Do you rely on calculators and spreadsheets to crunch numbers? The pioneers who enabled today’s digital computation technology built on the foundations laid by 19th century inventors of mechanical calculating gadgets. One inventor who pushed boundaries but remains relatively obscure is Elmore W. Taylor of Franklin, Indiana – the creator of a forward-thinking circular adding machine in 1874.
Childhood Fascination to First Patent
Elmore gravitated toward problem-solving and tinkering from childhood. In the mid-1800s, rural towns like Franklin offered little access to formal technical training. Yet despite lacking credentials, the 19-year old Taylor secured his first patent in 1866 – an improved evaporator design that indicated advanced physics knowledge.
Obtaining a patent at such a young age was remarkable given the arduous process. Most small-town aspiring inventors lacked the resources or connections to navigate the bureaucracy. Elmore Taylor’s early success signals innate talent and determination, likely fostered by mentors who recognized his potential.
Elmore Taylor‘s circular adding machine patent drawing (US Patent Office)
A Novel Circular Adding Machine
Taylor’s most groundbreaking invention came in 1874 – a circular adding machine. Contemporary adding machines like those of Dorr Felt operated on vertical designs involving racks of columns and sliding pieces. Taylor pursued a radically different approach based on three concentric adjustable rings rotating on a central platform.
The uniqueness of Taylor’s adding machine was the mechanical elegance of its compact circular construction. By aligning numbered paper strips on adjustable rings, mathematical operations like adding long columns could be performed with potential efficiency gains. The circular machine ultimately failed commercially, but its novel concept shows Taylor’s forward-thinking creativity.
Compared to alternatives, Taylor’s device had advantages and disadvantages:
| Taylor Circular Adding Machine | Leading Adding Machines |
|---|---|
| Compact circular design | Vertical columnar design |
| Two digit adding | Variable digit adding |
| No carry mechanism | Had carry capabilities |
While Taylor’s invention lagged leading competitors in some areas, its innovative configuration aligned with a larger global shift from purely mechanical to electromechanical computing happening at the time. The world just was not ready.
Scandal Changes Trajectory
Financial fraud upended Taylor’s early career plans right as he was gaining momentum as an inventor. His brother Richard, who worked as a cashier at the local First National Bank, got Elmore a job there as an assistant cashier. However, betrayal struck when Richard embezzled over $100,000 and abruptly fled town:
| Year | Bank Balance | Amount Stolen by Brother |
|---|---|---|
| 1875 | $105,000 | – |
| 1876 | $103,000 | $2,000 |
| 1877 | $1,500 | $101,500 |
The crime resulted in the bank permanently closing while Richard disappeared. Elmore chose to leave Franklin to escape the scandal‘s shadow – a decision that likely deprived him of vital financial/social capital that could have fueled his inventing.
Reinventing Himself as a Photographer
After relocating to Detroit, Elmore Taylor managed to recalibrate his career. As a photographer in the 1880s, he contributed to documenting Detroit’s booming industrial expansion. Photography aligned with Taylor’s expertise in optics and fascination with gadgets.
Though the assisting cashier job was lost, photography studio ownership indicates Taylor regained some degree of financial stability. His persisted through the challenging scandal aftermath – a testament to resilience.
More Patents, Lasting Legacy
Elmore Taylor went on to secure four more patents after moving to Detroit – ranging from advertising displays to improved steam valves. None matched the ambition of his adding machine, but they demonstrated ongoing mechanical creativity.
Ultimately, Taylor represents the tragedy of 19th century inventors whose visionary ideas went unappreciated by contemporaries. Like Charles Babbage’s difference engine, his circular adding machine pointed to the future. But social and technological limitations obstructed pioneers like Taylor from fully capitalizing on anticipatory concepts.
Still, Taylor and his circular adding machine deserve remembrance for bold, unorthodox thinking. Step-change innovation is built on the efforts of obscure forward-thinkers who nurture seeds of progress slowly over time. Hats off to Elmore W. Taylor for pursuing originality against the odds!
