Use the total key (* or T) to sum your numbers

An example of the inputs for an adding machine is 6, depress the '+' (plus sign), 4, depress the '-' (minus sign), and to get the total you depress the '.' (total key), which would total 2. For further explanation you are welcome to call our calculator specialists at 267-580-2600, Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm EST.

The easiest way to think of a ten-key calculator is as an adding machine (many of which print this nice little tape for you as proof that you did indeed add that staggering column of numbers correctly). Its sole function is to add numbers. Positive numbers, negative numbers, all kinds of numbers. If it's of decent quality, it will even tell you how many numbers!

1. Electronic Musical Instruments.
2. Download Adding Machine Free: 10 Key Calc for iOS to 'Adding Machine: 10 Key Calc' behaves like a true '10 Key' or 'printing calculator' such as those made by Monroe, Casio, Sharp and others.

The item count is a neat feature that can also stupify if you haven't had much experience with a ten-key--or if you just didn't bother to read the instructions that came with your calculator. However, I'll explain all that in a few moments.

Adding numbers on the ten-key

This is not as intuitive as you might think. I recently answered an email where someone asked me if I had it wrong below. Trust me. I don't. I'll include the email and my response below my tutorial to help make my point clear.

Okay, so we want to add some numbers.

6+5+9+8

Now, do I have to tell you to turn on your calculator? (Please don't make me. I'm not sure I can handle the stress.)

1. Press: [ C/CE (or C) ] [ C/CE (or C) ]
2. Press: [ 6 ] [ + ] [ 5 ] [ + ] [ 9 ] [ + ] [ 8 ] [ + ]
   See your total there on the screen now? I hope it shows 28. If it doesn't, start over at #1 above. Quickly, now! We're moving on here.
3. Press: [ * (or T) ]
   Nothing happened, did it? That's all right. Nothing was supposed to happen. If you had hit the clear button before you pressed the *, your calculator wouldn't have printed the total or concluded the calculation.

Adding and subtracting numbers on the ten-key

Wow, that was easy, agreed? So, now let's change things up a bit. We'll add and subtract some numbers.

6+5-9-8

1. Press: [ C/CE (or C) ] [ C/CE (or C) ]
2. Press: [ 6 ] [ + ] [ 5 ] [ + ] [ 9 ] [ - ] [ 8 ] [ - ]
   See your total there on the screen now? I hope it shows —6 or 6.— depending how your calculator shows negative numbers. If it doesn't, start over at #1 above. The thing to remember here is that the calculator is going to ADD everything you input with the keys. So if you want to subract something, you have to enter it as a negative number or, if it's easier to remember, think of it as telling the machine you want to add into the total the number 6 you just entered, you want to add in the 5, take away or subtract the 9, and take away or subtract the 8. But you can't tell the machine to do these things with a number until you've entered the number itself! ***[see below for some further clarification]
3. Press: [ * (or T) ]

A recent email about adding and subtracting on a ten key calculator

The email

You provide this example:
6+5-9-8
1. Press: [ C/CE (or C) ] [ C/CE (or C) ]
2. Press: [ 6 ] [ + ] [ 5 ] [ + ] [ 9 ] [ - ] [ 8 ] [ - ]
Shouldn't the + that I highlighted in red actually be a minus?

My response

Actually, no. Think of it this way: the 6 is added to the total (starting from 0), the 5 is added to the total, the 9 is subtracted from the total, and the 8 is subtracted from the total. With the ten key printing calculator, this is how you have to input the numbers to get the answer. :)

Another Way to Think of Adding and Subtracting on the Ten Key

Here's a short bit of further clarification for those who still might be having trouble with this concept. Think of it like this. You've just punched in a [ 6 ], now you have to tell the ten key what to do with it, so you punch in a [ + ], then the [ 5 ], and you have to tell it what to do with that one, which again is to add it, then the [ 9 ], which you must tell it to subtract so you follow with a [ - ]!

We're going to move on to mixed calculations now, because multiplication and division is that same old stuff you're used to with a pocket calculator, but wow, isn't it going to be fun to add, subtract, multiply and divide within the same calculation! Move on to mixed calculations...

• Check out the 10 key calculator I recommend: SHARP EL-1801PIII

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Keep Your Financial Records In Order With The Best Printing Calculator

Nowadays, in the age of smartphones and of the Internet of Things, most businesses are still using desk-top printing calculators – and for good reason.

For accountants and other finance professionals these machines remain more convenient, as they provide a printed record of all calculations – which can be used for legal purposes or stored in order to check data reliably. Whether this is still a true necessity or merely a generalized choice, there is a large market out there for printing calculators.

