friden

Friden refers to Friden, Inc., a former American manufacturer of calculating devices and early data-processing equipment. The company was founded by engineer Carl Friden in California in the mid-20th century and became known for producing electro-mechanical calculators that were widely used in offices, engineering, and education.

Throughout its history, Friden developed a range of desktop calculating machines that combined mechanical and electrical components to perform arithmetic operations. As computing technology evolved, the company transitioned from purely mechanical mechanisms toward electronic designs and faced increasing competition from other calculator makers and emerging transistor-based systems. During the industry consolidations of the 1960s and 1970s, Friden became part of larger corporate portfolios, and the brand gradually disappeared from the market.

Today, Friden devices are collected and studied as historical artifacts that illustrate the trajectory of calculating technology—from mechanical to electronic computing. The Friden name remains associated with mid-20th-century American engineering and the broader development of office computing equipment.