What is this used for??

[Ben]

While not an answer the cahllenge of thoult I thought some of you may be interested in thses videos available on YouTube that give you an idea of what the early days of computers was like and the amazing things you can do with mechanical insturments.

Navy Gun Fire Control computer mark I

My early training in the Navy included that material becuase most of the computers used in the Navy back then were still mechanical.

Ben 

[altenbach]

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@Ben wrote:

... back then were still mechanical.

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Fancy! All I ever used was similar to this: 😄

 

[thoult]

For any who might have been wondering...

Spoiler

My object was a planimeter. Used for measuring areas mechanically, the three things I've used them for are:

- Estimating plot acreages on a map
- Estimating moment of area for complex beam profiles
- Most commonly, measuring the area on an indicator graph for a steam engine, used to determine power output of a steam engine

[Yamaeda]

I love the embellishment on the tongs(?), you don't see that nowadays.

/Y

[Henrik_Volkers]

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@Yamaeda wrote:

I love the embellishment on the tongs(?), you don't see that nowadays.

/Y

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Rigth 🙂

Design ( embellishment) of instruments and tools at that time was not dictated by controllers and simple functional design. The joy of using is also visual.

Take a look at old high quality hand saws, the handle and etched or engraves pictures / markings 🙂  

Stuff you buy once, use it your live time and hand them over to the next generation.

[altenbach]

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@thoult wrote:

 If I may, here's one from me. I've been looking for one of these for a long time for my father, but am tempted to just make one myself. As a result, I've had to steal a picture from the web.

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Wow, ancient thread to revive 😄

Digging through my old collection of purely analog measuring devices, here's a picture of my planimeter. Swiss made and in fantastic shape.... (there are even some handwritten calibration notes 🐵

I also have a vintage caliper that is so accurate that you need to equilibrate it at 20 degrees C before using! The proverbial Swiss precision!

[Henrik_Volkers]

Nice ones 🙂

Some month ago I visited* a calibration lab that still have one skilled person that is able  to rework the surfaces of such calipers.

*) well , I was an assessor, opens some doors also to other labs..