Felt & Tarrant did a large amount of advertising from the start. This included adverts in newspapers and magazines, promotional booklets, leaflets, etcetera. On this page you will find the promotional material that I have in my collection. To see the huge collection of images of newspaper and magazine adverts that I found online, visit the Comptometer Advertisements page.
Booklets
Magazine Adverts
Cardboard items
Leaflets
Letters
Newspaper and magazine adverts would often offer a free pamphlet or booklet with further information. Here is my attempt to compile a list of the titles of all the free booklets that Felt & Tarrant produced. Those with an asterisk are ones I own that can be seen a little further down the page. Some of them seem to be aimed at specific industries, rather than the general public.
1893: The Comptometer: The Arithmetic Machine
1893: * Stop to Think: The Comptometer "quicker Than Thought"
1907: Rapid Mechanical Accounting
1909: * Noiseless Duplex Comptometer, New Model C
1911: The Comptometer: Adds, Multiplies, Divides, Subtracts
1912: Method of dividing passenger rates on the comptometer, by J.T. Jeffrey
1913: * Rapid Mechanical Calculation / Comptometer Adding & Calculating Machine Operated by Keys Alone
1913: * Enforced Accuracy: Controlled Key Comptometer (UK only?)
1913: Suggestions on auditing in dry goods and department stores, by A.D. Davies
1913: The Comptometer in the Dairy & Creamery Industry
1914: Leading the Bookkeepers out of Bondage, by Mr. F. Burnham McLeary
1914: Daily Ledger Control
1914: Comptometer Trial Balance Sub-Total Sheets
1914: The Comptometer as Applied to Engineering Calculations
1914: Some everyday uses of the comptometer
1915: Better Methods of Accounting
1921: * A Great Step Forward (UK only)
1921: Better Methods of Handling Figure Work
1930: Simplified Sales Analysis
1933: A New Method of Compiling a Sales Analysis
1934: Comptometer Peg-board Methods, by George D. Lane
1937: A New Simplified Payroll Method
1948: Peg-board Accounting
1948: Felt & Tarrant's Streamlined Payroll Plan
"Stop to Think": The Comptometer "quicker Than Thought"
Felt & Tarrant Mfg Co., Chicago, U.S.A.
1893
32 page stapled booklet
115mm × 152mm (booklet), 116mm × 520mm (customer list)
This tiny promotional booklet introduces the Comptometer, has a price list, describes
how addition and multiplication is done (and very briefly division too), their 3-year
guarantee, and ends with a list of many companies that have bought several Comptometers
and a list of testimonials. It came with a separate long list of repeat customers.
It is interesting that the price list says that the Comptometer is available not just
with 8, 10, or 12 columns of keys, but also with 16.
The booklet does not contain any copyright year but it is highly likely from 1893 because it mentions the Columbian Exposition of 1893, the example of their 3-year guarantee is dated March 1893, and the list of repeat customers says that the Comptometer had been on the market for four years. Note however that there is already another booklet supposedly from 1893 (The Comptometer: The Arithmetic Machine). I've also seen the year 1897 used for this booklet, so it may be that various editions were printed.
This is a list of "Some of those who after having purchased one Comptometer, purchased more of them".
Rapid Mechanical Calculation / Comptometer Adding & Calculating Machine Operated by Keys Alone (PDF, 10.0 MB or archive.org)
Felt & Tarrant Mfg Co., London
1913
24 page stapled booklet, with 7 page stapled supplement
137mm × 202mm
This promotional booklet describes in detail what a Comptometer is and how it can
aid in business. As with the booklet above, it was probably freely sent to people
who responded to an advert requesting more information. It contains a separate supplement
which lists the many companies that were already using Comptometers. Note that this is
the U.K. edition - it has London rather than Chicago on the title page, and the
testimonials and the supplement's list of users are from the U.K. only.
The booklet does not contain any publication year, but as it mentions the model E it
probably dates from around 1913. Adverts from 1910 already mention a booklet with this
title, so an earlier edition probably exists.
Noiseless Duplex Comptometer (PDF, 2.69 MB or archive.org)
Felt & Tarrant Mfg Co., Chicago, Illinois
1909
12 page stapled booklet
229mm × 102mm
This promotional booklet describes the new model C Comptometer. It does not contain
any publication year, but as the model C was released in 1909, the booklet likely
dates from the same year. This was probably a free booklet would be sent to anyone
who replied to an advert to request more information.
