Not surprisingly, skills learned a long time ago often help us today, especially with our genealogy. I avoided comptometers and 10-day adding "machines" and choose to learn typing instead; that skill has served me well since I learned how to type in 1955. Using our computers at home or a laptop at the FHC or a courthouse or cemetery and knowing how to type well (and still very fast) is a definite advantage. Wishing my research could move as fast as my fingers. Jacquie ----- Original Message ----- From: <ShineOn101@aol.com> To: <mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 2:18 PM Subject: Re: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Confession >I used a comptometer years ago after graduating from high school in 1955. > Yes - they were very large calculator like devices for bookkeeping > purposes > where I worked. > Shirl

Hi/Hallo I have uploaded my transcription of the records of St. Georgen Catholic Church, Freiburg, Baden, 1825-1835. The URL is http://www.rollanet.org/~bdoerr/St_Georgen/St_Georgen.htm Bob Doerr in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks Sole surviving founding officer, Missouri Chapter, Nature Conservancy, 1956 http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/missouri/ Editor, since 1992, Missouri State Genealogical Association Journal http://www.mosga.org

Thanks George That one is streamlined compared to the ones I remember. Gary ----- Original Message ----- From: George/Rosalie Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 8:00 AM To: mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Obsolete occupation Here's a picture of one of the things. http://www.vintagecalculators.com/html/comptometer.html > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thanks.? That web sites provides info about the difference between the comptometers and adding machines.? I think I finally understand.? An excerpt below (highlights are mine):?? Peggy "The Comptometer was the first succesfull key driven adding and calculating machine. "Key driven" means that just pressing the keys adds the numbers entered to the total - no other action is required - so it is very quick for adding long lists of numbers. The basic function of the Comptometer is addition. There is a column of keys (in general 1-9) for each decade. When a key is pressed, that number is added to that decade, with carry to the next higher decade, if applicable. Pulling the handle forwards clears the total to zero. "Comptometers were very fast in operation when adding up lists, such as required in accounting. Operators were specially trained to make use of the full keyboard and enter each number by pressing all the digits in one go using all fingers, as necessary, at once. In other words all the digits were entered in parallel, the mechanism being able to cope with this. "In contrast a modern electronic calculator only has 10 digit keys so the digits of each number have to be entered one at a time, serially, which is slower. Comptometers were widely used into the late 1970s and were ousted by advances in the use of computers for accounting rather than the development of electronic calculators. People trained in the proper and swift use of Comptometers often kept using them for many more years since for adding up lists they were quicker than a standard ten-key electronic calculator. "Although designed mainly for addition, it is also possible to perform subtraction, multiplication, and division on Comptometers using special techniques. If you would like to experience the joy (if you are a masochist) of performing the four arithmetic functions on a Comptometer see the article Operating a "Comptometer" in the Collecting Calculators section of this site." -----Original Message----- From: George/Rosalie <TheRanch@centurytel.net> To: mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com Sent: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 6:59 am Subject: Re: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Obsolete occupation Here's a picture of one of the things. http://www.vintagecalculators.com/html/comptometer.html > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ________________________________________________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

Here's a picture of one of the things. http://www.vintagecalculators.com/html/comptometer.html >

Ruth, I was used a Com for a few years. You only used three fingers. Never the thumb or pinkie. It was clunky and had keys more like the telephone. You had to add and subtract fast to keep up with your work. You had to work all day doing the same work. Adding and subtracting sales slips and anything that needed to have a total for a person. To know what they sold or distributed to another person from a company. this is my way explaining a job I had in 1956-61. I hope this helps. I am 82 years old and in my life I have used a lot of machines to add and subtract with. My main job was double entry bookkeeping. This was an old system also. Victorine ************************************** Get a sneak peak of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

My Aunt was a Comp operator at the A & P office downtown until it closed. Anyone know the difference, if any, in a Comptometer and the adding machines with a similar keyboard? Ruth Stubbs

You are making me feel old....oh wait, I guess I am. I used a comptometer for years. I still do math in my head like I am using a comptometer and can usually come up with an answer quicker than someone using a calculator. Barb in Ballwin Bob Doerr <bdoerr@msm.umr.edu> wrote: Hi A not-so-old occupation that has become obsolete and is likely to be forgotten, is that of Comptometer operator. Operators' fingers would fly! Probably, half the population has never heard of a Comptometer. Bob Doerr in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks Sole surviving founding officer, Missouri Chapter, Nature Conservancy, 1956 http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/missouri/ Editor, since 1992, Missouri State Genealogical Association Journal http://www.mosga.org ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

So that's what a comptometer is. I remember those infernal machines now. They're the ones from back in the 1950's that kept adding and subtracting and got it wrong no matter how many numbers I put in it.----Jim

Was that the official name of my father's big old (mechanical) adding machine? It was black, had an array of 100 round keys to use for entering the numbers, and a few more for special things I can't remember now... There was a crank on the side that needed a strong right arm. If you pulled it once, it added; I think twice made it multiply (with a most impressive clunking of gears inside). --- Bob Doerr <bdoerr@msm.umr.edu> wrote: > Hi > > A not-so-old occupation that has become obsolete and is likely to be > forgotten, is that of Comptometer operator. Operators' fingers would > fly! Probably, half the population has never heard of a Comptometer. > > > Bob Doerr in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks > Sole surviving founding officer, Missouri Chapter, Nature > Conservancy, 1956 > http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/missouri/ > Editor, since 1992, Missouri State Genealogical Association Journal > http://www.mosga.org > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! FareChase. http://farechase.yahoo.com/

Comptometers, my dad repaired them. He did that type of work (business machines)from age 16 til he died at 69. I remember when he went to school to learn the IBM machines. Pat Koger

