banner

Improved construction : BRUNSVIGA calculators

Franz Trinks continued in his role as technical director. Albert Natalis stayed commercial director until 1901. His son Hugo was one of the personally liable partnersof the association 1891 until 1893. From 1901 until 1903, the post of commercial director was occupied by Arthur Müller.

Publicity for the BRUNSVIGA calculators already started in the first year of manufacture. These commercials consisted chiefly out of demonstrations (e.g. at the general assembly of the VDI in Hannover in 1892), presence at expositions (e.g. Chicago in 1893), magazine articles with discussions of the machine, as well as making letters of recommendation and lists of customers public.

Publicity as a marketing instrument developed just prior to the 1890s. From 1890 on, “artsy advertising” came into existence (at first at the level of the billboard). Advertsing psychology ought to support the effectiveness of publicity. During this thrust toward professionalisation, the current advertising business with its typical functions originated.

On the first BRUNSVIGA calculators was put as a trademark the logo of the GNC limited partnership that also characterized the companies sewing machines. Later on, a stylized “GNC” and a pentagram, sometimes within a circle, were used.

Already in the first years of manufacture, “GNC” made several modifications in the construction of the BRUNSVIGA, which made it more reliable:

  • The original ODHNER machine was delivered in a box, from which it had to be taken in order to be able to calculate. “GNC” put the machine on a wooden board, and provided a removable metal cover.
  • The numbers in the ODHNER machine and in the first BRUNSVIGAs were engraved in the nickeled top cover, and thus hard to read. Therefor, “GNC” started to paint the numbers white on a dark background, and to colour negative numbers red.
  • Early on, the construction of double calculators was considered, and as early as 1893, three coupled BRUNSVIGA B’s were delivered to Paris.
  • Apart from the 13-digit knock-off from the ODHNER machine, named BRUNSVIGA B from 1894 on, also from 1894 on, the 18-digit BRUNSVIGA A and the 10-digit C were constructed.
  • From February 1894 on, the main crank was lengthened, which decreased the potential for injury when cranking with the carriage shifted to the right.
  • In the 1890’s, bells were added, that signaled a number exceeding the capacity of the machine.
  • Securities were added to the machine in the 1900s.
  • Also by the tens’ carriage to the last digit, new models of the BRUNSVIGA distinguished themselves from the ODHNER-construction.

     

     

    Return to Room 1