alb3798737

Babbage's First Difference Engine

The difference engine was Charles Babbage's design for the first automatic mechanical calculator. The Difference Engine was a special purpose device intended for the production of mathematical tables. Babbage started work on the Difference Engine in 1823 with funding from the British Government. Only part of the complete engine, about 2000 parts, was built in 1832 by Babbage's engineer, Joseph Clement. This was demonstrated successfully by Babbage and still works perfectly. The engine was never completed and most of the 12,000 parts manufactured were later melted for scrap.

Share
Pinterest
Twitter
Facebook
Copy link
Email

Add to another lightbox

Do you already have an account? Sign in

You do not have an account? Register

Buy this image. Select the use:

Title: Babbage's First Difference Engine

Caption: The difference engine was Charles Babbage's design for the first automatic mechanical calculator. The Difference Engine was a special purpose device intended for the production of mathematical tables. Babbage started work on the Difference Engine in 1823 with funding from the British Government. Only part of the complete engine, about 2000 parts, was built in 1832 by Babbage's engineer, Joseph Clement. This was demonstrated successfully by Babbage and still works perfectly. The engine was never completed and most of the 12,000 parts manufactured were later melted for scrap.

Category: Science: History

Credit: Album / Science Source / New York Public Library

Releases: ? Model Release: No - ? Property Release: No
Rights questions?

Image size: 3600 × 4404 px | 45.4 MB

Print size: 30.5 × 37.3 cm | 1417.3 × 1733.9 in (300 dpi)

Keywords: 19TH CENTURY • BABBAGE'S FIRST DIFFERENCE ENGINE • BABBAGE • BW • CALCULATING MACHINE • CALCULATOR • CHARLES BABBAGE • COMPUTER SCIENCE • COMPUTER SCIENTIST • COMPUTER • DIFFERENCE ENGINE 1 • DIFFERENCE ENGINE • FATHER OF THE COMPUTER • HISTORIC • HISTORICAL • HISTORY • INVENTION • MATH • MATHEMATIC • MATHEMATICAL • MATHEMATICIAN • MATHEMATICS • MECHANICAL CALCULATOR • MECHANICAL ENGINEER • PROGRAMMABLE COMPUTER • SCIENCE • SCIENCE: HISTORY • TECHNOLOGY