Hi all,

Although I have several Chinese abaci (swan-pan 2/5), I prefer the
Japanese abaci (soroban 1/4) with bicone beads.

The soroban <a> measures 22.8 x 8.4 cm. I put name to some of my
abaci, the name of this soroban is AKI (autumn, in Japanese). AKI is
made completely wooden, without screws neither nails; no metal or
plastic. The frame is made of a wood hard of Brazil, the wooden rods
of beech and the beads of pine. I built that soroban to gift it to my
eight year-old
daughter. Photo: http://es.geocities.com/abacosoroban/soroban-a.JPG

The soroban <b> measures 36.4 x 10.8 cm. That soroban has the steel
rods and the beads of plastic; the beads move quickly. The great size
of this soroban, and their colored beads make it ideal to teach to the
children how to move the beads and to make simple calculations.

My favorite soroban is <c>. This exceptional soroban are manufactured
in Japan by KAMEDAKE, and a Japanese friend gave it to me. The soroban
has my name recorded in Japanese. It is a true pleasure to use that
soroban.
Photo:
http://es.geocities.com/abacosoroban/t1/temauno_html_m4991af09.jpg

Also I use frequently <d> and <n>, manufactured in Japan by TOMOE. These
two soroban is very pleasant of using.

The soroban <o> only measures 14,5 x 5,6 cm. The frame and the beads
are made of plastic, but the rods are made of bamboo. It is very
useful, since for their small size you can take in a pocket and to use
it in any
place.

The abacus <j> it is a Mayan abacus (Nepohualtzintzin). Measures 16.5
x 12.8 cm. This abacus it is good to make mathematical calculations in
the system vigesimal, based on the number 20. You can also use that
abacus as if was a Japanese soroban if the two beads superiors don't move.
Photo: http://es.geocities.com/abacosoroban/nepo.JPG
Information on the abacus Nepohualtzintzin (in Spanish):
http://es.geocities.com/abacosoroban/nepohualtzintzin.html

Cordial greetings

Fernando Tejón

--- En abacosoroban@yahoogroups.com, "Fernando TEJON" <krayono@g...>
escribió:
> Hello,
> Some people are collectors of abaci, but they don't know how to use
> them. Other people know how to use the abaci but they don't collect
> them. But there are also users of abaci that also collect them. I have
> many abaci, mainly I have Japanese soroban, but that that more I like
> it is to use them. You can see some of the abaci that I have in the
> picture:
> http://es.geocities.com/abacosoroban/coleccion1.JPG
> I have built the abaci a, b and j.
> Cordial greetings.
> Fernando Tejón.