Mr. Pete and the Adding Machine

In the 1930’s my uncle, Walter Watson, went into the E. H. Sumners Lumber Company office in Stewart, Mississippi to pick up a check for rough sawn lumber delivered there. Mr. Pete Sumners, the office manager, handed Uncle Walter the check as a salesman walked in with an electric adding machine in a carrying bag. He wanted to sell Mr. Pete an adding machine. Uncle Walter became curious and remained to one side in the office to see the machine. Mr. Pete allowed the man to place the machine on a table to show it.

The salesman persisted that the machine was easy to use, fast, and always accurate. Mr. Pete told the salesman that if he could add a column of figures accurately and more quickly than he in his head with the use of paper and pencil; he would write a check for the machine on the spot. But if not, he would not buy it. Mr. Pete continued, “Walt here writes clearly and is a precise thinker. We will get him to make two copies of an identical column of dollar and cents figures, out of our sight, and place the lists face down on a desk handy to each. When we are set, he will call the ‘go’. If you get the correct answer first. I’ll buy the machine.” The salesman agreed.

Uncle Walter wrote an identical list of dollar and cents figures on the two pieces of paper provided and placed them upside down on the spots indicated. The two men, one who added lists of figures in his head every day; and the other who was well practiced on his fast machine began the contest upon Walt’s word, “Go.”

My Uncle Walter said that Mr. Pete had finished the addition of his prepared, identical list and relaxed in his chair before the salesman got all the figures entered into his fast machine. Each man had arrived at the correct total. But Mr. Pete had done his easily in scarcely half the time.

“The salesman was very good at his job,” Uncle Walter said. Even in defeat, he thanked Mr. Pete and Uncle Walter very graciously. Then he put his electric adding machine back into his carrying bag, and with vigorous handshakes; he left the office with a smiling face. Mr. Pete said, “Walt, if that man ever comes back with a product at the right price, for which I have an use; I will buy from him. I like him.”

This was written by Roy C. Watson on December 16, 1996 at Jackson, Mississippi.