1 of 5000

|

metal prints device metal prints science metal prints technology metal prints technological metal prints history metal prints historic metal prints historical metal prints famous metal prints important metal prints notable metal prints well-known metal prints invention metal prints wilhelm schickard metal prints schickard metal prints apparatus metal prints

photographs device photos science photos technology photos technological photos history photos historic photos historical photos famous photos important photos notable photos well-known photos invention photos wilhelm schickard photos schickard photos apparatus photos

Add This Artwork to Your Favorites Collection

Comment

Add This Artwork to Your Favorites Collection

Comment

In 1623 and 1624, Wilhelm Schickard, in letters that he sent to Kepler, reported his design and construction of what he referred to as an "arithmeticum organum" (arithmetical instrument) that he has invented, but which would later be described as a Rechenuhr (calculating clock). The machine was designed to assist in all the four basic functions of arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division). The machine could add and subtract six-digit numbers, and indicated an overflow of this capacity by ringing a bell. The adding machine in the base was primarily provided to assist in the difficult task of adding or multiplying two multi-digit numbers. To this end an ingenious arrangement of rotatable Napier's bones were mounted on it. It even had an additional "memory register" to record intermediate calculations. Schickard hired a professional, a clockmaker named Johann Pfister to build a finished machine, but it was destroyed in a fire. Schickard abandoned his project soon aft...