Quote: Babbage's difference engine led to the analytic engine; built forge, foundry, workshops, and a fire-proof building; hired many assistants

Quotation

The circular arrangement of the axes of the Difference Engine around large central wheels led to the most extended prospects. The whole of arithmetic now appeared within the grasp of mechanism. A vague glimpse even of an Analytic Engine at length opened out, and I pursued with enthusiasm the shadowy vision. The drawings and the experiments were of the most costly kind. ... My coach-house was now converted into a forge and a foundry ... I built other extensive workshops myself, and had a fire- proof building for my drawings and draftsmen. ... except in rare cases, I would never do anything myself if I could afford to hire another person who could do it for me.   Google-1   Google-2

Published before 1923

Related Topics

Topic: history of computers (66 items)