We are attempting, based on the manufacturers’ own product presentations and on reviews from Amazon and elsewhere, to make a list of the top six printing calculators out there.

Casio Adding Machine Ink

Not all of them cheap, but since this is a necessary investment in many workplaces we figured out we could help you make the soundest decision for yours.

#1. Sharp EL-1197PIII Heavy Duty Color Printing Calculator with Clock and Calendar

One of the most widely used printing calculators, the Sharp EL-1197 PIII Heavy Duty Color Printing Calculator with Clock and Calendar is designed to meet your accounting needs perfectly. It measures 4.8 by 15.4 by 10.5 inch and weighs 4.2 lbs.

It has a very fast, almost 4.5 lines per second, black & red ribbon printer, and a 12-digit, 14mm screen.

The grand total button is on the left, and it comes in both plug-in and solar powered varieties. It lacks differentiated left-handed and right-handed support, and buyer reviews argue that the choice of placing the grand total button on the left can make it counter-intuitive to right-handed people.

It has color-coded buttons for ease of use, 4 independent memory keys with second recall function and shortcuts for average, adding mode, constant, double zero, mark-up/profit margin, item counter, adjustable decimal settings from floating to fixed (6, 3, 2,1 0), rounding and generally all of the functions that are expected in a large printing calculator.It also has a clock and calendar function.

Its unique feature is the Microban® Antimicrobial Protection, which means that the material the keys are made of is infused with a technology that inhibits the growth of bacteria. This functions continually throughout the whole lifetime of the calculator and is great both in protecting the Sharp EL-1197PIII Heavy Duty Color Printing Calculator itself from deterioration and in potentially avoiding, or at least somewhat curbing, the circulation of bacteria and microbes via paper money.

If you need top heavy-duty durability for a fair price, this could be the best printing calculator in its class.

On Amazon, the price of a Sharp EL-1197PIII Heavy Duty Color Printing Calculator with Clock and Calendar ranges is around $60 new and under $40 refurbished. It’s not particularly cheap, but there are much more expensive alternatives out there.

Buyer reviews are generally good, especially regarding the long life of the product.

While it’s impossible to really decide what the absolute best printing calculator is, the Sharp EL-1197PIII Heavy Duty Color Printing Calculator with Clock and Calendar seems to be the most balanced model of its kind and thus the closest to deserving the title.Highly recommended.

#2. Victor 1530-6 Professional Grade Heavy Duty Commercial Printing Calculator

At 10.3 by 14.6 by 4.25 inches and 4.9 lbs, the Victor 1530-6 Professional Grade Heavy Duty Commercial Printing Calculator is also a pretty sturdy, large- scale calculator.

It has a 10-digit fluorescent display (with 17mm tall characters) – less than other products of its type – but its 5.2 lines per second make it probably the best printing calculator in the extra heavy duty class when it comes to printing speed.

It sorts many features, such as financial, loan and time calculation features, cost/sell/margin keys, item count, full decimal settings, clock and calendar displays,two independent tax keys, 4 independent memory keys, large add and subtract keys, constants in multiplication and division, change sign key, square root function, date/non-add key, selectable rounding switches and others. It is AC powered.

As most of its advanced functions are similar across heavy-duty printing calculators, what should set it apart and above most of the others is its much greater printing speed.

If you’re ok with the size and the 10-digit display, the Victor 1530-6 Professional Grade Heavy Duty Commercial Printing Calculator is definitely a good choice.

#3. Canon MP11DX Printing Calculator

With its fluorescent 12-digit display and black/red 3.7 lines per second printer, the Canon MP11DX Printing Calculator is a good calculator in its class.

Its 10.2 by 15.6 by 4.5 inch size and 5lbs weight make it especially large, which can be a feature or a problem, depending on your needs.

The keys and overall design are different from other calculators, in that the keys are further apart – making typing difficult for anyone who’s used to the “10key by touch” speed.

It has the standard features including 4 memory keys, shortcuts, specialized features like a profit-margin function or tax-rate memory,grand total, round-up/off/down, a decimal position toggle switch (add, 0, 2, 3, 4, 6, floating)and a clock and calendar display.There are both solar and plug-in models available.

According to reviews on Amazon the paper holder also differs from most other calculators, being metal instead of plastic, and the most recent entry on the paper feed can get blocked by the display. These things, along with the slower printing speed, have made it rank lower on the list.

Ten Key Machine

However, its easily replaceable ink ribbon and particularly heavy-duty build, on top of the other features, have sometimes placed it as the top calculator in the heavy duty class on other lists.

The Amazon price ranges from around $40 used to above $80 new. Not particularly cheap, but some prefer it.

