--- product_id: 14274220 title: "Yellow Mountain Imports YMI Vintage Wood Soroban Abacus, 17 Column, 13.9 in" brand: "yellow mountain imports" price: "$69.24" currency: USD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 category: "Yellow Mountain Imports" url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/14274220-yellow-mountain-imports-ymi-vintage-wood-soroban-abacus-17-column store_origin: US region: United States of America --- # convenient mechanical reset 17-column soroban precision classic wooden craftsmanship Yellow Mountain Imports YMI Vintage Wood Soroban Abacus, 17 Column, 13.9 in **Brand:** yellow mountain imports **Price:** $69.24 **Availability:** βœ… In Stock ## Summary > 🧠 Calculate with Confidence, Vintage Style! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Yellow Mountain Imports YMI Vintage Wood Soroban Abacus, 17 Column, 13.9 in by yellow mountain imports - **How much does it cost?** $69.24 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/14274220-yellow-mountain-imports-ymi-vintage-wood-soroban-abacus-17-column) ## Best For - yellow mountain imports enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted yellow mountain imports brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - β€’ **Durable, Classic Wooden Build:** Crafted from quality wood and ABS beads on metal rods, designed to last and impress on any desk. - β€’ **Master Mental Math Like a Pro:** Harness the timeless soroban system to boost your calculation speed and numerical intuition. - β€’ **Reset Button for Effortless Use:** Quickly clear your work with a mechanical resetβ€”no fumbling, just seamless flow. - β€’ **Montessori-Approved Learning Tool:** Elevate foundational math skills with a tactile, hands-on manipulative perfect for kids and remote learners. - β€’ **Stay-Put Stability with Rubber Feet:** Non-marring anti-skid pads ensure your abacus stays firmly in place during intense calculation sessions. ## Overview This Vintage Style Wooden Abacus features a professional 17-column soroban design with a mechanical reset button, crafted from durable wood and ABS beads on metal rods. Measuring 13.9 x 3.7 x 1.1 inches and weighing about 1 lb, it includes anti-skid rubber feet for stability. Ideal for Montessori education, mental math training, and enhancing numerical intuition, it’s a timeless tool blending classic craftsmanship with practical modern usability. ## Description desertcart.com: Yellow Mountain Imports Vintage Style Wooden Abacus - 13.9 Inches (35.3 Centimeters) - Professional 17 Column Soroban Calculator with Reset Button - Made : Toys & Games Review: Bigger than I expected. - My mother made me go to Abacus school when I was younger. Even as a child, I was fascinated and impressed by my school mates who were able to perform very complex calculations all in their head. Unfortunately, I never reached their level during my brief schooling before having to move, but I suddenly decided that I wanted to pick back up where I left off after over 30 years of hiatus. This abacus made of wood is surprisingly large. Because it is so much bigger (3 1/2") and heavier than more standard abacus I was used to, I was initially turned off by it. However, I decided to try it out and then I started appreciating it more by day. Because it's heavy, I don't ever have to steady it with my other hand and the Reset mechanism that I initially thought was unnecessary came in very handy because of the heftiness of the device.The beads move well and stick where you place them fairly ok. The beads are a bit looser than the abacus I had as a youngster, but for all intents and purposes, this is a good device at a reasonable price and probably would work out better for men with larger hands. Although the corner brass bracings could be done better (mine are lifted and wrinkled), It has an interesting antique look to it. For those of you looking to learn Abacus, there's no need to purchase expensive educational books. You can find many great free resources on the web --for one just search for "ABACUS: MYSTERY OF THE BEAD" and you'll learn all necessary concepts, and the rest is for you to practice practice practice. I add 1 through 100 daily (sum 5050), and subtract back down to 0 multiple times. There are more exercises you can perform like games in the aforementioned tutorial and other online resources. Like everything else, the more you practice your speed and coordination improves and you'll be able to visualize calculation in your mind without having to use the device. Review: A practical abacus made more for work than for show - This is not my first abacus, but it is the first with a reset button, and I like it. First one I ever got was a "transitional" soroban which I picked up from an antique dealer in Korea. It has one bead "topside" and five "below decks," with the former owner's name painted on the back. This one is about the same size - somewhat large, meant to stay put and not be carried around. For the true old-timers reading this, imagine the difference between a pocket calculator and an office adding machine. As I recall abacus use from my time in Korea (1990-1991), examples in this size were what you'd see at the cash drawer of the small restaurants and stores in the little village just off-post. Among the things to like about this abacus, a few things stand out: o It has rubber feet to help it stay put. Another reviewer said the arrangement of the feet makes it wobbly and perhaps it does. The obvious solution is to not lean one's hand on the thing. Proper technique discourages leaning on it anyway. o The placement of the little brass brads BETWEEN the rows of beads rather than in line with every one-in-three makes designating a "unit" column that much easier. It makes the brads appear to be where the decimal point and commas ought to be, which is visually easier