Unfortunately my copy of this booklet is in very poor condition. It is missing its
covers, the front leaf is detached and the corresponding two pages on the rear leaf are
missing.
Enforced Accuracy: Controlled Key Comptometer (PDF, 5.34 MB or archive.org)
Felt & Tarrant Mfg Co., London
1913
12 page stapled booklet
130mm × 274mm
This promotional booklet describes the new model E Comptometer, emphasising the new Controlled Key mechanism that "enforces accuracy". It does not contain any publication year, but as the model E was released in 1913, the booklet likely dates from the same year. As with the booklets above, it was probably a free booklet sent to people (in the U.K.) who responded to an advert requesting more information.
A Great Step Forward (PDF, 6.70 MB or archive.org)
Herbert E. Robbins Ltd.
16 page stapled booklet
137mm × 214mm
1921
This 16 page booklet was written by Herbert E. Robbins, and sent to many large British firms on the 14th of February 1921. It describes the model H, but oddly it has no pictures of the Comptometer at all and instead has cute drawings by C. Lovat Fraser, a well-known artist who died later that year.
Un Gran Passo In Avanti (A Great Step Forward), Italian advertising booklet (PDF, 6.36 MB or archive.org)
Giovanni Ferraris
16 page stapled booklet
132mm × 208mm
1921
This 16 page booklet is in Italian, and is a direct translation of the English booklet "A Great Step Forward" above. It even has the exact same page layout and illustrations. It was printed for Giovanni Ferraris, which was the exclusive distributor of the Comptometer in Italy.
Here is a series of eight magazine advertisements promoting the first wooden model (1887-1903), which
mostly appeared in Harpers Magazine Advertiser, and in McClure's Magazine.
There are also two later magazine advertisements depicting model B or C (1906-1912).
I own physical copies of these adverts, but have decided to not collect any more
because I dislike the idea that old magazines are destroyed for their adverts.
COMPTOMETER. Have You heard of The Great Arithmetic Machine?
Felt & Tarrant Mfg Co., Chicago, U.S.A.
1889?
International advertising postcard
131mm × 77mm
This postcard has a Comptometer advert on the message side, while the address side is a standard US
postal card with preprinted 2 cent stamp. The advert promotes the Comptometer and like most of the
magazine adverts below offers a free pamphlet with further information.
This card was sent to the Lancashire Insurance Company in Manchester, England. It may have been sent
in 1889 as it was part of a collection of cards from 1880-89, but I suspect it is actually from a few
years later, about 1893 or so. Either way, it shows that Felt & Tarrant were very early on trying
to expand their market to outside the USA.
We don't Waste Money...
Felt & Tarrant Mfg Co., Chicago, U.S.A.
25 September 1895
Advertising postcard
70mm × 45mm
This postcard has a Comptometer advert on the message side, while the address side is a standard US
postal card with preprinted 1 cent stamp. The advert offers a 60 day free trial of the Comptometer.
This card was sent to The
Wachusett Shirt Company in Leominster, Massachusetts and is postmarked 25 September 1895.
Rapid Service
Felt & Tarrant Mfg Co., New York
1905
Advertising postcard
117mm × 183mm
This is an advertising postcard, probably from around 1905, promoting a 30-day free trial. It was printed for Arthur J. De Berard who was the sales agent for the East coast of the USA.
Where There's Smoke There's Fire
Felt & Tarrant Mfg Co., New York
1905
Fold-out advertising postcard
111mm × 188mm folded, 487mm × 188mm unfolded
This is an advertising postcard, probably from around 1905, promoting a 30-day free trial. It was printed for Arthur J. De Berard who was the sales agent for the East coast of the USA.
"We use the Comptometer exclusively"
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
Form 678
1915-1920
1-sided card
233mm × 101mm
This card promotes the Model F Comptometer with a testimonial from J. H. Snyder, the Vice-President of the Coats & Burchard Company, Public Appraisers and Engineers, who use 34 machines.
