Calculation Collection (#5)

George and Edward Scheutzs calculating machine. Based on Babbages difference engine, it was developed between 1837 and 1843. Purchased for Dudley Observatory, Albany, New York

Babbages difference machine, 1864. Artist: Charles Babbage
Babbages difference machine. From Charles Babbage Passages from the Life of a Philosopher, London, 1864. Engraving

Childs slate with pen and toy soldiers on a New Year card. Date: early 20th century

Childs slate with pen and scribbles on a New Year card. Date: early 20th century

Childs slate with pen and scribbles on a Christmas card. Date: early 20th century

Childs slate with pen and baubles on a Christmas card. early 20th century

Abacus, also called a counting frame. Cesis. Latvia

COTTON PICKER, 1935. An African American cotton worker calculates the weight of cotton in a notebook, Little Rock, Arkansas. Photograph by Ben Shahn in October 1935

TEXAS: COTTON, 1936. A plantation owners daughter checks the weight of cotton, Kaufman County, Texas. Photograph by Arthur Rothstein, August 1936

COTTON CHECKER, 1935. An African American cotton worker calculates the weight of the cotton picked in a notebook, Pulaski County, Arkansas. Photograph by Ben Shahn in October 1935

VANNEVAR BUSH (1890-1974). American electrical engineer. Bush (left) and his M.I.T. colleagues in the late 1920s at work on their network analyzer

St. Pachomius (d. 346) (mosaic)
XIR154000 St. Pachomius (d.346) (mosaic) by Byzantine School, (12th century); Duomo, Monreale, Sicily, Italy; (add.info.: founder of Christian community monasticism in Egypt; wrote first book of)

Calculator with fingers and face, calculating

POMPEII: BONE COUNTERS. Carved bone counters employed by the Romans in calculation, found at Pompeii, Italy. The positions of the hands indicate numbers

EGYPT: STONE WEIGHTS. Egyptian stone weights from Sinai, c2000 B. C
EGYPT: STONE WEIGHTS. Egyptian stone weights from Sinai, c2000 B.C

EGYPT: BALANCE, c2000 B. C. A scribe keeps tally as the balance operator weighs
EGYPT: BALANCE, c2000 B.C. A scribe keeps tally as the balance operator weighs against stone weight - after an Egyptian tomb painting, circa 2000 B.C

CENSUS MACHINE, 1890. Operating the sorting and counting mechanism for the statistical tabulation of the Eleventh U.S. Census of 1890 devised by Herman Hollerith

CENSUS MACHINE, 1890. Punched-card counter devised by Herman Hollerith for the statistical tabulation of the Eleventh U.S. Census of 1890

ABACUS, 19th CENTURY. Line engraving

CENSUS MACHINE, 1890. Gang-punch devised by Herman Hollerith for the statistical tabulation of the Eleventh U.S. Census of 1890

MODERN CHINESE ABACUS. In this type of abacus, beads above the dividing bar count 5; those below count 1

ABACUS. Chinese and Roman

CENSUS MACHINE, 1890. Keypunch for the statistical tabulation of the Eleventh U.S. Census of 1890 devised by Herman Hollerith

CENSUS MACHINE, 1890. Sorting and counting mechanism for the statistical tabulation of the Eleventh U.S. Census of 1890. Devised by Herman Hollerith

JOSEPH LOUIS LAGRANGE (1736-1813). French (Italian-born) mathematician and astronomer. Title page of the first edition of Lagranges Mechanique Analitique, Paris, 1788

CARTOON: SCIENCE, 1920. Scientists Calculating the Velocity Indicated by the Saying, " As Quick as a Wink." Cartoon, 1920, for Life magazine

ENGLISH TAX CARTOON, 1843. After the originals in the Queens collection

CENSUS TABULATOR, c1908. A U. S. Census Bureau tabulator and operator. Photograph, c1908
CENSUS TABULATOR, c1908. A U.S. Census Bureau tabulator and operator. Photograph, c1908

LEWIS: EXPEDITION SUMMARY. Estimate by Meriwether Lewis of the sum necessary to carry out the Mississippi expedition, 20 April 1803

FARMERs ALMANAC, 1793. Astronomical Calculations and other information for the month of March in a facsimile of the first Farmers Almanac, Boston, 1793

