The World's Largest Computer in 1951

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around historical and technical aspects of significant machines and vehicles, including the ENIAC computer and the Russian Ekranoplan. Participants engage in a quiz-like format, posing questions and providing hints about various inventions, their specifications, and historical context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the ENIAC, detailing its size, weight, components, and power consumption, while noting its limited processing power compared to modern devices.
  • Another participant identifies the ENIAC as the machine described in the previous post.
  • Participants discuss a large vehicle that weighs 540 tons, can travel over land and water, and is hinted to be built in Russia, leading to speculation about its identity.
  • Some participants propose that the vehicle in question is the Russian Ekranoplan, explaining its design and operational principles related to ground effect.
  • There is a discussion about a vehicle that achieved over 188 miles per gallon, with participants speculating on its type and historical significance, including a mention of a Harley Davidson motorcycle from 1908.
  • One participant describes a crude device involving a wooden stand, a funnel, acid, and copper wire, prompting further questions about its purpose.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the identity of some machines, particularly the vehicle that achieved high fuel efficiency, as various guesses and clarifications are made. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of some inventions and their historical context.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the specifications and classifications of the vehicles discussed, particularly regarding the Ekranoplan's operational capabilities and the fuel efficiency claims of the motorcycle.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the history of computing, engineering innovations, and the evolution of vehicle technology may find this discussion engaging.

  • #511
Holy crud! I actually got one (finally)...

This was first installed in 1912 at a Pennsylvania power station. It is still operating to this day with an expected lifespan of 1300 years.
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
  • #512
Come on guys...I only have an hour until I have to go off line for a while...

Here are two hints:
1) The man responsible has a hall at University of New Hampshire named after him.
2) His last name sounds close to an American brand of charcoal.
 
  • #513
Not to worry, a good question can take some time to figure out.

At the moment I have no idea...
 
  • #514
Is google cheating? if no, I know the answer :D
 
  • #515
Any way that you can find the answer is fair game.
 
  • #516
In that case it would be Dr. Albert Kingsbury's first fluid film thrust bearing.

If I'm right, whoever wants the next question can have it.
 
  • #517
Damn Matthyouw. That's correct. I must have been too gracious with my hints. Kingsbury's tilt pad thrust bearing to be precise. The bearing I mentioned in Pennsylvania was torn down for maintenance just a couple of years ago after approximately 80 years in service. There was no appreciable wear observable.
 
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  • #518
This is anisotropic, hygroscopic and is usually limited to different shades of brown. Found all over the world naturally and not so. It is commonly classified as what two types? Why is it misleading?
 
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  • #519
Mk said:
This is anisotropic, hygroscopic and is usually limited to different shades of brown. Found all over the world naturally and not so. It is commonly classified as what two types? Why is it misleading?
Wood. Classified as hardwood and softwood. Misleading because softwood can sometimes be harder than hardwood.

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Wood
 
  • #520
Ah, yes. Give it a gowhy don't cha?
 
  • #521
Yes, I deleted my post when I noticed it about 3 seconds afterwards.
 
  • #522
Mk said:
Yes, I deleted my post when I noticed it in about 3 seconds.
heheh, we're a few seconds apart in posting. :-p
 
  • #523
Moonbear said:
Misleading because softwood can sometimes be harder than hardwood.
I did not know that.

So MB, what's the next "what was it"?
 
  • #524
This invention "tamed" the American West. Who was the first U.S. patent holder for this invention?
(I'll return with more clues if this is too vague.)
 
  • #525
Moonbear said:
This invention "tamed" the American West. Who was the first U.S. patent holder for this invention?
(I'll return with more clues if this is too vague.)
The Winchester rifle? But that would be too easy for the second part of the question. Or Remington? The one with the widow that built that weird house.

"tamed" hmmm, not railroads, they made the west accessible
 
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  • #526
Colt's Manufacturing Company was founded in Hartford, Connecticut in 1847 by Samuel Colt in order to produce revolvers, which Colt held the patent on, during the Mexican-American War.
 
  • #527
Moonbear said:
This invention "tamed" the American West. Who was the first U.S. patent holder for this invention?
(I'll return with more clues if this is too vague.)
BARBED WIRE
Address:http://www.rra.dst.tx.us/c_t/History1/BARBED%20WIRE.cfm Changed:7:24 PM on Thursday, May 26, 2005
 
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  • #528
Darn, that was quick Zooby! Guess I wasn't too vague.