Here's what makes inventory easy
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
Form 668
1915-1920
1-sided card
234mm × 101mm
Bookkeeping - as Briggs sees it
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
1915-1920
1-sided card
234mm × 99mm
A card promoting the Model F Comptometer. It has a cartoon drawn by Clare Briggs, a well-known comic strip artist whose work appeared in the Chicago Herald and the New York Tribune. This cartoon features his "Ain't It a Grand and Glorious Feeling?" catchphrase.
Ask Topping
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
Form 734
1915-1920
1-sided card
234mm × 99mm
This card promotes the Model F Comptometer by pointing out that Topping Valuation Company guarantees the accuracy of their figures and that they use exclusively Comptometers.
How to select the right machine for your work
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
Form 740
1915-1920
1-sided card
232mm × 101mm
Another card promoting the Model F Comptometer. This one emphasises the fact that most of the calculations needed in business are additions and multiplications and that the Comptometer excels at that.
Model H card
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
Form 789
1920-1927
4-page folded card
122mm × 179mm
Der Zweck aller Rechenarbeit
Comptometer Gesellschaft m.b.H., Berlin
1920-1927
1-sided card
231mm × 99mm
Announcing the new Supertotalizer
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
Form 888
1933
1-sided card
232mm × 95mm
A card promoting the Supertotalizer. There are very few adverts for this model because the electric model K was introduced shortly after and promoted much more heavily.
Dutch card for Model S
Felt & Tarrant Mfg Co., Amsterdam
90mm × 140mm
1933
This Dutch card promotes the Super Totalizer, which it calls the Comptometer model S. Presumably it
dates from around 1933 or 1934 since there is no mention of the electric model K. With the reply
postcard you could request more information and/or a free demonstration of the ST with no obligation to
buy.
This card was addressed to Roos & v.d. Kolk, a large department store in The Hague. This was
a chain that had stores in Den Haag, Utrecht and Rotterdam, and they sold everything for in
the home, from clothing and prams to furniture, heaters and carpets.
The address of the Dutch Felt & Tarrant offices was then in the Mercurius building, Prins
Hendrikkade 20-21 in Amsterdam. See the Dutch manual in the Books section for
their previous addresses in Amsterdam.
Swedish card
Bertil Stenbeck A.B., Stockholm
80mm × 150mm
1930?
This Swedish card promotes the Comptometer for use in salary calculations. It has a separate reply card that was stuck to it with a round paper sticker. There is no mention any particular model and it contains no copyright year, so it is hard to tell when it was printed. The Bertil Stenbeck company was apparently founded in 1929 and the picture show a shoebox comptometer, so the card must be from the 1930s. I believe it is more likely to be near the beginning of that decade.
Comptometer School postcard
Felt & Tarrant Ltd.
80mm × 150mm
12 May 1934
This postcard with a postage date of 12 May 1934 shows a photograph of the Comptometer School at Aldwych House in London. It was sent to Comptometer operators to encourage them to recruit others. The text reads:
Dear Miss Cleary,
Owing to the great extension of Comptometer business we are immediately in need of students to be trained as operators. We are, therefore, continuing to pay 10/- bonus to any operator introducing such students. The course now takes 3 months. An illustrated booklet giving full particulars regarding the School will be sent on request.
Thanking you for any assistance you may be able to give us in this connection.
Yours faithfully,
FELT & TARRANT, LTD.
Italian Floating Touch card
Carlo Ferraris Soc. Acc.
80mm × 150mm
1950
This Italian card promotes the electric "Floating Touch" Comptometer, also known as Model 992 or 99C.
Many Comptometer Operators are needed
Felt & Tarrant, Ltd.
141mm × 168mm
1956
This card promotes the Comptometer schools, and was included with the 1956 issue of Comptometer Medley.
The New Comptometer Commander Postcard
Comptometer Dictation Division, Comptometer Corporation, Algonquin, Illinois
139mm × 88mm
1955
This postcard promotes the Comptometer Commander, a dictation machine that used a wide mylar magnetic belt.
Italian advertising leaflet
Ing. Dino Gatta & C.
Three part folded leaflet
115mm × 175mm folded, 342mm × 175mm unfolded
1900(?)
This leaflet is in Italian, and probably from around 1900 as it promotes the wooden model Comptometer. It was printed for Dino Gatta who at this time was the Italian Felt & Tarrant representative.
