Analog Computing Component - S Cam

Description:

This flat aluminum cam is in the shape of a highly irregular heptagon, An S-shaped space about 1 cm. wide is cut out of it, as well as two holes with threads (as on a screw assembly) and three without threads. The holes without threads are labeled ¼, 3/16, and 7/16 – these numbers represent the diameters of the holes in inches. Another mark reads: item 16.

Ford Instrument Company designed and produced cams like this one to be part of mechanisms that carried out calculations (analog computing devices). According the accession file, this cam was “Probably from the MK 32 Gun Director.” This gun director was in use during World War II, hence the rough date assigned to the object.

References:

A.B. Clymer, "The Mechanical Analog Computers of Hannibal Ford and William Newell," Annals of the History of Computing, 15, #2, 1993, 19-34.

Accession file.

Date Made: ca 1940

Maker: Ford Instrument Company

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: New York, Queens, Long Island City

Subject: Mathematics

Subject:

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Mathematics

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Ford Instrument Company, Division of Sperry Rand Corporation

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1982.0751.13Catalog Number: 1982.0751.13Accession Number: 1982.0751

Object Name: analog computing component

Physical Description: aluminum (overall material)Measurements: overall: .3 cm x 11.6 cm x 6 cm; 1/8 in x 4 9/16 in x 2 3/8 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-09b3-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_690585

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