.com/CalculatingTools/Gadgets/images/1855LobbePatent.jpg)
This one column adding machine seems to be very well designed, but it remained only on paper and nothing is known about the device and the inventor—Ernest-Narcisse Lobbé.
Up Next…
- Mechanical Calculators Check out an overview of mechanical calculators.
- The Best First 10 Apps to Download on Your New PC Got a new PC? Here’s a guide to the best must-have apps you should download once you’re up and running.
- Meet Albert Ludlum – Engineer, Inventor, and Business Owner! Learn about Albert Ludlum, one of the earliest patent holders of calculating machines.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©G-Stock Studio/Shutterstock.com.