swanpan

Updated: May 6, 2025

This instrument was described in a work on arithmetic, published by Mr. Friend forty years ago. The instrument is, however, of much older date; it is the same in principle as the Abacus of the Romans, and in its form resembles as nearly as possible the Swanpan of the Chinese, of which there is a drawing in the Encyclopaedia Brittanica. Mr. Wilderspin merely invented the name."

Samuel Wilderspin - The Infant System: For Developing the Intellectual and Moral Powers of all Children, from One to Seven years of Age

The Abacus of the Romans is entirely different; still more so is the Chinese Swanpan; if any person will take the trouble to look into the Encyclopaedia Britannica, they will see the difference at once, although I never heard of either until they were mentioned in the pamphlet referred to.

Samuel Wilderspin - The Infant System: For Developing the Intellectual and Moral Powers of all Children, from One to Seven years of Age

It having been found a useful instrument, the credit of contriving it has been impugned, by liking it to the Roman Abacus and Chinese Swanpan; but were those instruments like in structure, or designed especially to teach the multiplication table? if not, they are no more similar than "a hawk to a hand-saw."

Samuel Wilderspin - The Infant System: For Developing the Intellectual and Moral Powers of all Children, from One to Seven years of Age