Barus Harmonic Synthesizer. Designed by physicist Carl Barus (1856-1935) to study various wave forms. Barus wrote that this wave machine was, "sufficiently comprehensive in design to embody in a single mechanism the types of harmonic motion met with in acoustics, light, electricity and elsewhere, with a clear bearing on their kinematic analysis. ... I [believe] the apparatus to be more complete than any similar machine which I have seen, and having, after considerable experience, become assured of its usefulness in class work." Carl Barus, "The Objective Presentation of Harmonic Motion," Science, New Series, 9, no. 220 (17 March 1899): 385-405.
This unit was disassembled for shipping and is stored in sections: one main section with the discs (13.75" h x 33" w x 24" d) and a bundle of connecting rods (8" h x 48" w x 13" d). There is a frame with indicating tines for showing compressional effects with the bundle. The latter is noted as "with coil springs and wires on ends. "y" and perpendicular".
This is a large acoustic instrument with 14 universal resonators. The “Max Kohl A.G. / Fabrikphysikalischer Apparate / Chemnitz 1 SA.” indicates a date of 1908 or later.
Ref: Max Kohl A.G., Physical Apparatus (Chemnitz, [1912]), vol. 2, pp. 458-459.
This short brass piece holds a ring that rotates on ball bearings and a gear. A mark on the gear reads: 146335 5. A mark on the ring reads: FAFNIR S [. . .] K USA..
Parts of the Bush differential analyzer surviving at the Smithsonian have museum numbers MA.314824 and 1983.3002.01 through 1983.3002.89.
In this component, a metal gear is attached above a metal plate. The other end of the plate supports another metal plate and is held to it by a nut and bolt.
Parts of the Bush differential analyzer at NMAH have museum numbers MA.314824 and 1983.3002.01 through 1983.3002.89.
This component includes a gear constrained to rotate on a shaft with the limits of its motion set by a mechanism moving inside a wheel. A mark on it reads: MADE IN U.S.A. N D 39 R.
Parts of the Bush differential analyzer surviving at the Smithsonian have museum numbers MA.314824 and 1983.3002.01 through 1983.3002.89.
This component has an aluminum frame with parts of other metals such as steel and brass. It includes shafts, gears, springs, and ball bearings. A metal label on one side reads: BUR. ORD. ASSEMBLY DRG. NO. (/) 186040 U.S. No. 75. Numerous parts have separate numbers
A prior cataloging sheet indicates that this part had number 36 in the Ford Instrument Company collection. However, a tag with this number is on object 1982.0751.17. According to the donor’s list, number 36 was a component integrator used on dummy director Mark I which was built for testing purposes.
This steel shaft runs through a series of steel rings, each with a gear next to it. One ring is attached to one gear. Each ring has one protrusion. Seventeen rings are of one size, twenty-two of a larger size. Each ring is marked: BOSTON. The Boston Gear Works manufactured several parts used in the Bush differential analyzer.
Parts of the Bush differential analyzer at NMAH have museum numbers MA.314824 and 1983.3002.01 through 1983.3002.89.
Each of these three small brass gears has a small cylinder attached through the center and a tiny gear at the end of the cylinder. One component has another gear that fits over the cylinder.
Parts of the Bush differential analyzer surviving at the Smithsonian have museum numbers MA.314824 and 1983.3002.01 through 1983.3002.89.
This component has an aluminum frame and three gears on top. It appears to have two similar mechanisms on the inside – each includes a shaft, a screw with linkages, and a cylinder turned by rotating a gear on the outside. These gears are unequal but are linked by a third, double gear on the outside. A number on the side of the frame with gears reads: 70-577. A mark on both of the mechanisms that move along screws on the inside reads: 51-520. A plasticized tag on the side of the frame reads: #78a.
Objects 1982.0751.35, 1982.0751.36, and 1982.0751.37 are stored together in a wooden box lined with fabric that has a black handle. A tag on it reads: #78 Integrators 78a, 78b, 78c. The handle has two paper labels attached to it with string. One reads: Grand Central Terminal (/) Red Cap Service (/) Serial Number 35773 Red Cap Number 137. The other reads: No. 83583 Q.
According to the accession file, this is an integrator described as: Two unit used on ASN-7 Aircraft Navigation System.
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.
Each of these five steel gears has a hole in the middle for a shaft. The smallest of the three is marked: GA40. The next largest is marked: GA41. The largest is marked: GA42. All are marked: BOSTON.
Parts of the Bush differential analyzer surviving at the Smithsonian have museum numbers MA.314824 and 1983.3002.01 through 1983.3002.89.
Instruments for finding the area bounded by curved lines (integrators) date from the nineteenth century. This twentieth century example is based on a mechanism invented by British engineer James Thomson and used by his brother William (later Lord Kelvin) in constructing the first harmonic analyzer in 1876. The object shows modifications and refinements made by the American inventor Hannibal Ford to assure high accuracy and durability. It has two stacked balls, held by stiff springs, between a disk and cylinder, each made of hard steel. The balls are held in place by pairs of small rollers in a carriage. This design permitted the carriage to move even when the disk was not moving, a feature that is necessary when integrating with respect to a variable other than time. From about 1915 into the 1940s, Ford's integrators were used by the U. S. Navy in devices for aiming guns on ships.
The frame is painted white.
A mark on the side of the frame, facing up, reads: 629823. A plasticized tag reads: #78b. The object is described in the accession file as a “4” Integrator cast frame construction of a design later than Item No. 7 used on Range Keepers and Computers.” Item No. 7 is 1982.0751.07.
Objects 1982.0751.35, 1982.0751.36, and 1982.0751.37 are stored together in a wooden box lined with fabric that has a black handle. A tag on it reads: #78 Integrators 78a, 78b, 78c. The handle has two paper labels attached to it with string. One reads: Grand Central Terminal (/) Red Cap Service (/) Serial Number 35773 Red Cap Number 137. The other reads: No. 83583 Q.
Compare 1982.0751.06 and MA.319517.
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.
This component has a flat steel base painted black. This holds a brass spur gear linked to a gear with a dial on it. The dial is numbered 0; 2; 4; 6; 8; 10; 12; 12; 10; 8; 6; 4; 2. It has a piece of tape on it numbered from 13 to 26.
Parts of the Bush differential analyzer surviving at the Smithsonian have museum numbers MA.314824 and 1983.3002.01 through 1983.3002.89.
These three funnel-shaped pieces are brass with a steel rim. Each has eight holes around the side. Space between brass piece and ring might accommodate a pulley.
Parts of the Bush differential analyzer surviving at the Smithsonian have museum numbers MA.314824 and 1983.3002.01 through 1983.3002.89.
Instruments for finding the area bounded by curved lines (integrators) date from the nineteenth century. This twentieth century example is based on a mechanism invented by British engineer James Thomson and used by his brother William (later Lord Kelvin) in constructing the first harmonic analyzer in 1876. The object shows modifications and refinements made by the American inventor Hannibal Ford to assure high accuracy and durability. It has two stacked balls, held by stiff springs, between a disk and cylinder, each made of hard steel. The balls are held in place by pairs of small rollers in a carriage. This design permitted the carriage to move even when the disk was not moving, a feature that is necessary when integrating with respect to a variable other than time. From about 1915 into the 1940s, Ford's integrators were used by the U. S. Navy in devices for aiming guns on ships.
Reference:
A. Ben Clymer, "The Mechanical Analog Computers of Hannibal Ford and William Newell," Annals of the History of Computing, 15, #2, 1993, 19-34.