Mechanical calculators are devices designed to perform mathematical calculations using mechanical components rather than electronic ones. They often feature gears, levers, and dials to facilitate operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. These calculators were widely used before the advent of electronic calculators and computers. One of the most famous mechanical calculators is the Pascaline, invented by Blaise Pascal in the 17th century. This early calculator could add and subtract numbers using a series of rotating wheels. Mechanical calculators paved the way for modern computing by demonstrating the principles of automated calculation.