Gear and Lever Voting Machine, 1978
THF82286 / Gear and Lever Voting Machine, 1978
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Artifact Overview
Gear and lever voting machines were the quintessential method of voting for two generations of Americans, from the 1920s through the 1980s. These high tech devices tabulated votes mechanically. Considered scientific and reliable, they were relatively tamper proof and allowed for completely secret balloting. However, they were complicated devices that required constant maintenance and could contribute to undercounting.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Voting-machine
Date Made
1978
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Made by Automatic Voting Machine Corporation, Jamestown, New York.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
2009.170.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Roger Mumbrue.
Material
Metal
Rubber (Material)
Cloth
Color
Teal
Dimensions
Height: 49.75 in
Width: 58.75 in
Length: 20 in
Inscriptions
On front plate: AUTOMATIC/ VOTING MACHINE/ PRINTOMATIC®/ MADE BY AVM/ CORPORTATION®/ JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK/ PROTECTED BY U.S.A. AND FOREIGN PATENTS AND PATENTS PENDING
On side plates: 169778
On side plate: PROTECTIVE COUNTER/ RECORD THIS NUMBER BEFORE AND AFTER ELECTION
On back plate above lock: TO OPERATE THIS LOCK/ RED SEGMENT OF MACHINE/ CONTROL LOCK MUST BE DOWN
On tag on keys: ELECTION OFFICERS/ 169778
On tag on keys: CUSTODIAN/ 169778
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