CONTEX-10 User’s Manual, cca 1950s.

Translated and adapted from German by Mihai Vasiliu. Please send corrections and
suggestions to mihai.vasiliu.93@gmail.com. Date modified: 9/8/2020
Our sincere
CONGRATULATIONS
on your new Contex‑10 universal machine
that solves all your arithmetic problems.

It is important ‒ for us as well ‒ that you

understand how to fully utilize your
Contex‑10 right from the start. We therefore
ask you to read these instructions for use
carefully and we can assure you that every
minute you spend to read it will save you
hours later. At the same time, you make the
Contex‑10 the fastest adding machine and
one of the fastest calculating machines you
have ever worked with.

2
Schematic overview of the machine and its control buttons

1 Numeric key input.

2 Clear key for the result window.

3 Multiplication key. Engaged by pressing on the left side of the key and
disengaged by pressing on the right side of the key.

4 Division key. Engaged by pressing on the left side of the key and
disengaged by pressing on the right side of the key.

5 Subtraction key. Engaged by pressing directly on it and disengaged by

pushing forward from the bottom side.

6 Correction key with digit indicator. The correction key should always be
moved all the way to the right, even after multiplication and division.

7 Decimal point slider.

8 Return tab. NB: Must not be used as a correction button.

9 Digit tab.

10 Function key.

11 Control frame for multiplication (black) and division (red).

12 Result window.

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4
CONTEX-10 is a 10-key calculating machine which is ideally suited for all 4 types of
operations. It has a 10-digit input capability and an 11-digit calculation capability.
Here we give you a brief overview of how the machine works as well as some examples
for the practical application of all 4 types of operations.

There is a holding device on the base plate of the machine with which the function key can
be held in the pressed position. This retaining device is triggered as shown in the above
drawing by pressing the function key with the thumb while the middle finger operates the
retaining device.

Setting up the machine

The machine is suitable for both right and

left hand operation. As shown in the drawing,
set up the machine at an oblique angle to
your right or left.

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The position of the hand on the machine

The 3 middle fingers operate the keyboard, the

ball of the hand operates the function key.

The ball of the hand must not touch the function key when the keyboard is being operated,
but should lie slightly over it. A locking device ensures that the function key cannot be
pressed when the keyboard is being operated and vice versa.

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Addition
324
829
615
1768

The number 324 is keyed into the keyboard as if it were 3, 2, 4.

Press the function key once.
The number 829 is entered in the same way 8, 2, 9.
Press the function key once.
Key in the number 615.
The function key is pressed.
The result 1768 can be read of the result window.

000.000.017.68 3
7

The numbers shown in the control frame are only used for multiplication and division.
The result is deleted by pressing the clear key C . (Press down completely).
If the number entered is wrong, the mistake can be corrected by moving the correction key

all the way to the right with your thumb. Then the number is keyed in correctly and the
function key is pressed.
NB: The return tab  must not be used for correction.

Subtraction

Subtraction is done in the same way as addition, with the difference that the minus
key ‒ is pressed for each number that is to be subtracted.

Multiplication
258 × 346 = 89268

The multiplication key X is engaged by pressing on the left side of the key.
The first factor, e.g. 258, is keyed in as with addition: 2, 5, 8.
The function key is pressed as many times as the last number of the second factor 346
indicates, i.e. 6 times.
The black counter in the control frame in the right part of the result window indicates how
many times the function key was pressed, in this case:

000.000.015.48 6
4

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The digit tab  is pressed once, which moves the keyed number one decimal place to
the left while the number in the control frame is zeroed.
The function key is pressed as many times as it is indicated by the next number from right
to left in the second factor, so 4 times.

The number is checked 000.000.118.68 4

6

The digit tab  is pressed once.

The function key is pressed as many times as the number now remaining in the second
factor indicates, i.e. 3 times.
The number is checked 3
7
The multiplication is finished and the result can be read in the result window:

000.000.892.68 3
7

The correction key is moved all the way to the right. The result is deleted by pressing
the clear key C (press it fully).

The machine is ready for the next multiplication. If the next calculation is an addition or
subtraction, the multiplication key X can be disengaged by pressing on the right
side of the key.