English Girl beats the World's Record at Adding
1918
4 page leaflet
169mm × 224mm
This leaflet describes a calculating competition. It took place during an exhibition of
office equipment held in the Royal Agricultural Halls in Islington, London, on Saturday June 8th,
1918. It was open to users of any calculating machine, but seems to have been organised by Felt
& Tarrant (or actually the U.K. distributor Herbert E. Robbins) as a publicity stunt in the
knowledge that a Comptometer operator would likely win. The addition contest was won by Amy Bower,
who correctly added 5 columns of 30 monetary amounts (pounds, shillings, pence) in 3 minutes 51
seconds, supposedly a world record. The multiplication contest was won by Mabel Hall, who correctly
multiplied 25 pairs of four-digit numbers in 2 minutes and 38 seconds.
In the photograph of the Felt & Tarrant stand at the exhibition you can also see
the stand of Burroughs, their main competitor, nearby.
Waiting Your Instructions
Herbert E. Robbins Ltd.
1916-1919
4 page leaflet
248mm × 299mm
Herbert E. Robbins Ltd. was the exclusive distributor of the Comptometer in the United Kingdom. This sales leaflet describes British Comptometer training schools. Companies who had bought Comptometers could get their staff trained there for free. It was also possible to hire trained Comptometer Operators temporarily to deal with busy periods. This leaflet mentions enlistment, so it must be from the period 1916-1919 when army conscription was in effect.
The Proof of the Pudding
Herbert E. Robbins Ltd.
1920
2-sided leaflet
207mm × 330mm
The leaflet focuses on the large number of repeat customers for the Comptometer.
It would have had a post-card attached that you could send back to ask for someone to
demonstrate the Comptometer.
It accompanied a letter by Herbert Robbins dated 1st June 1920 which can be seen
below.
But You Save Considerable L.S.D.
Felt & Tarrant Ltd.
1925?
4-page leaflet
208mm × 322mm
This is a British promotional leaflet. It is not clear when it was printed as it has no copyright year, but it seems to show the model H, and I suspect it is from about 1925. It would have had a post-card attached that you could send back to ask for more information or for someone to demonstrate the Comptometer.
New Comptometer Decimal model/Sterling model
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
1920
2-sided page
123mm × 204mm
This is probably a page cut from a booklet, as there seem to be rust stains along one edge from staples. It advertises the model H Comptometer, with decimal or sterling keboards.
News Item No. 8
Peacock Bros. Pty. Ltd.
1920
4-page folded leaflet
73mm × 135mm
Wonderful Pictures
Peacock Bros. Pty. Ltd.
1920?
8-page leaflet
140mm × 217mm
This Australian booklet from Peacock Bros. promotes the Comptometer Model H, describes how profits are calculated and the results of a calculation contest. The winner was Miss O'Shea of the Commonwealth Postal Department, who added 56 columns of 30 numbers in 30 minutes.
L'Addizionatrice e Calcolatrice Comptometer
C & R Ferraris, Via Pietro Micca 9, Torino
1920-1925?
One-sided leaflet
226mm × 295mm
Large Italian advert showing a photo of Comptometers being used at Edoardo Bianchi, a car and motorcycle manufacturer in Milan. The comptometers are model H or J, but from the style of the advert it probably dates from the early 1920s.
What it does!
FELT & TARRANT LTD., Aldwych House, Aldwych, London, W.C. 2.
1930?
4-page leaflet
216mm × 282mm (leaflet), 140 × 87(card)
Large leaflet about the model H or J Comptometer. It includes a picture of the Comptometer Peg-Board, as well as a picture of one of the 18 Comptometer schools in the UK. It came with a reply postcard.
Faster Figurework .... at less cost!
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
Form 875
1933
10 page folded leaflet
121mm × 204mm
This leaflet describes the development of the Comptometer since its inception 50 years earlier. It also mentions the 100 Comptometer schools in the USA and contains a brief description of the new peg-board system.
Indian leaflet
Felt & Tarrant (India) Co., Calcutta
1939
4 page leaflet with attached reply card
217mm × 280mm
This Indian leaflet promotes the electric model K, as well as the standard model J and rather unusually the Super Totalizer. It has the reply card still attached. It is interesting that all the photos and illustrations of the Comptometer show them as having a different arrangement of key column colours. The last two columns have distinct colours and are marked As/P (for Annas and Paise) with the other columns marked Rs (Rupees). They also all seem to be painted in the dark model K colour with lighter decorations.
