Reference / Paper · 1996
Follow-up survey of Otis King serial numbers from members' examples: serial-letter series and estimated production, Types A–E (including the early Type D and the walking-cane Type E), and Otis Carter Formby King's patents and addresses (Coventry, then 51 Holborn Viaduct).
62 Vol. 5, No. 2, October, 1996 Otis-King — Conclusions? Peter Hopp Following my article in Vol. 4 No 2. of this Journal, a number of members have kindly written to me. My grate- ful thanks to Messrs. Otnes, Hans, Price, Feely, Nassar, Babcock, Rance, and Knott who wrote to me, and Messrs Price, Larson, Moore, Babcock, Catt, and an unsigned gentleman from New Mexico, who had written to the Journal following the first article. These letters have produced considerable additional information that has enabled a more comprehensive list of numbers to be produced, from which we can speculate a bit further on the spread of O-Ks, and also to confirm some of the conclusions from my article. The updated list and a simple histogram showing the spread of examples is shown. There are now examples listed from the majority of the “expected” series, the ex- ception being D; I feel sure that in time we will find a serial ‘D’ O-K calculator. It is not surprising that I, L, O and Q are not used. This gives 23 possible serial number series, and a maximum of approximately 230,000 calcu- lators. However, looking at the spread of numbers, we can speculate that C to K, and maybe M and P, may only have been made in small numbers, as all examples in these series are numbered under 1000. This is beyond the bounds of coincidence, I believe, and thus makes them effectively rarer. This also could reduce the total num- ber made by approximately 100,000 to 130,000, using the same assumption that less than 1000 were made in each of these series. The additional information from known examples has identified two additional types, or styles, of calculator. These are as follows: Further study of no. 867 shows that this is actually different. from, and in all probability earlier than, the Type A; a diagram of this Type D is shown. The most noticeable differences are the straight, unchamfered bot- tom to the cursor, and the triangular, straight shape to the top cap. The scales on no, 867 do not appear to co- incide with any of the known types, but are most similar to the Model N, below. The scales are primarily English units, showing 2240 lbs as one ton, with the cash scale from id to £1000. Wayne Feely also has an early number (no. 131) monetary calculator with different scale num- bers, 17 and 24, that are considerably different from the K & L scale identity numbers. Bruce Babcock sent me information on an intrigu- ing version of the O-K. This is effectively a Type B, but mounted on the end of a 30” walking cane! This hardly seems a really practical application of a calculator. The description shows that a sleeve is used to join O-K and cane, going over the handle of the O-K and the top few inches of the cane, such that numbers, etc., are no longer visible. The metal top cap of the O-K is replaced by a plastic one. One can only assume that this alternative top is purely for decorative purposes. I have called this a Type E; a diagram is shown below. Serial No. T6514. Type D. Type E. The Journal of the Oughtred Society There is also a variant on Type B which, on initial in- vestigation, has no serial number. Upon unscrewing the top cap, one finds a serial number (no. H1455) stamped in, after plating. Thanks to John Knott for information on this one that is, in all other respects, a Type B. There is also information on a Carbic cylindrical cal- culator with two concentric transparent cylindrical cur- sors. Details are not available, and what relationship this has with traditional O-Ks is not known. The patent information that has come to light has identified three other O-Ks; whether these were ever made in any quan- tities is not known. We now have considerable additional information on patents and on the inventor, courtesy of John Knott. Otis Carter Formby King was an engineer who initially lived in the Midlands, and then moved to London, pre- sumably to make and sell his calculator. He took out three patents as follows: 1921, 22,119/21 A provisional patent relating to the basic calculator design and the “monetary scales” , noted on #867. It gives Otis King’s address as 44 Brays Lane, Coventry. 