Fredrik Rosing Bull - The Bull Machine

The Bull Machine

In 31 July 1919 Bull had made many advances and decided to patent his creation. In his patent is described in detail his idea of a programmable tabulating machine. It would not be until 1923 that would be completely finished.

Thanks to his invention, called the 'ordering, recording and adding machine' using punched card, and once he saw the success, undertook the production of new copies of his T-30 machine adding improvements beyond. Several insurance companies in Denmark, like Storebrand show their interest in the technology.

Fredrik then signed a contract with society Oka, led by Reidar Knutsen, which took over the costs of manufacturing and marketing. The production of these machines was in an accuracy workshop in Oslo.

Bull machine used punched card of 45 columns, with round holes and a rotating adder. His machine was substantially better than its competition, Hollerith and Powers, through the mechanism of punched card pre-selection.

The machine proved a success and received very good reviews and publicity. The key factors for success were determined by the technical quality of the machine, the ease in using it, the provision regarding the above technology, the cost savings and the possibility for users to leave the IBM's monopoly and purchase their own equipment instead of renting them.