If These Shirts Could Talk: The Tantalizing Tales Behind Used Clothes
The mysterious packages kept arriving, some from eBay, others from the Home …
Jockeying for Position: How Boxers and Briefs Got Into Men's Pants
Just as underclothes are shielded from public view, the evolution of men's most intimate apparel is shrouded in secrecy. But the story of men's underwear is about more …
Gloriously Grotesque 19th-Century Pipes
The meerschaum pipes carved in Eastern Europe at the end of the 19th century are among the most bizarre and improbable concoctions in decorative art. Some feature …
In the Hot Seat: Is Your Antique Windsor a Fake?
While researching her book, "Killer Stuff and Tons of Money," Maureen Stanton came across all sorts of characters. For years, she shadowed her antiques-dealer friend …
Love at First Kite: How Pizza and Pente Led to One Oklahoman's High-Flying Obsession
Vintage kites from all over the world hang from the ceiling and walls of Richard Dermer’s popula…
Blood, Sweat, and Steel: My Afternoon with the Ace of Swords
“When I got this sword, it was completely covered in blood rust.” Sword maker Francis Boyd is showing me yet another weapon pulled from yet another …
'The Great Gatsby' Still Gets Flappers Wrong
Have you heard? There’s a new swell in town named Gatsby, and he’s bringing flapper flair back into fashion. Baz Luhrmann’s latest cinematic spectacle—his take on “Th…
Say Ahhh: An Oral Surgeon's Quest to Reimagine the Garage-Band Guitar
It’s not unusual for men of a certain age to have a soft spot in their hearts for the look of vintage guitars and the sound…
Forget TV Pickers, Meet the Real Mavericks of the Antiques World
Long before Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz swaggered into the spotlight with "American Pickers," writer Maureen Stanton …
Coveting The Craziest Cat-People Collectibles
The memes are endless—Grumpy Cat, Nyan Cat, Keyboard Cat, Maru, and all the Lolcats. Last year even witnessed the first ever Internet Cat Video Fe…
Is this a flat abacus? | Office Antiques661 of 739 |  |  |
Posted 2 years ago
lifeisgood64
(1 item)
I found this solid wood item at an estate sale.The worker said she didn't know what it was. I've since been told by a teacher that it may be a flat abacus? The little side pieces snap up allowed by a metal rod that runs one end to the other. It has no identifying markings that I can see. It is about 5 1/2" long , 2 1/2" wide and 1/4" thick. Any ideas? Thanks, Jen
Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.
Create an account or login in order to post a comment.
Office AntiquesToday, when most of us head into the office, our quiet digital tools are re…
Hmm...I have never seen an abacus that wasn't made with beads..even the old ones.
An abacus in the sense that it lets you keep track of numbers. See if this works for you. The 1's and the 5's are all you need to know (1,10,100,1000 $5,50,500,and 5000). The 2,3,and 4 and their multiples are understood. The 6,7,8,and 9 will become evident.
Start with all numbers down. 1 = the first lever up. 2 = the first two levers up. 3 = the first 3; 4 = the first four; 5 = the first five up. Here is where it changes. 6=5 up, the # 4 down and 3,2,1 all up. 7=5 up 4&3 down, 2&1 up. 8=5 up 4,3,2 down and 1 up.9= 5 up 4,3,2,1,down. 10= 10 up everything else down. From there you can indicate any number to 9,999.