The Director Madison - Vintage Archimedes Apple Fraction Set

She is a set consisting of nine varnished balls that resemble apples, sliced into segments representing fractions, un updated version of the abacus.

Geometric model set made in Germany: Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart

Madison has a metal flange at the base of each apple holds both a central cylindrical core that runs through it and metal pins that hold the various slices in place.
The first of the nine “apples” is divided into two halves, the second into three thirds, and the third into one half and two fourths. The fourth apple is divided into five fifths, the fifth into one half and three sixths, and the sixth into seven sevenths. The seventh is divided into one half, one fourth, and two eighths. The eighth apple has two thirds and three ninths and the last has one half, two fifths, and one tenth.

She dates 1920's and is complete in her original box. Her inside compartments have some hand written numbers including on some of the apple segments. All apple hinges are in good working condition. Her box and apple do have some wear throughout.

Madison's balls fit into a square cardboard box that is divided into nine compartments.
The label inside the box lid reads: “ARCHIMEDES” (/) the divisible apple to learn the calculation of fractions.; Made in Germany; Protected by patent in all civilised countries [/] D.R.P. No. 489 439;

Sole manufacturer: Rudolf Loebelenz, Stuttgart.

History
From the early 1800s, teachers advocated the use of devices to teach arithmetic, proposing objects such as the blackboard and the teaching abacus or numeral frame. To illustrate the meaning of fractions, some brought an apple to class and cut it up. By the 1920s, some made special beads for the teaching abacus, divided to represent fractions. Hugo Jung of Stuttgart, Germany, developed an improved version of this apparatus. His “apples” were to have a hollow metal core, attached to a flange that allowed various fractions to be removed (halves, thirds, etc.). The core would then slide on the rods of a numeral frame. In this form of his apples, the core is solid, and individual apples are used to teach students about specific fractions.

Dimensions

Box - Width: 21.5 cm  Height: 6.3 cm   Depth: 21.5 cm

Apples - Width: 5.5 cm  Height: 6cm 

Follow The Urban Vintage Affair on Instagram for more product and TV news Click Here