Photo of Babbage's Difference Engine

A photograph of Science Museum object 1862-89 with a caption that reads '26592 Babage's Difference Engine. This shows a small portion of the machine invented by Charles Babbage, for calculating and printing tables of numbers. The construction of the machine was commenced in 1823 by authority and at the cost of the Government, the work being suspended in 1833. The whole engine, when completed, was intended to have 20 places of figures and 6 orders of difference. (see "Babbage's Calculating Engines" published by Spon 1889) 1862 Lent by the Office of Works'.