Just a big oversized adding machine...... Rosalind Steffen -----Original Message----- From: AldDan@aol.com To: mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com Sent: Sun, 8 Jul 2007 11:36 pm Subject: Re: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Comptometer Confession In a message dated 7/8/2007 11:26:18 P.M. Central Daylight Time, jims505@msn.com writes: I went to my Webster's Fourth edition Collegiate Dictionary published 2002 and found No definition for, "Comptometer." While I remember the old clunkers from City Hall (City of St. Louis Collector of Revenue's Office), "Googling" is more fun and productive. See: _http://www2.cruzio.com/~vagabond/ComptHome.html_ (http://www2.cruzio.com/~vagabond/ComptHome.html) Dan McGuire ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ________________________________________________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

In a message dated 7/8/2007 11:26:18 P.M. Central Daylight Time, jims505@msn.com writes: I went to my Webster's Fourth edition Collegiate Dictionary published 2002 and found No definition for, "Comptometer." While I remember the old clunkers from City Hall (City of St. Louis Collector of Revenue's Office), "Googling" is more fun and productive. See: _http://www2.cruzio.com/~vagabond/ComptHome.html_ (http://www2.cruzio.com/~vagabond/ComptHome.html) Dan McGuire ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

Hi Bob I'm just old enough to remember those old clunkers. I used to do some part-time actuary work for a now defunct insurance company - Great West Life - in Clayton. Gary ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Doerr Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 4:28 PM To: mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com Subject: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Obsolete occupation Hi A not-so-old occupation that has become obsolete and is likely to be forgotten, is that of Comptometer operator. Operators' fingers would fly! Probably, half the population has never heard of a Comptometer. Bob Doerr in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks Sole surviving founding officer, Missouri Chapter, Nature Conservancy, 1956 http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/missouri/ Editor, since 1992, Missouri State Genealogical Association Journal http://www.mosga.org ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I fudged. I went to my Webster's Fourth edition Collegiate Dictionary published 2002 and found No definition for, "Comptometer." But I found the rascal in my 1958 Webster's Encyclopedia of dictionaries. Who would have thought they had such modern devices way back then?----Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: G STOLTMAN<mailto:stopan@msn.com> To: mo-stlouis-metro<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 9:59 PM Subject: Re: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Obsolete occupation Hi Bob I'm just old enough to remember those old clunkers. I used to do some part-time actuary work for a now defunct insurance company - Great West Life - in Clayton. Gary ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Doerr Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 4:28 PM To: mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com> Subject: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Obsolete occupation Hi A not-so-old occupation that has become obsolete and is likely to be forgotten, is that of Comptometer operator. Operators' fingers would fly! Probably, half the population has never heard of a Comptometer. Bob Doerr in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks Sole surviving founding officer, Missouri Chapter, Nature Conservancy, 1956 http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/missouri/<http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/missouri/> Editor, since 1992, Missouri State Genealogical Association Journal http://www.mosga.org<http://www.mosga.org/> ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I have back in 1969 used a Comptometer to total hours for linemen for the telephone company for payroll..... Believe me I had very strong fingers....lol. Haven't heard that in many years...... Rosalind from Imperial, MO ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

Or do you mean the machine?----Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Doerr<mailto:bdoerr@msm.umr.edu> To: mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 2:17 PM Subject: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Obsolete occupation Hi A not-so-old occupation that has become obsolete and is likely to be forgotten, is that of Comptometer operator. Operators' fingers would fly! Probably, half the population has never heard of a Comptometer. Bob Doerr in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks Sole surviving founding officer, Missouri Chapter, Nature Conservancy, 1956 http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/missouri/<http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/missouri/> Editor, since 1992, Missouri State Genealogical Association Journal http://www.mosga.org<http://www.mosga.org/> ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I have. He's the guy in the comptroller's office who watches the gas meter during the winter months to see that the office is not overly heated. A fine practice used only in the finer offices around the Country.----Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Doerr<mailto:bdoerr@msm.umr.edu> To: mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 2:17 PM Subject: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Obsolete occupation Hi A not-so-old occupation that has become obsolete and is likely to be forgotten, is that of Comptometer operator. Operators' fingers would fly! Probably, half the population has never heard of a Comptometer. Bob Doerr in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks Sole surviving founding officer, Missouri Chapter, Nature Conservancy, 1956 http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/missouri/<http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/missouri/> Editor, since 1992, Missouri State Genealogical Association Journal http://www.mosga.org<http://www.mosga.org/> ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi A not-so-old occupation that has become obsolete and is likely to be forgotten, is that of Comptometer operator. Operators' fingers would fly! Probably, half the population has never heard of a Comptometer. Bob Doerr in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks Sole surviving founding officer, Missouri Chapter, Nature Conservancy, 1956 http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/missouri/ Editor, since 1992, Missouri State Genealogical Association Journal http://www.mosga.org

I Googled Amalgamated Clothing and had 10 hits in .16 seconds. The Public Library has microfilm of the Labor Advocate. Try Google for the other companies. Ellen -----Original Message----- From: SReif1956@comcast.net To: St. Louis Metro <MO-STLOUIS-METRO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 9:44 am Subject: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] International Shoe Company, Curlee Clothing Company, etc. Hi all, I found some information on family records that relatives worked for the following two companies in St. Louis: International Shoe Company Curlee Clothing Company Reliable Clothing Company Does anyone know anything about these two companies or where I can find information about them? Old employee rolls? Also, my grandmother was a member of a workers union: Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union No. 82. Is there anyone who might know about old workers unions and if they might hold employee records? Thanks in advance for anyone's help. Sharon ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ________________________________________________________________________ Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- Unlimited storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection.