Shoebox Comptometers - The Cases
In mid-1903, Felt was issued patent #733,379 on a "Casing for Key-Operated Machines". Claims for this design were dominated by terms such as "lining of linoleum","sound-deadening", "columnar joint" as well as "glass plate". Claim 11, however, spoke specifically to the manner in which keystems entered the case thru the (top) keyplate and would thereby operate the inside mechanism. As obvious as all this might seem today, at that time, it proved to be "state of the art" and clearly superior to anything then available.
This patent would play the decisive role in a famous lawsuit with the Burroughs Corporation some ten years hense. Of considerably greater interest to collectors, however, is the finish applied to these steel-cased Comptometers over their lifespan of some forty years.
Unlike the intricately designed inards of the Comptometer, the finish applied to the cases seems to have varied considerably over time. Advances in metallurgy and finishing technique could have been put into production without waiting for a model change. And if that weren't enuf, refurbishing, repair and retrofitting which took place after machines were in the field for decades often resulted in case refinishing that may have masked any original condition or intent.
Its clear that the subject will prove to be one of continuing controversy. Accordingly, rather than attempting to resolve the matter, this forum has been established to allow for a continuing dialogue among those who have something to add on the subject for the enlightenment of those of us who "haven't a clue".