We get only a few cash registers and adding machines in the shop these days, and it is too bad as I love working on these mechanical wonders. This adding machine is a 7 row and capable of $10,000 increments. The keys were sticking and the basic add, subtract and multiply functions were intermittent. It had not been used for a number of years.
Mr. Montgomery had the first go at it as he has decades of troubleshooting experience. Once opened up he concluded it needed a generous degreasing as ALL the grease and oil points had been petrified to varnish. It took quite a bit of time in the solvent cleaning station to free up most of the mechanisms. It made a huge difference as once the pivot points were free, the functions started to behave normally.
Re-greasing and oiling the right spots made this adding machine a joy to use. Finding 7/16 inch wide ribbon was a challenge as most ribbon today is 1/2 inch. Tony Cassillo of Garden City New York still carries 7/16″ ribbon so I feel very lucky to have someone willing to stock something clearly obsolete.
Once the ribbon was installed, the function testing was really quite fun. If you’ve never used a mechanical adding machine it is really an experience. The pull of the handle each time you create the equation has a feel and sound that brings back memories of the old candy shop in Cannon Beach Oregon and the cash register they hand cranked for penny candy.