# How William Burroughs Invented the First Practical Adding Machine

> An 1888 patent for a mechanical calculating machine that used a system of levers and gears to perform accurate arithmetic operations.

- **Patent:** US 388116
- **Original title:** burrouahs
- **Owner:** William S. Burroughs
- **Granted:** 1888
- **Status:** Active
- **Times cited:** 2
- **Field:** mechanical, finance

## What it does

This patent describes a mechanical device designed to perform mathematical calculations through a system of interconnected keys, levers, and rotating gear wheels. When a user presses a key, it moves a specific lever that rotates a gear by a set amount corresponding to the number pressed. The machine uses a carry mechanism to transfer values from one decimal column to the next, ensuring that addition is performed correctly across multiple digits.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover electronic or digital computation methods.
- Does not cover software-based calculators or algorithms.
- Does not cover devices that rely on electricity or batteries for power.
- Does not cover non-mechanical input methods like touchscreens or voice.

## The clever bit

The invention introduced a reliable carry mechanism that allowed the machine to handle complex multi-digit addition without the user needing to manually track overflows between columns.

## Real-world examples

1. Burroughs adding machines used in early 20th-century banks
2. Mechanical accounting registers
3. Early office bookkeeping hardware

## Why it matters

This invention was a cornerstone of the modern office. It transformed how businesses handled accounting by replacing error-prone manual ledger work with a reliable, repeatable mechanical process.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How William Burroughs Invented the First Practical Adding Machine cover?

An 1888 patent for a mechanical calculating machine that used a system of levers and gears to perform accurate arithmetic operations.

### Who owns patent US 388116?

William S. Burroughs owns this patent, granted in 1888.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.

### What is patent US 388116 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This invention was a cornerstone of the modern office. It transformed how businesses handled accounting by replacing error-prone manual ledger work with a reliable, repeatable mechanical process.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover electronic or digital computation methods.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/388116/adding-machine-burroughs

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US388116

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._


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