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.

  • #31
Ivan Seeking said:
a party: year 1969?
:biggrin: Good answer! and possibly correct, but not what I had in mind. :wink:
 
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  • #32
field programmable gates arrays.
invented by G BELL, to turn sound waves into a varying current.
 
  • #33
wolram said:
Originally Posted by Evo
a crude thing made of a wooden stand, a funnel, a cup of acid, and some copper wire - what was it?

not a battery,not electro plating, something to catch the resulting
element from the reaction of acid and copper?
It is currently in use today, I am attaching a picture of the original.

http://imageuploader.milbrathnet.net/uploads/bg.jpg
 
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  • #34
nice one EVO.
anyone have a what, is ,was it?
 
  • #35
enigma said:
It had less processing power than a $5 pocket calculator.

But it had certainly more ROCK'N'ROLLLL! :biggrin:
 
  • #36
1.4 meters in diameter, 2.5 tones. In 1930 it set records 9 miles from Nonesuch.

Njorl
 
  • #37
a diving bell?
 
  • #38
more than a half mile below the ocean's surface at Nonesuch Island near ... Barton and
Beebe, in their diving bell, reached a depth of 3,028 feet yesterday, August ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
my best guess.
 
  • #39
Evo said:
It is currently in use today, I am attaching a picture of the original.

Like Herman used to say, "darn darn darn darn darn darn darn!"

I knew that! I forgot about the acid.
 
  • #40
wolram said:
more than a half mile below the ocean's surface at Nonesuch Island near ... Barton and
Beebe, in their diving bell, reached a depth of 3,028 feet yesterday, August ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
my best guess.


Yup. The Bathysphere to be precise. It is one of my favorite words to say.
 
  • #41
wolram said:
field programmable gates arrays.
invented by G BELL, to turn sound waves into a varying current.
ooh, almost, not a FGPA though. You probably have at least one of these in your house.
 
  • #42
I thought this was answered. It's a telephone.
 
  • #43
Ivan Seeking said:
I thought this was answered. It's a telephone.
Yes, I was looking for telephone specifically. You and Wolram can share the honor.
 
  • #44
who's next, if you find this stimulating, give me a what was, is ,it.
 
  • #45
I love this stuff. When Tsu and I first played trivial pursuit we were both completely addicted until we had finally memorized about half of the cards.

The parts list includes a transmitter and receiver, a stylus for each, and two large pendulums.
 
  • #46
Njorl said:
...Bathysphere... It is one of my favorite words to say.

Do you say this a lot...while alone...in the dark?
 
  • #47
Ivan Seeking said:
The parts list includes a transmitter and receiver, a stylus for each, and two large pendulums.
Alxander Bain's proto "fax" machine?
 
  • #48
Not quite what I had chosen but definitely close enough. I assume they were basically the same. Instead I chose the 1860 model of Giovanni Caselli's Pantelegraph - which sent the first facsimile between Paris and Lyon.

http://www.acmi.net.au/AIC/FAX_HIST.html

according to this, Bain's actually made a telegraph, not a fax machine, but I really know nothing about it. Maybe you or someone else can clear this up...I must get back to work. :frown:



A fax machine from the year 1865

The idea of putting the achievements of telegraphy to good use in order to transmit photographs as well as printed texts and drawings dates back to the 1850's. The Pantelegraph conceived by the abbot, Giovanni Caselli, was a system of sending and receiving images over long distances by means of electrochemistry.

The stylus of the transmitter scanning an original document by moving across its parallel lines sent messages by telegraph to a receiver. The stylus of the receiver moving across a chemically-treated sheet of paper reproduced the document according to the signals received. Transmitter and receiver were syncronized by two large pendulums swinging in sync with each other. On 16th February, 1865 the Pantelegraph was introduced into service for the Paris and Lyons and the Paris and Le Havre on to the Marseille Railways. It was phased out in 1870. The machine on display in the Museum is a working model that was built for the 1932 Chicago Exhibition.

http://www.museoscienza.org/english/radio/telefax.html
 
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  • #49
wolram said:
who's next, if you find this stimulating, give me a what was, is ,it.
Wolram, this is a great thread. I love learning stuff this way. :smile:
 
  • #50
Introduced in 1954. It measures 5 x 3 x 1 1/4 inches, weighs 12 ounces, and contains four germanium transistors.
 
  • #51
'transistor radio' - Regent?
 
  • #52
brass cylinder (approx), 6' in diameter, 8 'feet'
 
  • #53
Nereid said:
'transistor radio' - Regent?
YES! You even got the maker correct!
 
  • #54
Nereid said:
brass cylinder (approx), 6' in diameter, 8 'feet'

Okay a wild one here but it makes sense in a cryptic way.

The church of the ascension?
 
  • #55
Nereid said:
brass cylinder (approx), 6' in diameter, 8 'feet'
Hint: ~100 AD
 
  • #56
roman water clock?
 
  • #57
Nereid said:
brass cylinder (approx), 6' in diameter, 8 'feet'
Hint(2): the purpose is well known, but details of the internal mechanism are, unfortunately, not.
 
  • #58
Antikythera Mechanism? its the only thing with internal mechanism i can
think of.
 
  • #59
Nereid said:
brass cylinder (approx), 6' in diameter, 8 'feet'
Hint(3): The 'feet' were (likely) receptacles shaped like frogs with open mouths.
 
  • #60
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