Oh, wait, I don't see the inventor I was looking for in that link!
 
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  • #529
Dammit! I just found it. :mad:

The most successful barbed wire was patented by Joseph F. Glidden of DeKalb, Illinois in 1874. It was an improvement on earlier less successful pointed wire products such as that invented in 1865 by Louis Jannin of France.

Barbed wire was the first wire technology capable of restraining cattle. Wire fences were cheaper to erect than their alternatives and when they became widely available in the late 19th century in the United States they made it affordable to fence much bigger areas than before. They made intensive animal husbandry practical on a much larger scale.

Barbed-wire fences remain the standard fencing technology for enclosing cattle in most regions of the US, but not all countries. The wire is aligned under tension between heavy, braced, fence posts (strainer posts) and then held at the correct height by being attached to wooden posts and battens, or steel star posts. The gaps between star posts vary depending on terrain—on short fences in hilly country they may be placed as closely as every 3 metres, whereas in flat terrain with long spans and relatively few stock they may be spaced out up to 30 to 50 metres. Wooden posts are normally spaced at 10 metres (2 rods) in any case with 4 or 5 batterns in between.
 
  • #530
I don't know why, but barbed wire always comes up in every book on invention.

OK. This was originally called "rod wax" and was considered a nuisance till someone put it in jars and sold it.
 
  • #531
BARBED WIRE! There were WARS fought over people putting up barbed wire in the west!
 
  • #532
Car waxing wax?
 
  • #533
Evo said:
BARBED WIRE! There were WARS fought over people putting up barbed wire in the west!
Better late than never...
 
  • #534
I think it's time for me to come to this thread...mm..yyess!
 
  • #535
Mk said:
Dammit! I just found it. :mad:

The most successful barbed wire was patented by Joseph F. Glidden of DeKalb, Illinois in 1874. It was an improvement on earlier less successful pointed wire products such as that invented in 1865 by Louis Jannin of France.
Not quite...I was looking for the first of the US Patent holders. (Hint...after Jannin's invention and before Glidden's). :devil:
 
  • #536
zoobyshoe said:
Better late than never...
I'm a slow typer. :frown:
 
  • #537
OH, I got it.

http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=236742&area=/insight/insight__national/
When he went there, Chesebrough noticed that roughnecks who worked the rigs were maddened by a gelatinous black gunk that clogged up their drills. They called it “rod wax” and were constantly having to wipe the stuff away. But these same working Joes, Chesebrough was interested to see, slapped “rod wax” on their cuts to help them heal faster.

Chesebrough took some jelly to his lab and tested its healing property on himself. It worked. He soon had a fleet of wagons trundling around the country distributing Vaseline (a barbarous combination of the German “wasser”, and the Greek “elaion”: “water-oil”).

Chesebrough was an evangelist. In front of rapt audiences he would burn his skin with acid and then anoint the wounds with his wonder-jelly, pointing to earlier scars Vaseline had healed. Next day, every druggist in town would have bought a wagonload.

Now we use it for something else...
 
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  • #538
Mk said:
Car waxing wax?
Nein!
 
  • #539
Mk said:
OH, I got it.

When he went there, Chesebrough noticed that roughnecks who worked the rigs were maddened by a gelatinous black gunk that clogged up their drills. They called it “rod wax” and were constantly having to wipe the stuff away. But these same working Joes, Chesebrough was interested to see, slapped “rod wax” on their cuts to help them heal faster.

Chesebrough took some jelly to his lab and tested its healing property on himself. It worked. He soon had a fleet of wagons trundling around the country distributing Vaseline (a barbarous combination of the German “wasser”, and the Greek “elaion”: “water-oil”).

Chesebrough was an evangelist. In front of rapt audiences he would burn his skin with acid and then anoint the wounds with his wonder-jelly, pointing to earlier scars Vaseline had healed. Next day, every druggist in town would have bought a wagonload.
Jawhol!
 
  • #540
zoobyshoe said:
I don't know why, but barbed wire always comes up in every book on invention.

OK. This was originally called "rod wax" and was considered a nuisance till someone put it in jars and sold it.
petroleum jelly
 

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