Photograph - Babbage Difference Engine No. 1, Specimen Piece, late 1990s

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Summary:: This is one of a series of photographic material in print, negative and/or digital formats covering CSIRAC machine and the people associated with it. The series was acquired from the University of Melbourne in 2003.
Description Of Content:: Specimen piece of the Babbage Difference Engine No. 1 - purchased by Powerhouse Museum, Sydney in 1996.. One of only six demonstration pieces assembled by Charles Babbage's son Henry, after his father's death, utilising parts manufactured for the original Difference Engine project. Image collected for inclusion in the book 'The Last of the First', published 2000.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from University of Melbourne (The) Computer Science & Software Engineering Department

Discipline:

Technology

Tagged with:	computing, csirac computer, first generation computers, mainframe computers
Themes this item is part of:	Computing Departments at the University of Melbourne, a brief history 1956-1996, Information & Communication Collection, CSIRAC Collection, Archival Paper Tape Reading Project for CSIRAC 12 Hole Paper Tapes
Primary Classification:	COMPUTING & CALCULATING
Secondary Classification:	Digital Computing
Tertiary Classification:	archival materials
Format:	Photograph: Black & White
Owner of Item Depicted:	Powerhouse Museum, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia, 1996 The Powerhouse Museum purchased the item photographed in 1996. Museum Victoria acquired the image for inclusion in a publication in 2000.
Collector:	CSIRAC History Team, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1995 or later
References:	Image collected for inclusion in McCann & Thorne, 'The Last of the First', The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2000.