What is the first computer?

From: William Donzelli <william_at_ans.net>
Date: Wed Jun 17 13:38:44 1998

> Do you have any diagrams of the mechanical fire control computers?

I have access to the maintenance manuals for the later (ca.1940) types,
but they are very thick books jammed with drawings. Copying one would be a
real chore. Next time I am in Fall River I can see what I can find in
terms of drawings of the "big picture".

The computers have _thousands_ of precision moving parts. The nice thing
is that they never broke. I am sure that one could lube up various bits of
one today and it would perfectly. One, a torpedo data computer on the
Submarine Pampanito, has gotten this treatment and does in fact work just
as it did 50 years ago.

William Donzelli
william_at_ans.net
Received on Wed Jun 17 1998 - 13:38:44 BST