Mechanical sorter

This photograph taken in 1935 shows punched cards being used to tabulate census data. They were used from the 1890s through the 1960s.

 The typewritten caption says: "This machine is a mechanical sorter which is used by the United States Census Bureau in its tabulation system. The machine sorts cards automatically into different classifications as may be required. For instance, cards representing the workers of a certain section of the country will be run through this machine to show the number of carpenters, chauffers, mechanics, etc."