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Taiyo Model 23

This is a machine which is uncommon in Europe, in fact, this may be the only one. The machine was made by the Taiyo calculating machine co., which was a subdivision of the Uchida Yoko concern. They still exist today, and you can find a webpage on their history here. The webpage mentions that in 1955, they started building the very first Japanese manual calculator. There is a bit of poetic license there, we know that the Tiger calculating machine company was selling their Japan-built products in the 1920s already, but it sets the stage for this machine being sold in the mid-50s.

As a calculator, some aspects of it are rather modern. The model 23 has an input-check register, which is perched on top of the machine rather Lipsia-like. They also sold the model 20, without input control register. The model 23 has a thoroughly outdated external input clearing bar, but on the other hand it has lever-operated quick-clearing in both registers, manual x/: selection (that handle has broken off in this machine), a Thales-like carriage transport system, and a rather peculiar backtransfer mechanism from the result to the input register all the way down at the base of the machine.

After a quick clean and oiling, it works rather well now. There is no Japanese to be found anywhere on the machine, only English, despite the fact that this machine came straight from Japan and to my knowledge was never exported.

If anyone else knows of any machines in Europe, or of different models being made and sold, that information would be very welcome. Now we'll move on to the pictures.

Taiyo picture 1

Taiyo picture 1

Taiyo picture 1

Taiyo picture 1

Taiyo picture 1

The serial number - 232753 - seems a little optimistic for the number of machines that can still be found today, even in Japan.