electric accounting machine

Electric accounting machines were the answer.

Electric Accounting Machine (Unit record equipment)

In 1933, LaMotte took on the position of general manager of the Electric Accounting Machine Division.

IBM Archives: Electric accounting machines (1932)

Before the advent of electronic computers, data processing was performed using electromechanical devices called 'unit record equipment', 'electric accounting machines' ('EAM') or 'tabulating machines'.