Art of Play - Playing Cards, Puzzles and Amusements

Educated Monkey Calculator

Educated Monkey Calculator - Main image
$19.52 $32 In stock

Category: Educational Toys

A classic American tin toy inspired by a real-life "educated" chimpanzee. Consul was a performing monkey who gained worldwide acclaim in the early 1900s. He rode a bicycle and ate his food with a fork and knife. This colorful tin recreation does mathematics!

Multiply any two numbers from one to twelve, and Consul will calculate the result with 100% accuracy. A fun, analog way to help kids learn their multiplication tables.

More advanced mathematical thinkers will appreciate the clever hinged mechanism and underlying geometry required for the successful outcome of the Consul's binary operation. Appealing on every level.

Plus, who doesn't love a monkey in a bowtie?


Want to know more about this inspiring invention? Read What ‘Consul, the Educated Monkey’ Can Teach Us about Early-Twentieth-Century Mathematics, Learning, and Vaudeville by Caitlin Donahue Wylie on Cambridge University Press.

Customer Reviews (4.8 / 5 · 5 reviews)

Emily X. ★★★★★

My kids have been obsessed with the little monkey riding its bike since it arrived — it’s such a charming piece of history to have on the shelf. The tin body feels sturdy enough for play, but honestly, it’s the vintage story behind it that makes this a keeper for our homeschool lessons.

Leo D. ★★★★★

The tin construction feels wonderfully old-fashioned, and I love that the monkey actually rides a tiny bicycle like the real Consul did. It's a fun piece of history that sparks conversations every time someone spots it on the shelf.

Carter ★★★★★

My kids have been obsessed with the monkey riding his bicycle on the front, and the tin body has held up to plenty of drops. It's a neat piece of history that actually sparks questions about the real chimpanzee, which I didn't expect.

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