1922, 183,723 The common patent granted following the provisional patent above. 1923, 17,400/23 A provisional patent specification relating to improvements, showing several cylinders and a cursor divided into 5 sections. The scales are designed for use by quantity surveyors, and in- corporate rim scales on the cursors for percentage variation (wastage, shrinkage, etc). The address for the inventor is shown as “Ashdene”, Emscote Road, Stoke, Coventry, Warwickshire. 1923, 207,762 This is the patent granted from the provisional spec above. The address is given as 51 Holborn Viaduct London EC1, late of “Ashdene” etc. We can, thus, date his move to London, and we can speculate that this must have been his home, as well as where the original calculators were man- ufactured or retailed from. 1923, 207,856 This is an absolutely fascinating patent covering two very different calculators, one a variant on the “normal” hand-held O-K with three spiral scales, the cursor having three apertures to allow setting of the scales. There are also friction pads which when pressed allow the cursor to be “locked” to the cylinder. There are also edge scales to the cursor which allow ratio variations to be cal- culated. The second calculator is a desk model, with inter- changeable cylinders that can be moved or rotated against a cursor which can, also, be fixed or free, al- lowing several types of calculation to be performed on the calculator. No scale is given to enable the size to be estimated. 63 The O-K Patent specs are almost worthy of an article on their own! The full list of 13 models is as follows: Model Purpose Retail cash, scales 1d to £100; 1 to 2,500 fractions Retail cash, scales 1d to £100; 1 to 2,500 decimals Whilsl. cash, scales 1s to £1,000; 1 to 2,500 fractions Whlsl. cash, scales 1s to £1,000; 1 to 2,500 decimals Retail cash, scales 1d to £100; 1 oz to 156 Ibs. Retail cash, scales 1d to £100; 1 qr to 28 tons. Wholesale cash, scales Is. to £1,000; 1 oz to 156 lbs. Wholesale cash, Scales 1s to £1,000; 1 qr to 28 tons. Wages cash, scales 1d to £8 and 1 hr to 80 hrs. Slide rule scales to 4 or 5 significant figures Slide rule scales plus a log scale Metrical scales Sterling Cash numbers, English and French weights and measures 4 to 2500, and vulgar fractions. (later version from instructions for no. 9677) ZZCrAGCTOBNSAG>S The basic conclusions referring to scales for Models K and L have not been compromised by the additional information. There are a number of new addresses (see table be- low), the most interesting being addresses in Coventry for the early days of Otis King. There are also a number of American versions of O-Ks with different names: ABCO Cylindrical calculator, Geniac Pocket Calculator. A.S. Aloe were also, apparently, the earliest American agents for Carbic. Whitton Precision is shown on a stick-on la- bel covering the normal Dundonald Road address; they may have been purely agents. Further information on the relationship of these companies with O-K and/or Carbic still has to be discovered. Ref. Years Address 0. 1921 44 & 66 Bray's Lane, Coventry, A. 1922 “Ashdene,” Emscote Road, Stoke, Coventry. Ti 1923-38 51 Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1. 2. 1942-45 137 Conway Road, London, N14. 3: ©1950 171 Seymour Place, London, W1. 4, 1962-71 54 Dundonald Rd, London, SW19. 5. c1957 ABCO, USA 6. ? GENIAC Pocket Calculator, NY, USA. 7. 1927 A.S. Aloe Co. Sold O-K Calculators in the USA (Models K & L). 8. >1962 Whitton Precision Ltd., Bridge Works, Durnsford Rd., Wimbledon London, SW19. The relationship between Otis C.F. King and Carbic is not known. Could the “Car” in his second name and Carbic have any significance? Time may tell! Otis King calculators were always among the more ex- pensive available. We have prices (in shillings and pence) for a number of dates: Year Price 1921 21/- 1923 - 1938 22/6d 1955 42/- 1960 60/- 1967 75/- The price increases in the later days were well above inflation, and were counter to the trend of all other slide 64 rule manufacturers’ prices, which generally decreased over a similar period. Finally, the postulated reuse of numbers, added as a postscript in the original article, may still hold water with the additional numbers now available. It is harder Vol. 5, No. 2, October, 1996 to see the logic, or indeed where the reuse started, in the various serial number series; and there are possi- ble anomalies with various address 1’s and 4’s appearing within the A series numbers in seemingly random pat- terns, and an address 3 in the middle of the Z series. Table of Known Otis—King Spiral Slide Rules Serial Scales Model Address Date 131 24,17 ? 