Mechanical Computing: Putting the science in steampunk

[Christopher Paul]

Fellow Travellers,

 

I ran across a series of videos from the 1950's (links below) that describe the basic mechanics of a WW2 fire control computer used in naval warfare.

 

It's a fascinating series of 7 videos describing in detail the various computational mechanics used to compute a constantly changing firing solution... one that would not be out of place on a Steampunk vessel; be it an airship, landship, naval vessel or locomotive. Using the basic mechanics shown, I can imagine a whole host of other machines that could be devised and integrated into art and stories.

 

It kind of challenged me to make things more real in my work, to use gears as they were originally designed and not necessarily as window dressing... but then again, the geek in me wants to actually build some of those.

 

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

 

 

Part 1

 

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

 

Part 5

Park 6

Part 7

[Nicole Ross]

Thanks! This is on my to-watch list.

[Jonathan D. Beer]

Absolutely fascinating - I am completely enthralled by these videos.  I have been thinking for a long time about mechanical computers, and how they would be used on the airships in my alt-history world.  Here they are, and with extremely well-made videos to explain them!