Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949

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Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, by National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, England, 1949. The construction of the (ACE) pilot model was based on designs by Alan Turing.

Details

Category:
Computing & Data Processing
Object Number:
1956-152
Materials:
metal, plastic, glass, composites
Measurements:
control desk: 1410 mm x 1200 mm x 980 mm, 117 kg
mainframe: 1915 mm x 2720 mm x 1025 mm, 599 kg
type:
computer
credit:
From the National Physical Laboratory

Parts

Main frame, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949

Main frame, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, made at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, London, England, and some of the valves by Osram, Germany, 1949. The construction of the (ACE) pilot model was based on designs by Alan Turing.

More

In 1945, while working at the National Physical Laboratory, the British mathematician Alan Turing formulated the design of an 'automatic computing engine' (ACE), which would have been the world's first general-purpose computer. He left the NPL in 1948, but this smaller 'pilot', or prototype, was made in his absence in 1950.

Although just a pilot version, this remarkable machine found a range of applications including working out the stresses on an aeroplane's fuselage.

Measurements:
overall: 1930 mm x 2720 mm x 1040 mm, 599kg
Materials:
steel (metal) , aluminium (alloy) , tin (metal) , copper (alloy) , metal (unknown) , wiring solder , electrical components , paper (fibre product) , textile and bakelite
Object Number:
1956-152 Pt1
type:
mainframe and computer
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Set of 45 chasses and valves and one 'Proud Stander', for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1950

Set of 45 chasses and valves and one 'Proud Stander', for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1950

Set of 45 chasses and valves and one "Proud Stander", for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, by National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, England, 1950

Object Number:
1956-152 Pt2
type:
component - object
Control desk, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949

Control desk, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949

Control desk, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, made at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, London, England, 1949. The construction of the (ACE) pilot model was based on designs by Alan Turing.

Long mercury delay line, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949

Long mercury delay line, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949

Long mercury delay line, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, by National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, England, 1949. The construction of the (ACE) pilot model was based on designs by Alan Turing.

Materials:
steel (metal) and mercury
Object Number:
1956-152 Pt4
type:
computer memory
Short mercury delay line, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949

Short mercury delay line, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949

Short mercury delay line, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, by National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, England, 1949. The construction of the (ACE) pilot model was based on designs by Alan Turing.

Materials:
steel (metal) and mercury
Object Number:
1956-152 Pt5
type:
computer memory