Robert Tarrant (1832–1909) was the successful Chicago factory owner who saw potential in the wooden casing of Felt’s prototype. As the “Tarrant” in Felt & Tarrant, he provided venture capital and precision engineering facilities needed to take the Comptometer from a machinist’s whim to a mass-produced reality.
He was a pragmatist who understood that even the most brilliant architecture requires a robust production line to survive the market. His experience was also invaluable for setting up the business around Felt’s invention.