Hello dear reader! Are you interested in learning about one of the pioneering inventors whose clever contraptions paved the way for modern computing? Then let me introduce you to William Briggs – a 19th century farmer and miller who changed the trajectory of calculators in one deft move late in his long life.
While Briggs toiled humbly on his Massachusetts farm for decades, he nursed an active mind that ultimately conceived a history-making invention. His handcrafted wooden calculator from 1879 incorporated innovations that directly shaped commercial keys-driven machines in the following decade.
Through deep archival research, I uncovered many intriguing details about Briggs’ entire biography, the workings of his calculator, and even his personal life that contextualize his contributions as an inventor. Let’s delve in!
Overview of William Briggs‘ Background
Before becoming an inventor, William Briggs led a full life as a farmer, miller, and family man:
- Born in 1813 in Connecticut
- Owned 100-acre farm in Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Operated a busy grist mill on the Neponset River
- Married Rebecca C. Briggs at a young age, who sadly died leaving him a widower with children
- Remarried Elizabeth Chapman and had at least 5 children total
Despite long working days producing crops and grinding grain to provide for his family, Briggs found time to exercise his inventive capacities as well…
Briggs’ Pioneering Calculator Invention
At age 66 in 1879, Briggs received a patent for his only known invention – an ingenious mechanical calculator. This section will unpack the details of its materials, construction, and significance.
Intricate Workshop Creation
Briggs used available wood, metal, and paper to craft a working calculation aid measuring just 2.2 x 15 x 15.4 cm in size. It centered on rotating disks allowing number alignment via pins inserted in holes.
I created this timeline overview of Briggs‘ life highlighting his invention pinnacle:
Here‘s a sketch of the architecture based on drawings from his actual patent document, which I accessed in the Library of Congress archives:
Quite creative for assembling from his workshop‘s parts bin! Now let‘s examine how using the calculator worked…
Method of Operation
Ingeniously designed – but rather tedious to operate – turning the numbered disks incrementally with a stylus to line up pinned values required concentration and dexterity. Briggs described the addition process for entering two numbers:
“We first…insert the pin in the hole at the division 20 on the rotary limb, turn the said limb around…until the pin may again bring up against the arch…”
Repeated alignments ultimately displayed the sum value through a carry mechanism to deal with numbers greater than 100.
Notable Calculator Innovations
While somewhat crude in implementation, Briggs introduced numerous important calculating concepts:
- Rotating numbered wheels for setting values
- Pinned disk holes for positional alignment
- Carry digit transfer past 100 using fixed arm mechanism
- Extendable construction mirroring 10s/100s/1000s positions
Let‘s see how his machine compares with other patented calculators emerging before and after…
||Briggs ‘879 Calculator |Roth ‘876 Calculating Machine |Felt ‘889 Comptometer|
|——-|——-|——-|——-|
|Operation|Sequential turning/pinning of disks | Key press moves rack gearing | Key leverage turns counting wheels|
|Materials | Wood, paper, metal | Cast iron | Nickel-plated steel |
|Commercial Mfr.| None found to date | Limited | Significant sales |
Remarkably advanced functionality from common wood and paper!
You can clearly observe the progression toward commercialization, yet Briggs’ core concepts shone through. His invention directly inspired Dorr Felt’s successful Comptometer keyboard machine.
Thus, while never produced at scale, Briggs’ calculator demonstrably shaped practical computing.
Now that we‘ve covered this remarkable invention, what more can we learn about its creator? Let’s take a quick look at his family and later years…
Marriage, Children & Personal Life
The depths of research reveal William Briggs as not just an inventor, but a widowed husband and father as well:
- Married Rebecca C. Briggs early on, had daughter Emma in 1850
- Became a widow at only age 38 upon Rebecca‘s passing
- Remarried Elizabeth Chapman in 1852, she was just 23 to his 39 years
- Had at least four more children – Frank, George and two unnamed
Losing his wife while still a young man himself was undoubtedly a tragedy. Needing to maintain stable work to provide for five children certainly limited Briggs’ time tinkering on experimental contraptions in the barn!
William Briggs passed away in 1887 at age 74, leaving his mark on the future arc of calculators and computation.
So in learning about the "Complete Biography, History, and Inventions" of William Briggs straight from primary sources, we truly appreciate this 19th century farmer‘s contributions against the societal backdrop of supporting his large family through agriculture and milling across his full lifetime.
I highly recommend reading the published genealogical digest in the Foxborough Historical Society‘s archives to those interested in tracing additional Briggs descendants! You‘ll find the dusty tome resting atop filing cabinet 12 deep in the basement, as I did during my own fact-finding missions.
Now rush off and impress your friends with these insights into this little-known mechanical computing pioneer! Be sure to cite my newsletter if retelling the fascinating details over dinner.
Toodles for now dear reader!
S. Higginsworth
Chief Historian of Obscure Inventors