This leaflet was accompanied by a letter from the Indian branch of the Felt & Tarrant company, dated 10th August 1939. The letter can be seen in the letters section below.
Getting a start in business Comptometer school leaflet
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
1939
Form 935
8 page leaflet
186mm × 230mm
Presenting the new Cushioned Touch Comptometer
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
Form 942
1939
6 page folded leaflet
217mm × 280mm
La Comptometer supertotali tocco piuma
Felt & Tarrant; Carlo Ferraris, Torino; Renzo Ferraris, Milano
1945-1950?
4-page leaflet
217mm × 285mm
Large Italian advertising leaflet for the Super Totaliser version of the Comptometer model M. It seems that this machine was sold and used mostly in Italy, and it may be that it was manufactured (or at least assembled) locally.
Nuovo modello "M" supertotali
Carlo Ferraris Soc. Acc., Torino
1945-1950?
One-sided leaflet
219mm × 281mm
The machine she's been wishing for...
Comptometer Division, Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
Form 3025
1950
4-page leaflet
189mm × 229mm
Floating Touch
Comptometer Division, Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
Form 3021
1950
4-page leaflet
184mm × 230mm
Floating Touch
Comptometer Division, Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
Form 3021-I
1950
4-page leaflet
184mm × 230mm
Your invitation to success
Comptometer Division, Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
Form 3027
1950
8-page leaflet
182mm × 217mm
Comptometer 992 "Tocco Piuma"
Felt & Tarrant, Chicago; Renzo Ferraris, Milano; Carlo Ferraris, Torino
1950-1955
Two-sided leaflet
200mm × 299mm
The New High Fidelity Comptometer Dictation and Transcription Machine
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co., Algonquin, Ill.
Form 4000
1955
Two-sided leaflet
217mm × 280mm
In about 1955 Felt & Tarrant diversified by manufacturing a dictation machine. The recording medium was a wide Mylar belt of magnetic tape, called the Erase-O-Matic magnetic belt, which allowed for quick access to any part of the recording just by moving the tape head sideways.
"C. D. M." La nuova macchina Comptometer Dettatrice-trascrittrice elettronica
Carlo Ferraris Soc. Acc., Torino
Form 4000
1955
Two-sided leaflet
208mm × 282mm
Comptometer elettrica
Comptometer Corporation - Ditta Renzo Ferraris, Carlo Ferraris
1957
One-sided leaflet
212mm × 294mm
Large Italian advert for the electric Comptometer, model 992. On the reply slip it also shows the Comptometer dictation machine, as well as a listing calculator made by Walther that was sold by the Comptometer Corporation and rebadged as the Comptometer 202 or the Comptograph 202. As this advert uses the name company name Comptometer Corporation, it probably dates from 1957 or later.
1896 Letter
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
14-09-1896
1-sided letter
210mm × 275mm
This is a standard mail shot letter. The very elaborate letterhead was printed by the Wisconsin Bank Note Co., Milwaukee. The letter was accompanied by a pamphlet and a list of 101 testimonials.
Mess. A.M.Holter Hardware Co., Helena Mont. Gentlemen:- If you desire it, we will send a Comptometer on sixty days trial, providing you will pay express charges both ways in case you do not purchase it. We make this offer because we find the Comptometer itself is our best salesman. It will not run itself. Like the typewriter it requires a reasonable amount of practice to enable one to operate it rapidly, addition requiring more practice than anything else. Multiplication requires the least. If you will have one person in your office use it on practical work twenty minutes a day for a few weeks, he will acquire sufficient skill to make it almost indispensable to you. We especially call your attention to the character of the 101 testimonials, the writers of some of them doubtless being personally known to you, and the fact that during the short time it has been in the market, many, after purchasing one Comptom- eter, have purchased a second one, and in some instances, a third, fourth, fifth and sixth - see list on pages 14 and 15 of pamphlet. In adding it foots all the columns simultaneously by simply striking one key for each figure, (except ciphers which are not struck at all) footing bundles of checks, scattered items and cross footings just as well as regular columns. We know that a Comptometer properly operated would pay for itself many times over in your office. The only question is, whether or not you have some one who will take hold of it and give it enough of the right kind of practice in actual work to become skilled in operating it, and whether you have or not, can only be determined by trial. If you are willing to pay the express, we are willing to supply the machine for the trial. Yours very truly, Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co. D. E. Felt
1897 Letter
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
28-01-1897
1-sided letter
210mm × 274mm (letter), 165mm × 91mm (envelope)
This is a hand-written letter from F.W. De Berard to A. H. Stanton in Huntington,
Massachusetts. Presumably this was Albert H. Stanton, born 23rd January
1860, who was the town auditor. Note the lack of house or street name
on the envelope.
