The Differential Analyzer. A New Machine for Solving Differential Equations.
Philadelphia: The Franklin Institute 1931. First Edition. [2-volume title], 816 pages. Volume 212 of the Journal of the Franklin Institute, Nos 1267-1272, July-December 1931. An exlibrary volume bound in buckram with gold stamped lettering on the spine panel, institutional bookplate, library pocket and remains of check-out sheet in rear, and several institutional notations internally. There is some damage to some pages in the gutter area due to the way the stitching was done to make up the volume. Original wrappers are not bound in. Very Good. Cloth. [18713]
Includes the article by Vannevar Bush "'The Differential Analyzer. A New Machine for Solving Differential Equations" found on pages 447-488. The article contains 21 figures, including 9 photographs of portions of the machine (unlike Babbage's early designs for calculators, this design was actually built and in service at MIT). The article goes on to detail the mechanical challenges, underlying philosophy, and methods used by the device. Vannevar Bush 'was MIT's first Vice President and Dean of Engineering from 1932-1939. While at MIT he invented the differential analyzer, an analog device that was the most powerful computing machine prior to the electronic digital computer...The differential analyzer proved so useful that copies were built at the University of Pennsylvania, the General Electric Plant in Schenectady, New York, and the Ballistics Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground...' (see Origins of Cyberspace 244).
This volume also includes articles by Zworykin on photocell theory and practice, earthquakes, the Bartol Research Foundation and many other articles. A nice addition to any collection of work on early computing.
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