Wild computing devices from the late 1800s and early 1900s
Summary: At the beginning of the 20 century, inventors put computing devices on everything from scales to cheese cutters.
Image 25 of 26
Filed: Apr. 8, 1902
Issued: May 30, 1916
Inventor: Holmes Marshall
Assignees: John T. Underwood
In 1916, inventor Holmes Marshall received a patent for a machine designed to be both a typewriter and calculator. In his patent, he described the invention as follows:
"The object of this invention is to provide a combined typewriting and computing machine in a form which shall require very little and very simple connecting mechanism in addition to usual typewriting and computing mechanism. More specifically, the object is to provide intermediate mechanism between a computing machine and a book typewriter, wherein the type-writer proper travels both across the page and down it."
Image taken from U.S. Patent 1,185,520 - Digitized by Google
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Talkback
RE: Wild computing devices from the late 1800s and early 1900s
There was something called an "analytical engine" which was actually shown to be Turing complete, although it was never actually constructed.
It never gained the funding and political support it needed, and would eventually become obsolete with the invention of computers based on electricity.
Still, there are some novels written on the idea of "what if this had actually be completed, and we had computing before electricity?"
RE: Wild computing devices from the late 1800s and early 1900s
A local AC train carrying stone/cement was overloaded and causes a major brush fire in 3 towns.
I wonder if Wilson's time stamp is y2k approved and if it stamps past 2012?
The Automaton
It was actually a hoax and housed a chess master (Pilsbury?).
Nifty mechanics tho.