# Can anyone figure out the functioning of this Ukranian 1917 pinwheel calculator?

I have bought this online, but cannot for the life of me figure out what it does.

It says "composition" at the top and "reading" at the bottom.

There are columns of numbers with a sliding ruler next to each one, marked with red dots. The pen is used to slide the rulers to presumably select (compose) the desired numbers by placing the first red dot next to it.

• Could you give some more description of how it works/what the pen does? Dec 7 '21 at 23:58
• Please clarify your specific problem or provide additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it's hard to tell exactly what you're asking.
– Community Bot
Dec 7 '21 at 23:59
• It is not 1917, but 1967 (note number 50 on top) and not Ukrainian, but Soviet. Dec 8 '21 at 0:28
• Commemorating the 50th anniversary of 1917 (of course a Soviet thing). With an incomprehensible calculator :) Dec 8 '21 at 0:40
• A slight correction: it says "addition" at the top and "substraction" at the bottom. Dec 8 '21 at 9:18

For addition, for example $$6 + 3,$$ you insert the stylus at the $$6$$ position of the rightmost slot in the addition section (the upper half) and slide it down to the bottom of the slot, resulting in the configuration shown in the picture (with a $$6$$ showing in the rightmost circular window). Then insert the stylus in the $$3$$ position and slide down again; you'll have a $$9$$ in the rightmost circular window.
To add $$6 + 4,$$ however, you can only slide down from the $$6$$ position. When you insert the stylus at the $$4$$ position you need to slide it all the way to the top of the slot and then, following the circular arc at the top of the slot, loop around to a notch on the left and slide it down one position, which adds $$1$$ to the second column. The red dots are a clue about when you need to slide up instead of down for addition.
Subtraction of two numbers $$A - B$$ is similar, but after putting the digits of $$A$$ in the circular windows by sliding the sliders, you select the digits of $$B$$ in the lower half of the device and slide up when no carrying is required or down (looping around at the bottom) when carrying is required.