Before digital computers ...

[CheapSlider]

... there was the **broken link removed**.

Tim Robinson has even built one in mecano.


( ... makes a change from electronics)

 

[Hero999]

Analogue computers the oldest computers and are still occasionally used for high speed integration and differentiation and other functions that are easy with analogue component but hard for micros.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogue_computer

 

[ericgibbs]

Analogue computers the oldest computers and are still occasionally used for high speed integration and differentiation and other functions that are easy with analogue component but hard for micros.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogue_computer

If you consider the Babbage Difference engine, circa 1800's as an analog computer you are right.

The first electronic digital programmable computer was designed and built in England in the 1940's.
Ten, Colossus computers were used to decode enemy cypher codes

The electronics were designed, an partly paid for by Tommy Flowers a post office engineer, it had 1800 vacuum tubes.

The main programming was done by Alan Turin, considered to be inventor of the electronic programmable computer.

The Stantec Zebra electronic computer was built during the 1960's, I used to service a couple during 1970's.

The late Concorde aircraft used an analog computer 'fly by wire' system.

 

[ericgibbs]

hi,

I didn't know they had rebuilt the Colossus computer.

A link, if you are interested in how the first programmable electronic computer was built in the war years of the 1940's.
After the war it was still declared top secret for a very long time, so British engineering lost the lead in computers.

https://www.codesandciphers.org.uk/lorenz/rebuild.htm

 

[CheapSlider]

LEO the Lyon

Perhaps a surprising thing was that Lyons tea shops were pioneers in computing with **broken link removed**. Their Lyons Electronic Office went on to become ICL (International Computing Limited)

 

[ericgibbs]

Perhaps a surprising thing was that Lyons tea shops were pioneers in computing with **broken link removed**. Their Lyons Electronic Office went on to become ICL (International Computing Limited)

Gosh, I forgotten about that!, it brings back old memories.

We used ultra-sonic delay lines in the R.A.F [1950's]. To get rid of ground clutter in radar signals.

In the 1960's we used English Electric A.P.E. Automated Programming Equipment for Process Control in our steel plants.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

There's a museum in Sheffield (Kelham Island http://www.sheffieldontheinternet.co.uk/kelham.html ) and they have a steam engine from a steel rolling mill - they actually run it to show you how it worked.

It's absolutely HUGE, and because you have to roll the steel while it's still hot, it's VERY fast - and it changes from full speed forwards, to full reverse, in about half a second - very scarely to watch!. Probably used in the same plants as the APE gear?.

 

[ericgibbs]

There's a museum in Sheffield (Kelham Island http://www.sheffieldontheinternet.co.uk/kelham.html ) and they have a steam engine from a steel rolling mill - they actually run it to show you how it worked.

It's absolutely HUGE, and because you have to roll the steel while it's still hot, it's VERY fast - and it changes from full speed forwards, to full reverse, in about half a second - very scarely to watch!. Probably used in the same plants as the APE gear?.

Nigel,
I worked for some time at the Parkgate Iron & Steel works in Rotherham, the APE was used to control the 'bloom' rolling mill.
Thats the one that rolls down the 'ingots' to 'blooms', the type you saw at the museum. You can imagine the anti-electronic environment and they never wanted to stop working so you could maintain it.

When nationalised worked at Steel Peach & Tozer, Attercliffe.

If you get the chance, get a tour round the Corus [ex British Steel] at Scunthorpe, they do/did have public tour groups