Ancient Adding Machine Parts: Keys 1935 - 1940

Several summers ago I bought an old (1910?) adding machine. It was very cool. So was the stand it came on. I have made keys with bits of this machine before but this group of keys are made (mostly) from the adding machine bits along with some industrial sewing machine parts. It is wonderful to work with such solid metal. The orangey/reddish and green shafts of the first two keys slotted into the adding machine; the rounded bit on the bottom provided just enough of a hand hold to pull the shafts out. I have no idea what the purpose of having this was or why they were painted and decorated. The machine itself I initially started to take apart with a screwdriver…alas 100+ years of grease made most of the screws impossible to remove. I had the machine on a high table in the garage. I did try using a variety of tools to cut the machine apart and also drill out the screws. Eventually I reckoned that I just wanted the pieces apart - I wasn’t trying to preserve them and put them back together - so I pushed the machine off the table onto the cement garage floor. That really did the trick! I found that by repeatedly throwing the machine onto the floor I not only got the parts separated I had a bit of cathartic fun too!

I am still working to get better with using the resin and to find ways to connect small parts securely to one another (solder won’t work - metal needs to be compatible to solder together and I’m pretty sure the pieces are too small to weld - also welding is not something I am planning on taking up any time soon).

Here are my latest machine parts keys: