For all this, it met with the usual resistance to change. Scientific American wrote in 1849: "M. Colmar, a French gentleman who invented a calculating machine about 20 years ago, has improved it in such a wonderful manner that it is said to be one of the most astonishing pieces of mechanism that has ever been invented, but to
our view, its complexity shows its defectability."

Which goes to show how wrong predictions can be since the Thomas Arithmometer was still selling in the 20th Century.