Heywood Bros & Co were a furniture manufacturer in Gardner, Massachusetts.
Jany 28/97
AH Stanton
Huntington
Dear Sir,
Request for trial was sent direct
to Chicago from Heywood Bros & Co Gardner
Mass & Compt was sent on 25th.
Can you go there inside of say, a week
or 10 ds, if so, we will turn it over to you.
We think they should be seen as soon
as that.
Yours truly,
F. W. De Berard
1898 Letter
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
17-01-1898
1-sided letter
214mm × 140mm (letter), 165mm × 93mm (envelope)
This is another hand-written letter from De Berard to Stanton, apparently paying him a commission. Smith Hogg & Gardner was a dry goods store and D. C. Percival & Co a jewellery store, both in Boston. It was quite difficult to decipher the writing, but it seems to say the following:
Jany 17/98
Dear Stanton,
Enclosed find check $50.00 your com on sales
to Smith Hogg & Gardner and D. C. Percival &c.
It pleases us to be able to advise, that we have recd
$10 from Reagan.
Yours truly,
F. W. De Berard
1906 Letter
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
14-11-1906
1-sided letter
214mm × 272mm
The letterhead has become more sober, displaying the wooden box comptometer and company name. It no longer mentions the Comptograph, as that had been split off in a separate company run by Robert Tarrant. The letterhead also lists the company managers, and shows the cable/telegraph address and the code books that can be used in telegrams sent to them.
Mr. B. V. Herrman, Columbus, Ohio, Dear Sir:- I enclose herewith carbon copy of my letter of even date to Mr. E. T. Burnett, Pur. Agt. of the N. & W. which will explain itself. Very respectfully, John B. Cooper Sales Agent.
1919 Letter
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
30-04-1919
1-sided letter
212mm × 275mm
The letterhead now shows the model F comptometer, and the Felt & Tarrant factory.
April 30, 1919 36041 The city of Springfield. Streets & Engineering Department., Springfield, Mass. Gentlemen:- Enclosed find invoice in duplicate, with guar- antee printed in red at bottom, covering one l0-column Con- trolled-Key Duplex Model F comptometer No. 132431, already delivered. Invoice is being rendered in accordance with your Order No. A-1771, of April 21st. In accordance with arrangements we have given you a credit of $30.00 on the bill, covering allowance on one old machine No. 15694. We enclose oiling instruction sheet and would suggest that your operator carry out the instructions given, for upon attention to this matter depends very largely the Comptometer's continued uninterrupted service. Be sure to oil the Comptometer with the good-quality, light-body, non-gumming oil that was supplied with the machine. Thanking you very sincerely for this order and trusting you will not hesitate to call on us at any time we can be of service, we remain Very truly yours, FELT & TARRANT MFG. CO. Treasurer.
Dutch 1919 Letter
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
17-11-1919
1-sided letter
212mm × 276mm
This letter uses the same American letterhead paper, even though it was used by the Dutch branch of Felt & Tarrant.
Amsterdam, 17 November 1919 Den Weledelgeboren Heer M. D I R K Z W A G E R Azn. Distillateur S C H I E D A M Noordvest 23. Mijnheer, Aangezien Zaterdagmiddag ons kantoor gesloten is, trof U alleen onze mechaniciën op kantoor aan. Op het kaartje door U achtergelaten vraagt U lever- tijd en prijs. De prijs van onze Controlled Key Duplex Comp- tometer, model F is Fl. 687.50, levering direct uit voorraad. Wij zijn bereid U de machine ten Uwent te demonstree- ren zonder eenige kosten of verbintenis Uwerzijds. Uwe geëerde berichten gaarne tegenmoetziende, Hoogachtend, FELT & TARRANT MFG. CO.
1920 Letter
Herbert E. Robbins Ltd.
