Charles Xavier Thomas de Colmar Biography

Charles Xavier Thomas de Colmar invented the first calculating machine to be produced in large numbers. This invention came about in France in 1820 as part of a national competition and the machine was called the Arithmometer.

Thomas de Colmar was serving in the French army (during the Spanish and Portuguese campaigns of 1809-1813) as a military administrator when he had the idea of the Arithmometer. In 1820 he developed a prototype and had it patented. This patenting and all subsequent work on the Arithmometer was carried out after de Colmar left the army and started work in the relatively new field of insurance. There is little evidence that working versions of the Arithmometer were produced at this time; it is not until 1840 that we find proof of their manufacture. The Arithmometer was essentially an early and large version of a pocket calculator (occupying the best part of a desk), and by 1845 there was a large, commercially successful industry involved in the manufacture of these machines. The Arithmometer utilized a stepped drum mechanism (a modification of the stepped cylinder invented by Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz nearly a century earlier) and inspired many copies, some made as late as 1930. The Arithmometer could carry out addition, subtraction, multiplication, and (with extra input from the operator) division. It was belt-driven and was the most reliable calculator produced up until the twentieth century. In 1849 de Colmar won a silver medal at the French national Exhibition of Industrial Products for his device, with the gold medal going to the Arithmaurel calculating machine made by Maurel and Jayet. In 1851 the Arithmometer again took second place, this time in London; it was beaten to the gold medal by a calculator designed by Staffel. De Colmar then embarked on an ambitious program of design and promotion, giving many of his machines to the crowned and titled heads of Europe. Not surprisingly de Colmar was rewarded with many honors by the various rulers of Europe.

In 1855 Thomas de Colmar produced an Arithmometer for the Universal Exposition in Paris, France. The device was in the shape of an upright piano and measured some two meters long. The extra space allowed for greater calculations. This new, improved version could produce results with up to 30 digits. De Colmar utilized the power of the press at this time as well, managing to get many positive reports of his machine published. Although de Colmar had high hopes for a gold medal this time, it was not to be. He was awarded another silver with the honor of gold this time going to Georg and Edvard Scheutz from Sweden. However, de Colmar's machine was at last successful. The Scheutz's sold only two machines--the Arithmometer went on to sell 1,500 units, even though the initial price was a rather high (for the time) 500 French francs.

Thomas de Colmar married the Duchess of Bojano with whom he had a son, Thomas de Bojano. After the death of de Colmar in 1870, de Bojano continued making the Arithmometer, with various modifications, until his own death. The machine in one form or another continued in production until approximately 1930.