Type name / number: Hamann Automat S ; Electro motor and crank driven.
Production / SN: 63318S
Calculating principle: Switching Latch Wheel (UK) ; Schalt Klinke (DL)
Calculating functions: Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide (Automatic divide and multiply)
Input accuracy 9 / 9 digits
Calculating accuracy: 16 digits
Extra's: automatic carriage return after automatic calculation.
Designer: Mr. C. Hamann
Production year: 1952 - 1961; total production quantity: 8000
Case material: Casted Aluminum in characteristic / unusual shape.
Weight: 10 Kg
External links: http://www.rechenmaschinen-illustrated.com/pictures_hamann.htm
Previous owner: S. Bramser, Nordhackstedt, Germany. Via eBay.
Cosmetic imperfections:
(I accuse no one):
A few plastic tops of the input gliders are missing. The paint is missing on a few places (normal usage). A carriage control key top is missing. (All as showed on the eBay photo's!)
Date of receiving: 2012-02-14
Machine story: 2012-02-14. First cleaned the complete machine in-and outside. The first functional impression was Ok (crank driven). Electrical check seems Ok to. But after the first two motor driven operations, the motor didn't stop and turned slowly. Before I good switch off the motor, an capacitor of the radio noise filter was exploded, with a lot of acoustic noise. All the tar was blowing out the network package. This circuit was not the obvious course of the slow turning of the motor. The capacitor of the spark suppressor, shunted the internal motor switch, was leaking. Disconnect this one as well, solves it. To replace those all at a later time.
I actuated the machine manually for further testing. A few problems occurred with the reset of the counter- and result registers. Seems that the carriage is not on the exact desirable locked / latched location. A little back and forward turning the crank was needed.
The adding was alright the multiply as well, but here was also more crank power needed as expected. The subtraction was executed, but the counting register didn't count then. This all needs a further investigation!
2012-02-15. Electrical motor driven leads to the same behavior / functional problems as above described.
2012-02-16 The machine stripped as far as needed to get the cause of the malfunctions.

Not working Count register at subtraction:
The first conclusion: wear out of the extended ends of the levers, who update the counting register. They are part of a unit on the left of the main shaft. This unit is the first of the detail photo's shown. It has a clever method controlled by the two levers, exocentric turned to the main shaft and controlled by the + / - counter key. A hinged plate is mounted on the aluminum base. The hinged plate has two strips with one pin through it on either side (please see the photo's for more detail). Those pins are forced in either one of the levers side ditches, located on both side symmetrical to the middle of the levers. This all is carefully aligned. This I had seen earlier at the web side of C. Hamann, Berlin. He had solder the wear out ends and reshape them. He made a remark that the shape is very critical. Studying the movements of the levers, who carefully actuate the gear wheels, I fully agree. It is nearly impossible to find out the ideal shape due to the different way of updating + and - by the same lever. Consider to make a movie picture of the different way of actuation. It is clever, but critical design. All the Hamann machines I have, operate in such a way. The way the unit has to adjust , two screws in a oversized opening in the hinged plate, is not strait forward.
2012-02-19 I have assembled the main shaft and the counter register actuating unit with two levers from an other working machine. They are perfectly in shape. The counting was as well not operating and showing the same behavior at - an subtracting!! adjustment was not successful.
2012-02-21 Take it as is. I have assembled the machine. So far no solutions for all the malfunctions. The carriage blocks still unpredictable, the update of the counting register works only in the positive direction. It was an instructive job but consider the machine as not reparable defect for the time!
I used the electro motor for a second fully functionnal machine and dismantled this machine.

 

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