Luigi Torchi

Luigi Torchi was an Italian inventor. He invented the first direct multiplication machine in 1834. This was also the second key-driven machine in the world, following that of James White in 1822.

Very little is known about the inventor and the machine. It is only known that he was a carpenter; his machine was awarded a gold metal from the Imperial-regio istituto lombardo di scienze, lettere e arti in Milan in 1834. A document of the award provides the known details of the machine, while a second document shows a drawing of the machine itself. However, no detailed documents about how it worked are known to exist.

The machine was exhibited in Brera between 1834 and 1837; it was later found by Giovanni Schiaparelli in bad condition. Subsequently, no further information about the machine exists.