#4. Casio DR-210TM Printing Calculator

The Casio DR-210TM Printing Calculator is one of the bigger calculators of its kind. It measures 4.3 by 8.4 by 15 inches and weighs 3.7 pounds, with large keys and a 16mm character height, 12 digit Digitron display.

It prints in two colors at 4.4 lines per second and features a decimal selector switch with settings for floating or fixed decimal 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, a percent key, a grand total key, cost/sell/margin, item count, tax-calculation, double zero and markup/down shortcuts.

It plugs into any standard outlet and requires 2.25 inch paper rolls. According to many customer reviews, it is quiet and particularly easy to work with, with its highlighted clear and subtract keys and generally well-optimized “10 key by touch” layout, also with especially resilient keys.

Like its competitors, the Casio DR-210TM Printing Calculator isn’t cheap – but it certainly ranks as one of the best printing calculators on the market.

If you don’t mind the extra size, the Casio DR-210TM Printing Calculator could be a very close contender for #1 on the list.

It lacks the added feature of bacterial protection which earned its rival the top position, but many will find it more intuitively designed and might thus prefer it for being better at its main task.

The price on Amazon is over $50 new and around $30 used, also making it a slightly cheaper choice with at least the same top performance.

#5. Aurora PR600M 12 Digit Palm Top Printing Calculator

Compared to other products in its class, the Aurora PR600M Digit Palm Top Printing Calculator is much smaller – only 2 by 4 by 8.6 inches. It has a large 12-digit LCD display, but scores very low in the printing department with one-color printing and a speed of only 1.6 lines per second.

It has both print and non-print modes, so you can use it as a display only calculator. The paper roll can be installed either inside or outside the case;it has 00 and 000 keys, and programmable tax, decimal and rounding functions, metric conversion, and is both battery and AC powered.

This is the best choice if space is your priority, making up in size for what it lacks in functionality. According to some reviews it’s prone to misaligned printing, but other than that it does a good job as a backup for a point-of-sale system.

Its biggest advantage is that it’s considerably cheaper than its competitors; the current price is a bit over $10.

#6. Monroe Systems for Business 6120XB 12-Digit Business Medium Duty Calculator

From the inventors of the first commercial calculator ever, The Monroe Systems for Business 6120XB 12-Digit Business Medium Duty Calculator is one of the most resilient and error-free products in its price range. It is 8.5 by 11 by 3.25 inches, and is being sold as a medium-duty class printing calculator.

It only prints 3.6 lines per second,less than most of its heavy-duty counterparts. It compensates with perfect key placement for maximum typing speed, including extra-large plus and minus keys and a backspace key. This is the definite “10 key by touch” printing calculator.

Like the other products of its kind, it prints in black & red for ease of reading, has 4 independent memory keys, buttons for tax functions, a switch on the side to choose between subtotal and grand total, rounding settings (standard, 5/4 rounding, round up or truncate), a cost/sell margin feature, group, tax, tax + and tax -, markup / mark down, percent, percent change, decimal settings (+, floating, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4). It can be used as a printing or display the only calculator.

Overall it seems to be the best printing calculator in the entry-level medium-duty class, mainly because of its robustness. Most reviews place it above any model by the other brands simply because it is a Monroe. It is recommended for small businesses, office or home use.

Despite being technically in a lower-end class than the others, its price is much higher – around $150 on average.

How To Choose The Best Best Printing Calculator

Choosing the best printing calculator for your business can be complicated and often takes a process of trial and error. While all of these – perhaps with the exception of the budget / backup choice of the Aurora PR600M Digit Palm Top Printing Calculator – have more or less the same features, there are extreme differences in price, and often differences in actual performance that are not covered by simply reading the specs.

Whether you already have a model of choice and wish to change it, or you’re looking for a first model to work on – either for yourself or for your employees – we suggest you to make the right choice based not only on the information available on-line, but on your own and/or your employees’ experience with printing calculators. There are factors such as size, button placement or printing speed which are to be taken into account differently depending on the exact use you have for the calculator as well as the personal working style of the people using it. There are some models that come in both left-handed and right-handed versions, for example, and some that don’t.

Price

is of course an essential part of the decision, but generally the more expensive products tend to be more reliable, coming from more well-established brands. It might be better to invest more at once than to have to replace your calculators often because of malfunctioning.

Lastly, what should also be taken into account is the constantly evolving market. At the moment you are reading this article some of these models are possibly no longer in production, having been replaced by newer ones. Some can still remain popular, well rated by users, and thus more trustworthy – but new and better models come out all the time.

Since printing calculators are still the standard in accounting, we advise you to use your own common sense and personal criteria in making the purchase that is right for you.

You might also like our articles on Polk RTi 12 Reviews and Asus RT-ACRH13 Reviews

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