Author: Donald Guenther
Written: January 15th, 2014
The Story:
In his early days grandpa could add numbers quickly. His adding skills are legendary in Coos Bay. Once while he was working at Pacific Fruit, a salesman tried to sell him a mechanical adding machine. Grandpa challenged the guy to an adding contest and grandpa proved he could add faster than the machine. Grandpa beat the adding machine by adding six columns of numbers simultaneously. Grandpa had a brilliant mind and he could do such things.
Analysis:
Let’s look at an old mechanical adding machine, original cost $241. Each time a number has to be punched in and a subtotal is generated by pulling the side lever until a final total number at the end is obtained. If you take a column of numbers six digits wide (say $2,454.49) you too can beat an old mechanical adding without having to add the six columns simultaneously. I don’t believe grandpa added six digit numbers by adding the columns simultaneously. I think the story is part myth. Grandpa did win the adding contest but so can you. I played with an old adding machine and can see why grandpa wouldn’t purchase one, too expensive and slow. They are accurate but if you’re accurate what does that get you. Just remember to tell our stories as part myth, meant to make laugh, entertain and stimulate your imagination.