Division
89268 : 258 = 346

The dividend 89268 is keyed into the keyboard, like in addition.

Division is a continued sequence of subtractions that occur in the left side of the machine.

The digit tab  is thus pressed as many times as necessary until the correction key
reaches its extreme left position.
The function key is pressed once, so the number becomes visible in the result set:

089.268.000.00 1
9

The divisor 258 is keyed into the keyboard.


The digit tab  is pressed as many times as necessary until the correction key is in
its extreme left position.
The subtraction key ‒ and the division key Div are pressed. (The division
key is pressed on the left side).
The function key is pressed as many times until the machine is blocked.
The red number in the control frame on the right side of the result window is written down.

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 011.868.000.00 7
3

This is the first digit of the result, in this case 3.

The subtraction key ‒ and the return tab  are pressed down simultaneously
with the index finger and the middle finger of the left hand. (Press down completely).
The function key is pressed until the Machine is blocked.
The red number in the control frame is written down.

001.548.000.00 6
4

This is the second digit of the result, in this case 4.

The subtraction key ‒ and the return tab  are pressed.

The function key is pressed repeatedly until it is blocked.
The red number in the control frame is written down.

000.000.000.00 4
6

This is the third digit of the result, in this case 6.

The remaining digits in the result window now only show 0 and this means that the division
is complete. So the result is the number written down: 346.
If the division does not complete with other calculations, the division is continued as
described above until no further decimal places are desired. In this case you can read the
rest of the division in the result window.

The machine is cleared for the next calculation by moving the correction key all the way
to the right and pressing the clear key C . The division key Div is released
by pressing on the right side of the button.

Division decimal points

Example 1: 6851.97 : 6.3 = 1087.614

The difference between the number of digits before the decimal point in the dividend
(6851.97) and the number digits before the decimal point in the divisor (6.3) determines
the position of the decimal point slider. In this case it is 3 (4 digits ‒ 1 digit)! The black
frame of the decimal point slider is set to the number 3.

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 321 0 1234567
321012 3 4567

The division is done the normal way and if you do not want any more decimal places, the

correction key shows in the upper row of numbers in the decimal point slider

321 0 1234567
321012 3 4567

how many decimal places should be separated in the written result, 1087614. In this case,
3 decimal places are to be separated. So the result is 1087.614. In the result window you
can read off the remainder of the division.

Example 2: 2.94 : 463.7 = 0.0063403

In this case the dividend (2.94) has 2 digits less than the divisor (463.7), which is why the

321 0 1234567
frame of the decimal point slider is set to the red number 2.
3 2 101234567

The division is carried out the normal way and if one does not want any more digits in the

result than 63403, the correction key will be above the number 7 in this case

321 0 1234567
so 7 decimal places are separated.
3 2 101234567

The result is therefore 0.0063403.

If any of the dividend or the divisor is less than 1, the decimal point is shifted before the
division as many places to the right in both numbers so that neither of them is less than 1.

Example 3: 0.087 : 1.43 (8.7 : 143) = 0.060839

The decimal point slider is set to the red digit 2.

321 0 1234567
3 2 101234567

Example 4: 385.61 : 0.03 (38561 : 3) = 12853.666

The decimal point slider is set to the black digit 4.

321 0 1234567
3210123 4 567

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Example 5: 175.49 : 0.007 = 25070

In this case, the comma is moved in the following way:

175490 : 7.
The decimal point slider is set to the black digit 5 (6 digits ‒ 1 digit).

321 0 1234567
32101234 5 67

When the division is over, you have written down 2507 and the correction key will be
above the red digit 1.

321 0 1234567
32101234 5 67

The red digit shows that the division has not ended, and therefore another zero must be
appended to the written result, so the result is 25070.
The red digits on the decimal point slider mean:
• in the bottom row: by how many digits the dividend is smaller than the divisor;
• in the upper row: how many zeros should be added to the written result.

NB: Zero digits at the beginning of the dividend or the divisor are not keyed into the
machine even if the decimal point slider is not used for setting the decimal point.

Various calculation examples

Continued multiplication 25 × 25 × 125 = 78125

First, 25 × 25 is multiplied the normal way.


