These vintage adding machines and calculators didn't just sit quietly on a desk—they worked hard every single day, crunching numbers through decades of automotive history. Coming straight from my dad’s lifelong career, these heavy-duty mechanical and electronic adding machines were right there in the trenches with him. From his early days starting out as a Ford car salesman back in the 1950s, to running his own family-operated Ford dealership through the 1960s until its close in 1972, and later tallying up big deals as an award-winning Cadillac salesman, these machines kept the business running. Now, they're ready to bring a genuine touch of mid-century industrial history, retro office decor, or collector charm to your space.
Location: Local pickup available from Chelsea, Michigan, or shipping options available.
Environment: Stored in smoke-free, pet-free family estate home.
Priced each based on era and research of solds.
1. Vintage 1960s Commodore Model 201 Electric Adding Machine (Ricoh OEM)
• Price: $69.99 (or Best Offer)
• Details: Dating back to circa 1967 from Commodore's historical OEM manufacturing partnership with Ricoh in Japan. Used originally at the family-operated Ford dealership up until its closure in 1972.
• Condition: Powers on, internal mechanism cycles, and paper tape advances properly (currently does not print ink). Sold as-is as an incredible mid-century display piece, vintage desk decor, or theater prop.
2. Vintage 1960s Olivetti Underwood Multisumma 20 Electric Adding & Multiplying Machine
• Format: Auction starting at $99.00
• Details: Built in Italy by Olivetti and marketed through Underwood. Features a striking olive-green faceplate, mechanical column entry indicator, and direct multiplication/addition capabilities. Used at the family-operated Ford dealership up until 1972. Comes with original power cord and April 1969 instruction manual.
• Condition: Motor runs strong and powers on. Keys and internal linkages show vintage stiffness from age-dried lubricants and will need cleaning/servicing underneath to fully restore calculation functions.
3. Vintage 1970s Sears PDO 12 Printing Calculator (Cadillac Showroom)
• Price: $79.99 (or Best Offer)
• Details: Model 272.58360 (Made in Japan). Used on-site through the 1980s by an award-winning career car salesman for Cadillac. Features a genuine "Cadillac / Fred Ford" sticker on the side alongside a vintage "Stay or Quit" label.
• Condition: Fully working order. Powers on successfully, lights up its vibrant vacuum fluorescent digital display, and feeds/prints clearly to the paper tape with working ink. Retains original factory keycaps and power cord.
4. Vintage 1980s Sharp EL-1197S Printing Calculator (Cadillac Salesman Office Piece)
• Price: $49.99 (or Best Offer)
• Details: 10-Digit desktop printing calculator (Made in Japan) used on-site by an award-winning Cadillac car salesman. Features a charming vintage red "SMILE" sticker on the front faceplate.
• Condition: Powers on successfully, lights up its bright green vacuum fluorescent display, and cycles the motor/paper feed. The ink ribbon is faint or not currently printing visibly on the tape. Retains original keycaps and power cord.
5. Vintage Late 1950s / 1960s Commodore Electric Printing Calculator (Script Logo)
• Price: $54.99 (or Best Offer)
• Details: Features the coveted early cursive script logo. Sourced from European manufacturers (Nisa in Czechoslovakia / Willy Feiler in West Germany) rather than Japan. Used by dad in the early days as a Ford car salesman in the 1950s through running his own family Ford dealership in the 1960s. Built with a solid metal base.
• Condition: Powers on successfully and the internal mechanical motor cycles and responds crisply. Features the classic mechanical sliding number indicator window. Includes original heavy-duty power cord.
6. Vintage 1976 Texas Instruments TI-5040 Calculator Operating Manual & Inserts Set
• Price: $12.50 (or Best Offer)
• Details: Original 1976 Texas Instruments Electronic Printing Calculator Operating Manual in excellent vintage paperwork condition with crisp pages.
• What’s Included: Comprehensive operating manual, original vintage service network announcement flyer detailing TI service locations across major metropolitan areas and Canada, and an unused mail-in order form for TI-27225 thermal paper rolls.