The object is a hefty single casting with machined surfaces and metal inserts to provide a transport bed for a punched card. The transport mechanism steps the card through 45 positions, or columns. There is a release lever/button to move the card to the left onto the outflow bed of the machine from any of the positions. Mounted above the transport bed is a mechanical keyboard of twelve keys linked to twelve round punches arranged in a line across the passing card. At each card column position, any number of these twelve row positions may be punched. There is a brass builders plate attributing a 1901 patent to "The Tabulating Machine Co." of Washington DC. The same plate identifies the "Frederick Hart & Co. Inc" of Poughkeepsie N.Y. as the "maker". The acquisition entry for this lot suggests that the 11574 number stamped on the outflow bed is a serial number, but there seems to be no indication of what the number represents on the machine itself.
Manufacturer
Tabulating Machine Co.
Place Manufactured
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Identifying Numbers
Other number
11574
Stamped in the metal of the card outflow bed.
Other number
2104
Stamped in each of two metal insert blocks on the front of the punch frame structure.
Other number
316
Stamped in the primary metal casting, on the front, just below the punch frame.