The correction key is moved all the way to the right, the result 6 2 5 is in the

result window 000.000.006.25 2 and is then keyed back into the keyboard.
8

The clear key C is pressed, which removes the result; the machine is reset.
Now multiply the keyed number 625 the normal way by 125.

000.000.781.25 1
9

The result is read off in the result window:


The multiplication key X is released, the correction key is moved all the way to
the right and the clear key C is pressed. The machine is now ready for the next
calculation.

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Shortened multiplication

The so-called shortened multiplication can be carried out with the CONTEX-10, i.e. if you
want to multiply a number by 98, you can multiply it by 100 and subtract 2 times, which
means that you only have to press the function key 3 times instead of 17 (8 + 9).

Example: 672 × 98 = 65856

The safest way to do these calculations from left to right is to multiply by 100 first and
then go back and subtract 2. (If the calculation is from right to left, you have to be sure that
the subtraction key is in the desired position for the entire time).

The multiplication key X is pressed.

6 7 2 is keyed into the keyboard.
The digit tab  is pressed twice.
The function key is pressed once.
The return tab  is pressed twice.
The subtraction key ‒ is pressed.
The function key is pressed twice.

The result is read 000.000.658.56 8

2

The machine is cleared for the next calculation. The multiplication key X and the
subtraction key ‒ are released, the clear key C is pressed and the

correction key is moved all the way to the right.

Percentage calculation

Example: 825.00 ‒ 25% = 825.00 ‒ 206.25 = 618.75

Multiply 825.00 by 0.25 the normal way.

In the result window 000.020.625.00 2 4 decimal places are separated according

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to the normal multiplication rules. The result is read 206.25.

The following schematic:

825.00 = 100%
‒ 206.25 = 25%
618.75 = 75%

shows that the final result, after which 25% has been deducted, corresponds to 75% of the
initial amount. Since you have already calculated the 25%, you can continue the
multiplication in the following way with the number in the machine:

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The function key is pressed 5 times, so the basic amount is now multiplied by a total of 75.

The result 000.061.875.00 7 in the result window is interpreted as 618.75 by

3

separating 4 decimal places.

If the 25% are to be added, multiply as stated in the first section and, once this has been
calculated, continue in the following way:

The digit tab  is pressed once.

The function key is pressed once.

The result 000.103.125.00 1 in the result window is interpreted as 1031.25 by also

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separating 4 decimal places.

In this way, by multiplying by 125, you have added the basic amount 825.00 to the
calculated 25% in the following way:

825.00 = 100%
+ 206.25 = 25%
1,031.25 = 125%

Multiplication from left to right

In some cases the capacity of the machine is not sufficient to multiply too large numbers. If
such a case occur, the CONTEX-10 can be used to multiply from left to right without
significantly affecting the accuracy of the result, but in most cases some of the last decimal
places in the result are removed.

Example: £239-5-11 at the rate of 19.36

In conversion tables for English currency (pounds, shillings, pennies) you can find the
decimal fraction for 5 sh and 11 d, whereupon the calculation looks like this:

1 1
(239 + ×5 sh+ ×11d )×19.36=239.39583×19.36
20 240

The number 239.29583 is keyed in and moved all the way to the left with the help of the
digit tab  , whereupon it is multiplied by 19.36 from left to right using the return
tab  as a number tab.

The result 046.327.672.67 6 is read of the result window 4632.767, which is

4

approximates to 4632.77.

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The decimal point setting when multiplying from the left to the right

The decimal point is shifted to the right of the machine as many places as there are
integers in both factors that are multiplied. If the decimal point is set, the number from the
far left is included in the machine.
The machine is cleared for the next calculation.

Subtraction from zero

Example: 126.75 ‒ 313.46 = ‒186.71

126.75 is keyed into the keyboard.

The function key is pressed.
The subtraction key ‒ is pressed.
313.46 is keyed into the keyboard.
The function key is pressed.

The result window now shows 999.999.813.29 0

0

To get a negative balance, this number 999813.29 (3 digits of 9 in front of the actual
number are sufficient) is keyed into the keyboard.
The clear key C is pressed and the minus key ‒ is released.
The function key is pressed.

In the result window 999.000.186.71 9 , the result 186.71 is read by ignoring the
1

first digits of 9.
The result is the desired negative balance.

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