The Monroe Calculator Company was a leading maker of adding machines and calculators founded in 1912 by Jay R. Monroe and now known as Monroe Systems for Business. The company was also known as Monroe Calculating Machine Company, Monroe THE Calculator Company, and Monroe Division of Litton Industries.

History

For many years, Monroe was headquartered in New Jersey with its manufacturing plants in New Jersey and Amsterdam. In 1958, the company was acquired by Litton Industries. The New York Times, 01-24-1958, p. 31. Litton sold it in 1984.

In the 1970s, the company had some 300 sales and service branch offices in the United States. in 1972, Monroe announced a pocket-sized electronic display calculator at $269.The Wall Street Journal, 03-15-1972, p. 40. As low cost electronic calculators from Japan became readily available through retail distribution, the mechanical calculator companies like Monroe, Friden, and Marchant declined even as they introduced programmable calculators.

Products

• Hand-crank models

• Electromechanical models; rotary calculator display models and printing models

Model 145 was the last adding machine model produced.

Model 570 was the last electro-mechanical four function calculator model produced.

• Electronic calculator models

Visual Display only

400 and 600 series

Paper tape and visual display

1300 and 1400 series

• Programmable models

The 1600 and 1800 series calculators, from OEM Compucorp competed against similar desktop calculators from Wang Laboratories.

Model 200 billing machine for accounts receivable functions.

References