Prior to the development of the computer as a "universal instrument" a variety of mechanical devices and instruments for measuring, calculating and counting was used by mathematicians, engineers and many other professional groups. The ideas behind the devices continue to illustrate correlations and are marveling for amateurs and professionals alike.

Such devices were also used in the mathematical chairs of the Technische Universität Berlin in the 60s - 80s of the last century. Due to the merger of departments this small collection was built, which is now preserved by the MFB. The collection is listed in the Information Resource on Collections and Museums at Universities in Germany.

The collection includes not only various ruling pens, compasses and puncturing devices from different manufacturers but also a stock of slide rules, some in special sizes, as well as a small number of mechanical calculators from the period 1940 - 1960, a small precision panthograph, an opisometer, some polar planimeter (built in 1905 to 1965), an integrimeter (built in 1957), various harmonic analyzers (manufactured 1925 and 1967 respectively), and an integraph from the 1960s.

* dated with help of HAFF company, that could also provide data for OTT devices after 1990

For further reading we recommend from our stocks (only in German available):

• Bruderer, H. (2015). Meilensteine der Rechentechnik : Zur Geschichte der Mathematik und der Informatik. Berlin [u.a.]: De Gruyter Oldenbourg.
• Meyer zur Capellen, W. (1949). Mathematische Instrumente (3., erg. Aufl.) (Mathematik und ihre Anwendungen in Physik und Technik : Reihe B ; 1). Leipzig: Akad. Verl.-Ges. Geest & Portig.
• Willers, F. (1951). Mathematische Maschinen und Instrumente. Berlin: Akad.-Verl.