Meccano differential analyser, 1947

Made:
1947 in Cambridge, Liverpool and Manchester
maker:
Douglas Rayner Hartree
and
Meccano Limited
Working model of a differential analyser constructed from the Main part of a working model of a differential analyser Main part of a working model of a differential analyser Main part of a working model of a differential analyser Main part of a working model of a differential analyser Main part of a working model of a differential analyser Main part of a working model of a differential analyser Main part of a working model of a differential analyser Main part of a working model of a differential analyser Main part of a working model of a differential analyser Main part of a working model of a differential analyser

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Working model of a differential analyser constructed from the
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Main part of a working model of a differential analyser
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Main part of a working model of a differential analyser
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Main part of a working model of a differential analyser
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Main part of a working model of a differential analyser
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Main part of a working model of a differential analyser
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Main part of a working model of a differential analyser
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Main part of a working model of a differential analyser
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Main part of a working model of a differential analyser
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Main part of a working model of a differential analyser
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Main part of a working model of a differential analyser
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Working model of a differential analyser constructed from the construction toy, Meccano, by Prof. Douglas Rayner Hartree and Arthur Porter at University of Manchester, England, 1934, and reconstructed by Prof. Douglas Rayner Hartree at University of Cambridge, England, 1947.

A differential analyser is an analogue computer designed to solve equations using a wheel and disk mechanism. This model was built using the toy Meccano over 18 months by research student Arthur Porter. Porter was working under the supervision of Professor Douglas Rayner Hartree (1897-1958), a professor of theoretical physics, who was waiting for a full-size analyser to be built. Although it needed setting and operating by hand, the machine was able to solve difficult equations.

Details

Category:
Mathematics
Object Number:
1949-134
Materials:
wood (unidentified), meccano and metal (unknown)
Measurements:
overall: 120 mm x 300 mm x 1500 mm, 8.14 kg
type:
model - representation
credit:
Donated by Richard Hartree

Parts

Meccano differential analyser, 1947

Meccano differential analyser, 1947

Main part of a working model of a differential analyser constructed from the construction toy, Meccano, made by Professor Douglas Hartree and Arthur Porter at University of Manchester, England, 1934. Reconstructed by Prof. Douglas Hartree at University of Cambridge, England, 1947