0 1921? 867 Monetary N? 1 1923? 5513 414, 423 L 1? 6704 414, 423 L 1 7765 442, 424 N 1 9201 ? ? ? 9662 ? K ? 9677 429, 430 L 1 early A0936 ? K ? A1685 ? K ? A2309 429, 430 L 4 A3062 429, 430 L 4 A5107 414, 423 L 1 1932/5 A5402 414, 423 K 4 A6047 414, 423 K 1 1923 A6141 414, 423 K 4 1971+ A6306 429, 430 L 1 A6523 414, 423 K 1 AT087 ? L ? AT176 414, 423 K 1 A7751 429, 430 K ? A8427 ? L ? BO886 ? ? ? B1979 429, 430 L 4 B2314 414, 423 K 4 1971+ B3696 414, 423 K 4 B3946 ? L z B6580 % K ? C1135 429, 430 L 1 C1198 414, 423 K 4 E0106 ? L ? E0575 429, 430 L % FO488 414, 423 K 4 G629 429, 430 L ? H500 414, 423 K 1 H1455 414, 423 K 2 J0202 ? L ? K0050 429, 430 L z M1351 429, 430 L ? N0214 ? K ? NO975 429, 430 L ? N7021 414, 423 K 3 P0859 414, 423 K 3 P2601 414, 423 K 4 R3733 414, 423 K ? R4306 429, 430 L ? $0368 429, 430 L ? $0626 429, 430 L 5 1957 $3890 429, 430+ L ? $3896 429, 430 L ed $3904 429, 430 L 6 S4754 429, 430 L ? $4794 2 L ? $5260 429, 430 L xs $6232 429, 430 L ? $6376 414, 423 K ? $9126 429, 430 L ? $9826 414, 423 K ? S9897 429, 430 L 6 T0145 414, 423 K ? Wht/Blk Curs Ch/Ni Type Scale Mat Blk Chr Chr? D? ? Wht Chr Ni D VP? Wht Chr Chr A ? Blk Chr Chr? A ? Blk Ni? Ni D ? ? ? ? ? ? rf ? ¥ ? Wht Ni Ni A ? ? ? ? Cc ? 2 ? ? Cc z Wht Blk 2? | @7 z Wht Blk ? Cc ? Wht Ni Ni A ? Blk Blk Ni A ? Blk Blk Ni A VP? Blk Blk Chr Cc PCP/PF Blk Blk? ? B?? (1) Wht Blk Ni A VP? ? ? ? Cc ? Wht Chr Ni q PCP/PF ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Cc $ ? ? ? ? ? Blk Blk Chr Cc PCP/PF Blk Blk Chr Cc PGP Blk Blk Chr CG PCP/PF ? ? ? ? ? K 4 ? ? Cc % Wht Blk Chr B - Wht Blk Chr B ? ? % 2 ? ? Blk Blk Chr B ? Blk Blk Brs B VP Blk Blk Ni B VP Blk Blk ? B ? Blk Blk Ni B (3) vP ? ? ? B ? Blk Blk Chr B PCP/PF Blk Blk ? B ? ? i 7 B ? Blk Blk Ni B PCP/PF Blk Blk Chr B PCP/PF Blk Blk Chr B PCP/PF Wht Brs Ni B ? Blk Blk Chr B 7 ? Blk ¥ B ? Blk ? ? ? ? Wht Blk ¢ Cc q Blk Blk Chr B PF Wht Blk Chr B ? Wht Blk ? Cc ? Blk ? ? ? ? ? ? ? B 2 Wht Blk 2 B ? Blk Blk Chr B ? Blk ? ? ? if ? ? ? ? 2. Blk Blk Chr Cc PCP Wht Blk Chr? Cc ? Blk Blk Ni B VP The Journal of the Oughtred Society T3239 T4208 T6514 T6672 0501 U2963 U3427 U6266 V0270 V1154 V4542 V5533 V9524 W5256 W5291 W9412 X4090 X5274 X5291 X5599 X7372 X8629 X8984 X9673 Y2971 Y6427 Y8370 Z1796 21920 Z5995 Z6311 Z8088 (2) Notes: 1. Says “Patentees”. 429, 430 414, 423 429, 430 429, 430 ? 414, 423 429, 430 414, 423 414, 423 414, 423 429, 430 429, 430+ 414, 423 414, 423 7 ? 429, 430 429, 430 429, 430 ? 2 ¥ 4 £ 429, 430 414, 423 414, 423 414, 423 429, 430 429, 430 414, 423 429, 430 ? 429, 430 429, 423 ROMS RS RAR So MRAM RAAR SORA ACA Re Ae NN NK SWE NNN RAN NYY NS YY YN BS VY ve vvrnvn se & VN hve & 1970 1962 1971+ 1971+ 1971+ * Bik 1971+ 1971+ Blk Blk Blk Wht ? Blk Blk Wht Wht Blk Blk Blk Blk Wht “g 5 Blk Blk Blk Blk 7 ? ? Blk Blk ? Blk Wht Wht Blk Blk ? Blk ? Chr Chr Blk Chr Blk Chr Blk Chr? ? ? Blk Chr Blk Chr Blk Chr Blk Chr? ? ? Chr Chr Blk Chr ? ? Blk Chr? ? ? ? ? ? ? Blk Chr Chr Cc Blk Chr ? ? ? ? ? ? Blk Chr Blk Chr Blk Chr Blk Chr Blk Chr Blk Chr? Blk Chr Blk Chr Zz ? Brs Brs ? ? M“AIOOOONAO0A ~Q ~M OOOO 0O7 A900 7 A000 Blk=black, Brs=brass, Chr=chrome, Ni=nickel, PCP=plastic coated paper, PF=paper with plastic film, VP=varnished paper Wht=white 2. This is an O-K on a 30” wooden cane. The top cap is plastic; otherwise same as Type B? 3. Serial Number stamped on the underside of the Top Cap; otherwise as Type B. Letter none Number of Examples 8 4 6 2 Ne Re tw _ Otis King Calculators — Spread of Serial Numbers Lowest Number 131 0936 0886 1135 0106 0488 629 500 0202 0050 1351 Highest Number 9677 8427 6580 1198 0575 0488 629 1455 0202 0050 1351 Letter NK XS <ccHADWOVOA Number of Examples 3 _ nN aw naw. owns Lowest Number 0214 0859 3733 0368 0145 0501 0270 5256 4090 2971 1796 ° PCP/PF ? i i i ie Bi a * it i ie Ed CP/PF PCP/PF VSS NN NN SYN IN NIN SN Highest Number 7021 2601 4306 9897 6672 6266 9524 9412 9673 8370 8088