Eureka Adding Machine Carriage with Burroughs Adding Machine, 1905

William S. Burroughs (1855-1898) invented an adding and listing machine with a full keyboard in the early 1880s, submitted a patent application in 1885, co-founded the American Arithmometer Co. in 1886 to produce the machine, and received a patent for his invention in 1888. After its Bankers' and Merchants' Registering Accountant machine failed in trials in 1890, the American Arithmometer Co. marketed its improved Burroughs Registering Accountant in 1892 for $475 (Kidwell 2000). In 1905, the company was renamed the Burroughs Adding Machine Co.

In 1894, an article -- clearly referring to the Burroughs Registering Accountant -- reported that "An ingenious adding machine, recently introduced in Providence banks, is said to be infallible in results, and to do the work of two or three active clerks. Inclosed in a frame with heavy plate-glass panels, through which the working of the mechanism can be seen, the machine occupies a space of 11 by 15 inches and is nine inches high. On an inclined keyboard are 81 keys, arrange in nine rows of nine keys each. The printing is done through an inked ribbon." (The Bankers' Magazine, Aug. 1894) An 1899 discussion of modern banking methods stated that "great assistance has been derived from certain mechanical labor-saving contrivances, among which I will mention the typewriter, the registering accountant or adding machine, and the telephone. The registering accountant is of comparatively more recent introduction, but I think I can safely say it has proved itself one of the most useful instruments even introduced to the banks." (Bankers' Magazine, Feb. 1899) The following table provides data on worldwide sales of Burroughs machines from 1895 through 1926. Through 1910, the data cover only adding-listing machines. Beginning in 1911, the data also cover calculators and other types of bookkeeping machines.

How Espresso Machines Work

consumption in the United States has grown tremendously in the last decade or two. In Seattle, Washington, you can't walk more than a couple of blocks without seeing a cafe or espresso cart -- they're in bookstores, grocery stores, laundromats, gas stations and movie theate­rs. There are drive-through espr­esso shops in parking lots. Sometimes an espresso cart will just park on the sidewalk, like the hot-dog vendors in New York City.
People have been buying espresso machines for their homes, too. These machines are smaller than the commercial machines found in cafes, but they work on the same principles. In this article, we'll learn how these household espresso machines work. But first, let's see what espresso is.

Sure, Why Not?: Shoe Vending Machines

Here at Geekologie we've seen all kinds of different vending machines. We've seen ones that dispense soccer balls, pizzas, people, pot, other drugs, and even small children. Well now we're adding shoes to that list. As someone who has woken up shoeless and in a ditch on the bad side of town several times, so I can attest to the brilliance of footwear vending machines. This particular dispensary is on London's Carnaby Street and spits out Onitsuka Tigers. The machine holds 24 pairs in 6 different sizes (probably no 14's) and each costs an undisclosed number of coconuts. As you can see from the picture, the machine really attracts the chicks, and I'd totally do them all.

UPDATE: Okay, turns out that third chick is actually a dude. I retract my previous statement. I would now only do chicks 1, 2, and 4, despite dude's silky soft hair, capris, and fetching mustachio.

Bespoke Packaging Machines

When an inquiry is received for a completely new style of packaging machine, either for wrapping or another packaging application, Marden Edwards engineers can design a completely new piece of bespoke machinery suitable for the task.

With over 45 years of design and manufacturing experience Marden Edwards is able to produce bespoke machinery for almost any application. Via our own design team and in conjunction with our trusted partners, bespoke packaging machines can be produced that are either incorporated into a turn key wrapping solution or are simply supplied as stand alone pieces of equipment.

Previous bespoke machines have included in-line buffer storage systems, random feed bank note collating and banding equipment, casepacking and waste product reclamation machinery.

If Marden Edwards cannot be of assistance directly then we can put you in touch with one of our trusted partner companies, such as ITCM, to provide a solution to your special purpose machinery requirements.

Custom Packaging Machinery

If your wrapping requirement does not fit within the specification of any of the machines in the Marden Edwards range then it is possible to custom design the machine to your precise application.

In addition to designing bespoke handling systems to convey the product to and from the overwrapping machine, the Marden Edwards design team is frequently required to design new overwrapping machines to wrap pack sizes that fall outside the range of existing packaging machinery. The increasing demand for retail multipacks is driving custom packaging machinery design in both the Tobacco and Food industries to enable the overwrapping of a wide product range of large packs in both film and uncoated paper.

“Buy one get one free” offers in the Pharmaceutical and Paper industries has led Marden Edwards to design custom machines for the versatile feeding, loading and wrapping of dissimilar shaped products. Often product is accepted from more than one source before being collated and overwrapped.

In the Cosmetic and Perfumes industry, the desire for product differentiation through custom packaging has led to unique pack designs. For example, Marden Edwards has supplied custom designed attachments to overwrap rhomboid shaped packs on existing machines.

Other custom designs have included packaging machines for naked cake and nougat bars, paper products loosely wrapped with paper and sealed by a label and irregularly shaped products sitting on a cardboard U card. Marden Edwards invites you to tell us about your custom packaging machinery requirement so that we can help you find a solution.