01-06-1920
1-sided letter
202mm × 260mm
This is a letter by Herbert Robbins dated 1st June 1920. The letter is stamped by the Great Central Railway, Manchester, who were presumably the recipients. It was accompanied by a promotional leaflet which you can see above.
June 1st., 1920. Dear Sirs, Although you are a customer we think you will be interested in the enclosed leaflet. We hope your experience of the Comptometer is similar to that expressed by the volume or repeat orders which we are constantly receiving. May we remind you that we are at your service and shall be glad to give any assist- ance that will enable you to get the best results from your machines. As you know, the more of your figure work you do on the Comptometer the more money you save. Yours faithfully, HERBERT E. ROBBINS LM. HER/FTP.
1925 Letter
Herbert E. Robbins Ltd.
06-10-1925
1-sided letter
202mm × 253mm
This is standard mail shot letter by the sales manager of Herbert E. Robbins Ltd., dated 6th October 1925.
The Managing Director 6th October. 1925. City Combing Co. Thornton Rd. Bradford. Dear Sir, A large number of Comptometer Adding and Calculating machines are now employed in businesses similar to your own, and they are giving extraordinary results, both as regards direct savings and increased efficiency. The economies effected by most firms amount to many hundreds, and in some cases, to thousands of pounds per annum. No change of system is required,the introduction of the machine involves no disturbance of any kind; while, if desired, even the capital outlay can be avoided. May one of our representatives call and see you? He would then be able to tell you what other firms are doing, and could bring a Comptometer with him, so that you could test it on your own work in any way you choose. If our experience with firms similar to yours is any indication of the economies you might enjoy - and we feel sure it is - you will realise that the matter is well worth the attention of one of your principals. Our representative will content himself with giving you definite information, and leave you to form your own opinion. We enclose a postcard for your convenience, and hope that you will use it. Yours faithfully, HERBERT E. ROBBINS, LTD. WJJ/ER. Sales Manager.
1929 Letter
Felt & Tarrant Ltd.
07-03-1929
1-sided letter
213mm × 273mm
In 1929 it was no longer Herbert E. Robbins Ltd., but Felt & Tarrant Ltd. who handled the Comptometer sales in the UK.
Parade Chambers, East Parade, SHEFFIELD. Telephone 26052 7th March, 1929. The Secretary, Scunthorpe Co-operative Socy. Ltd., Scunthorpe, LINCS. Dear Sir, I thank you for your telegram received in Sheffield this morning and have pleasure in giving you the particulars you require as fol1ows:- PRICES. Comptometers range in price from 40 to 92 guineas according to size and model. The models usually installed by Co-operative societies cost 40 or 69 guineas - the latter price machine is that used by London, Manchester and Salford, Brightside (Sheffield) and a large number of other societies on Climax Check work. FREE TRIAL OFFER. Under this offer we supply a machine and an operator absolutely free of charge and obligation for a period of one or three days so that thorough tests can be made of the machine's application. Or, if preferable, we hire machines for any period up to thirteen weeks on the under- standing that if the machine is purchased during or at the termination of this period, that all hire invoiced or paid is debited off the purchase price or credited. Under this method of trial we train clerks free of charge and do everything in our power to see that the machine , or machines, gives the utmost possible return for its installation. I hope these brief notes will be of interest to you and that you will be prepared to investigate our proposition for your office and work.
1930 Letter
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
28-01-1930
2-sided letter
214mm × 277mm
This is a standard mailshot letter. It was sent to Lamson & Goodnow Company, which is a company that makes cutlery, was founded in 1837, and still exists today. The letter is (auto)signed by John C. Nevins, who is listed in the letterhead as the Vice President and General Sales Manager of Felt and Tarrant. The letterhead is almost the same as in 1919, except that it now depicts the model H or J. On the back of the letter are a set of useful calculation tables and conversion factors.
January 28th, 1930. Lamson Goodnow Comgany, Shelbourne Falls, Mass. Gentlemen:- Buyers of Adding - Calculating Machines -- the discerning ones -- are more interested these days in the physical proof of what such equipment will do than in verbal discussion of the machines themselves. Why shouldn't they be? When it comes to making a decision, proven facts are always better than anyone's claim, opinion or "guess so." The chief concern of the buyer, therefore, should be to find out which machine will do the most figure work for the least money -- all elements of cost considered. When you find: How many columns a machine will add; How many invoice and payroll extensions it will figure; How many cost divisions it will make in a timed test on your regular work -- not a flash demonstration on a few selected items, but a real, practical test of an hour, or a day if necessary -- then you'1l have a positive standard of value by which to gage any machine. If you are interested in getting the most for your money in figure work, call in a Comptometer man for an interview on ways and means of doing it. No cost or obligation involved. See your phone book, under Felt & Tarrant, or write to us direct. Very truly yours, JCN:SLAB Felt & Tarrant MFG. Co.
