One of Thomas de Colmar's calculating machines Arithmomètre, estimated at €3500-4500 at Auction Team Breker.
Before 1851, he completed various individual models, which were a great improvement on the prototype. With its combination of stepped drums, sliding scales and rotating handles, Thomas’ invention could add and subtract, multiply and divide; it is considered to be the first commercially viable calculating machine.
After the middle of the century, Colmar was able to produce greater numbers: all in all, by 1914, when production stopped, about 5000 Arithmomètres were manufactured, one of which is being sold by Auction Team Breker in Cologne on March 26.
It is engraved Thomas de Colmar à Paris – Inventeur and bears the series number 1199, which would suggest that it was made in c.1870. It has an estimate of €3500-4500.
While Thomas is primarily known for his calculator, which he presented at many of the world exhibitions of his time, he was far more successful in another field: in 1879, he founded two insurance companies, which went on to become the most important French insurers of the late 19th century.