Princess Trixie the Highly Educated Horse
Princess Trixie, a Grey 1/2 Arab mare, who was highly educated and travelled the world - here she is advertising (" Grand" ) National Cash Registers, by keeping her accounts in check

Line engraving, American, c1870
ABACUS, c1870. Line engraving, American, c1870

One of Charles Babbages calculating engines. Wood engraving, 1864
BABBAGE CALCULATOR, 1864. One of Charles Babbages calculating engines. Wood engraving, 1864

Patent drawing, 1889, for Herman Holleriths first tabulating machine used in the Eleventh U. S. Census of 1890
CENSUS COUNTING MACHINE. Patent drawing, 1889, for Herman Holleriths first tabulating machine used in the Eleventh U.S. Census of 1890

Pythagoras (6th century BC), right, using counting table, competes against Boethius (Boece) using algorithms for speed at calculation

Charles Babbage (1791-1871) English mathematician. Difference engine for calculation of log tables, and Analytical engine. Wood engraving published London 1871

Prime numbers F008 / 3404
Single and double digit prime numbers

Intelligence, conceptual artwork F006 / 8692
Intelligence, conceptual computer artwork

Arithmometer, 1897 C016 / 2038
Arithmometer. Invented in 1820 and manufactured from the 1850s to 1915, these were the first widely used mechanical calculators

Faradays calculator. View of a cylindrical slide rule once owned by British scientist Michael Faraday (1791-1867). This is a very early example of a Fuller slide rule, made by W.F

Quantum computing C013 / 6173
Quantum computing. Artwork showing a string of data encoded in clusters of qubits, in such a way that quantum computation can be performed on a remote server, while still securely encrypted

BALANCE, 20th CENTURY. Modern analytical balance. Line engraving, mid-20th century

BALANCE, 20th CENTURY. Modern laboratory balance. Line engraving, mid 20th century

BALANCE, 20th CENTURY. Modern analytical chainweight balance. Line engraving, mid 20th century

MEASURING & MARKING STONE. A mason measuring and marking stone with rulers and calipers prepatory to cutting. Line engraving, French, 18th century

ABACUS, c1870. / nLine engraving, American, c1870
ABACUS, c1870. /nLine engraving, American, c1870

HOLLERITH TABULATOR, 1890. The electric tabulating machine devised by Herman Hollerith for tabulating the Eleventh U.S. Census of 1890. Contemporary wood engraving

ABACUS, 19th CENTURY. Line engraving

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"Unleashing the Power of Calculation: From Babbage's Engine to Quantum Computers" Step into a captivating journey through the evolution of calculation, where innovation and ingenuity have shaped our understanding of numbers. Transport yourself back in time to witness Charles Babbage's groundbreaking invention, the precursor to modern computers - Babbage's Engine. Marvel at its intricate gears and cogs that revolutionized computation. Fast forward to 1955 in Berkeley, where an anti-proton experiment pushed the boundaries of scientific discovery. The lecture theatre buzzes with excitement as researchers delve into uncharted territories. Delve further into history as you explore Pascal's calculator, a remarkable 17th-century artwork that paved the way for mechanical calculations. Admire its craftsmanship and envision how it transformed mathematical problem-solving. Discover ancient civilizations' counting systems like those used by Egyptians and Assyrians. Unearthed from the depths of time is a detail from the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus dating back to Egypt's Hyksos period – a testament to their advanced numerical prowess. Immerse yourself in G. H. Davis' Schneider contest nerve center, where minds collide in pursuit of computational excellence. Witness their dedication as they unravel complex problems with precision and skill. Venture beyond traditional calculations as hydrometers and hygrometers take center stage – instruments that measure density and humidity respectively, showcasing how mathematics extends its reach across various disciplines. Journey towards Fort Wright on Fishers Island, New York, where mortar calculations played a pivotal role in fortification strategies during times of conflict. Appreciate how precise measurements ensured strength and security. Peer into tomorrow’s realm with awe-inspiring quantum computer cores – marvels capable of processing vast amounts of information simultaneously using quantum bits or qubits; unlocking new frontiers yet unexplored. Finally, be captivated by Benito Bails’ "Elementos de Matematica, " an architectural masterpiece merging art and mathematics.