to grasp. o Materials and workmanship imply practical utility over aesthetic beauty. It is built to be used. In the same way exercise makes the body stronger, use of the abacus makes the mind stronger. One of the advantages of archaic aids to calculation such as the abacus, the slide rule and the log table book, is that of instilling in the operator an intuitive sense of the relationships between the numbers he or she is working with and the things those numbers represent. In other words, one develops a sort of "sixth sense" regarding quantity, spatial relationship, magnitude, etc. by working with these old devices, which in turn makes the operator better at the math he or she is called upon to perform. Calculators and computers are more convenient, certainly, but we lose something valuable when we rely on electronic devices to do our thinking for us all the time. ## Features - Timeless Reliability: A calculator in its classical form, the abacus/soroban features a system used before written numerals, and is still used in parts of the world by merchants, traders, and clerks - An Ideal Montessori Math Tool: Make math practice more effective; Using an abacus as a math manipulative is a great way to teach kids how to count, equate and compute mentally - Classically Crafted Wooden Set: This 17-digit professional wooden soroban abacus comes with a mechanical reset button; It measures 13.9 x 3.7 x 1 inches (35.3 x 9.5 x 2.7 centimeters) and weighs 1lb (0.45kg); Beads are made from quality ABS plastic and secured on metal rods - Non-Marring Anti-Skid Rubber Feet: Keeps the abacus from sliding around while in use and protects your table surface - Arithmetic Education Must-Have: Manipulative tools such as this abacus is an important teaching supplement for your grade-schoolers' education; It can be used in teaching number concepts in remote learning or homeschooling settings; Abacuses are also a proven useful learning device for the visually impaired ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B00SQW8EYS | | Age Range Description | Kid | | Best Sellers Rank | #23,033 in Office Products ( See Top 100 in Office Products ) #9 in Math Materials | | Brand Name | Yellow Mountain Imports | | Color | Black | | Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,055 Reviews | | Educational Objective | Foundational math skills development in young learners | | Global Trade Identification Number | 00810989022609 | | Indoor Outdoor Usage | Indoor | | Is Assembly Required | No | | Item Dimensions | 13.9 x 3.7 x 1.1 inches | | Item Weight | 0.99 Ounces | | Manufacturer | Yellow Mountain Imports | | Manufacturer Maximum Age (MONTHS) | 600.0 | | Manufacturer Minimum Age (MONTHS) | 60 | | Manufacturer Part Number | EDU-00001-A | | Material Type | Wood | | Model Number | EDU-00001-A | | Number of Players | 1 | | Operation Mode | Manual | | Power Source | manual | | Set Name | Soroban | | Size | 13.9 inch | | Supported Battery Types | No batteries required | | Theme | Educational | | UPC | 810989022609 | | Unit Count | 1.0 Count | ## Images ![Yellow Mountain Imports YMI Vintage Wood Soroban Abacus, 17 Column, 13.9 in - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81ErWXMb4PL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Size** options. ## Questions & Answers **Q: Do the beads stay in place when you move them ?** A: The device has rubber feet, which keep it securely in place. The beads are very easy to maneuver, and will stay where you put them. I found a great set of tutorials on YouTube that made learning to use the abacus lots of fun. **Q: are the beads in the abacus plastic or wooden? if they are wooden, do they have lead free paint? where is it made?** A: Hi, the beads are made of wood. This abacus is made in China. The paint is not lead free however the amount is well below safety standard. **Q: Does this come with a guide?** A: I don't remember getting a guide with the abacus itself, but I ordered one at the same time and found it helpful. I got "Learn to do Math with Soroban, a Japanese abacus" from SAI Speed Math Academy. **Q: Will this make me better smrt?** A: Mental gymnastics are the key to preventing Alzheimer and Dementia. Better smart, no. Smart longer, yes. But you have to practice it and play it like a game. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bigger than I expected. *by R***P on May 30, 2016* My mother made me go to Abacus school when I was younger. Even as a child, I was fascinated and impressed by my school mates who were able to perform very complex calculations all in their head. Unfortunately, I never reached their level during my brief schooling before having to move, but I suddenly decided that I wanted to pick back up where I left off after over 30 years of hiatus. This abacus made of wood is surprisingly large. Because it is so much bigger (3 1/2") and heavier than more standard abacus I was used to, I was initially turned off by it. However, I decided to try it out and then I started appreciating it more by day. Because it's heavy, I don't ever have to steady it with my other hand and the Reset mechanism that I initially thought was unnecessary came in very handy because of the heftiness of the device.The beads move well and stick where you place them fairly ok. The beads are a bit looser than the abacus I had as a youngster, but for all intents and purposes, this is a good device at a reasonable price and probably would work out better for men with larger hands. Although the corner brass bracings could be done better (mine are lifted and wrinkled), It has an interesting antique look to it. For those of you looking to learn Abacus, there's no need to purchase expensive educational books. You can find many great free resources on the web --for one just search for "ABACUS: MYSTERY OF THE BEAD" and you'll learn all necessary concepts, and the rest is for you to practice practice practice. I add 1 through 100 daily (sum 5050), and subtract back down to 0 multiple times. There are more exercises you can perform like games in the aforementioned tutorial and other online resources. Like everything else, the more you practice your speed and coordination improves and you'll be able to visualize calculation in your mind without having to use the device. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A practical abacus made more for work than for show *by P***H on June 22, 2018* This is not my first abacus, but it is the first with a reset button, and I like it. First one I ever got was a "transitional" soroban which I picked up from an antique dealer in Korea. It has one bead "topside" and five "below decks," with the former owner's name painted on the back. This one is about the same size - somewhat large, meant to stay put and not be carried around. For the true old-timers reading this, imagine the difference between a pocket calculator and an office adding machine. As I recall abacus use from my time in Korea (1990-1991), examples in this size were what you'd see at the cash drawer of the small restaurants and stores in the little village just off-post. Among the things to like about this abacus, a few things stand out: o It has rubber feet to help it stay put. Another reviewer said the arrangement of the feet makes it wobbly and perhaps it does. The obvious solution is to not lean one's hand on the thing. Proper technique discourages leaning on it anyway. o The placement of the little brass brads BETWEEN the rows of beads rather than in line with every one-in-three makes designating a "unit" column that much easier. It makes the brads appear to be where the decimal point and commas ought to be, which is visually easier to grasp. o Materials and workmanship imply practical utility over aesthetic beauty. It is built to be used. In the same way exercise makes the body stronger, use of the abacus makes the mind stronger. One of the advantages of archaic aids to calculation such as the abacus, the slide rule and the log table book, is that of instilling in the operator an intuitive sense of the relationships between the numbers he or she is working with and the things those numbers represent. In other words, one develops a sort of "sixth sense" regarding quantity, spatial relationship, magnitude, etc. by working with these old devices, which in turn makes the operator better at the math he or she is called upon to perform. Calculators and computers are more convenient, certainly, but we lose something valuable when we rely on electronic devices to do our thinking for us all the time. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good for the money, quality is so-so. *by B***L on August 28, 2017* This is a decent soroban for the price. It is a good deal larger than a standard Japanese soroban, and thus may be better for large-handed folks or those simply not used to fiddling with little beads. The finish a little rough: you can tell this thing was meant to reach a price point. Inner wood surfaces are not varnished/treated the same, and the fittings are cheap sheet metal. That said, the beads are smooth, consistent enough, and the clearing mechanism works well enough. The beads aren't exactly all the same size, so the clearing bar can't quite push every bead clear perfectly, but it's enough for practical use. I also had to tighten down a couple screws on the clearing mechanism by hand: they simply weren't driven in all the way out of the box. Finish and detail aside, this soroban is very sturdy, and seems like it could take a good deal of punishment. I could see this being the soroban at a cash register in a market. I wish the brown beads that mark unit columns was a little lighter: in some lighting it's hard to differentiate it from the black ones. If you're just getting into learning a soroban, this would be a fine choice. The beads are heavy and satisfying, and the rubber feet and sheer weight mean it stays put on a table. Someone unfamiliar with using a soroban may find the standard-sized ones too small. I would NOT get this soroban if you're looking for an "authentic" Japanese soroban. The smaller, black-framed, brown-bead soroban is the "standard" size and design. This is more like a Chinese abacus made in the style of soroban. If you're going to transport your abacus (say, to school), you may also want to look for a smaller, lighter one. ## Frequently Bought Together - Yellow Mountain Imports Vintage Style Wooden Abacus - 13.9 Inches (35.3 Centimeters) - Professional 17 Column Soroban Calculator with Reset Button - Made - Learn to do Math With Soroban a Japanese Abacus: Learn how to add, subtract, multiply, divide and find square roots with this easy to use instruction guide. - Abacus Mind Math Level 1 Workbook 1 of 2: Excel at Mind Math with Soroban, a Japanese Abacus (Abacus Mind Math - Level - 1 Complete Set: Instruction Book, Workbook 1 of 2, Workbook 2 of 2) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - πŸ›’ **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** β€” Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** β€” Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - πŸ’° **No Hidden Fees** β€” All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - πŸ”„ **15-Day Free Returns** β€” Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - πŸ”’ **Secure Payments** β€” Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** β€” Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/14274220-yellow-mountain-imports-ymi-vintage-wood-soroban-abacus-17-column](https://www.desertcart.us/products/14274220-yellow-mountain-imports-ymi-vintage-wood-soroban-abacus-17-column) --- *Product available on Desertcart United States of America* *Store origin: US* *Last updated: 2026-07-22*