1930 Letter
Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co.
03-03-1930
1-sided letter
214mm × 277mm
This is a second letter to Lamson & Goodnow Company, this time informing them about the change in address of the Massachussetts offices. The letter is signed by J. B. Richardson, who is the local Felt & Tarrant agent.
March 3, 1930 Lamson & Goodnow Mfg. Co., Shelburne Falls, Mass. Gentlemen: New Location of Comptometer Sales, Service and Employment Offices. Because of the steady growth of Comptometer sales in Springfield district, as well as the increasing demand for Comptometer clerks and trained operators, we have found it necessary to move into larger quarters. The State Building, Room 615, 1200 Main Street, is the new location. We feel that our Comptometer School is as much a part of your firm as ours, and we cordially invite you to call and see how your future clerks and operators are trained. We want to take this opportunity to thank our cus- tomers, friends, and operators for their support, which in reality has made it possible for us to expand our office twice within three years. Very truly yours, JBR:PAF
1935 Letter
Felt & Tarrant (India) Co., Calcutta
31-08-1935
1-sided letter
213mm × 278mm
This is a letter from the Indian branch of the Felt & Tarrant company to the Accountant General of Jhalawar State, dated 31st August 1935.
31st August 1935. Accountant General, Jhalawar State, Rajputana. Dear Sir, We do hope you will find time to look through the enclosed. The New Comptometer is extraordinary, a great advance on any calculating machine previously offered. The Indian Government is using 350, and the Indian states 35 Comptometers, with excellent results. The New Comptometer gives you absolute accuracy in all your figure work, it is practically foolproof. You can be sure of your figures. It pays for itself in a few months. It saves Rs 2000/- per annum. It is at least three times as quick as old-fashioned ways. It keeps your figure work up-to-date and gives you your statistics promptly. You ought to know about the New Comptometer. Will you fill up and return the enclosed postcard, so that we may give you full information? Yours faithfully, FELT & TARRANT (INDIA) CO. MANAGER. PNG:LL.
1939 letter
Felt & Tarrant (India) Co., Calcutta
10-08-1939
1 page letter, printed tables on reverse
209mm × 293mm
This is another letter to the Accountant General of Jhalawar State, dated 10th August 1939,
with tables on the back. It seems that 5 years after the previous letter, the Accountant General
has finally become interested in Comptometers.
The leaflet that accompanied this letter can be seen above.
Accountant General, Jalawar State, Brijnagar - Rajputana. Dear Sir, We thank you for your enquiry of 5th August in connection with the Controlled-Key Comptometer, and have pleasure in giving the following particulars about the machine, and also to enclose some literature thereon. Briefly stated, the Comptometer is an Adding and Calculating machine, designed to do every kind of figure work with absolute accuracy in the shortest possible time. Its chief advantages are - It multiplies 5 to 7 times faster than with pencil and paper It makes all additions in roughly one third the usual time It subtracts as fast as it adds It divides 4 to 5 times faster than ordinary methods It prevents errors It eliminates the use of paper to a large extent It enables work to be kept up to date It permits junior clerks to do work otherwise done by more highly paid men It gives statistics at a time when they are of maximum benefit. The Comptometer organisation in India is a branch of the world wide organisation, and is in charge of experts who have been specially trained in methods of mechanical accounting. We maintain Schools of instruction in Calcutta,Bombay,Cawnpore,Delhi,Madras,Rangoon and Colombo, and use every effort to see that every machine purchased is put into effective operation. Therefore, although we supply clearly written books of instruction with every machine sold, we are always ready to train the clerks of our customers at our Schools, free of charge, or to supply trained operators. We also maintain a Repair Department with a stock of spare parts, and all machines will be kept in first class repair at all times. A guarantee is given with every machine to keep it in good running order for 12 months from date of purchase, free of charge.
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