"Description of a Calculating Machine, Invented by J.W. Nystrom, Philadelphia", in Journal of the Franklin Institute

NYSTROM, John W.

Published by Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, 1851

About this Item

(NYSTROM, John W.) "Description of a Calculating Machine, Invented by J.W. Nystrom, Philadelphia", in Journal of the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, 1851, volume 21 (third series) whole no. volume 51; printed at the Franklin Institute, 1851. The whole volume (444pp, 12 folding charts, 10 engraved plates) offered, with the Nystrom instrument on pp 262-266 (and also a one-paragraph description of the instrument from the patent application found on p 241). Bound in library cloth with a few scant markings and stamps, plus two bookplates. Very sturdily bound with reinforced hinges. A GOOD copy. [+] ALSO bound with: "Description of a Screw Propeller, patented by John William Nystrom", pp 345-350, with two engraved plates. Many other papers of interest as well. [+] "John Williams Nystrom (Swedish: Johan Vilhelm Nyström,1825 1885) was a Swedish born, American civil engineer, inventor, and author. He served as an assistant Secretary and Chief Engineer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War.Nystrom received many patents for inventions such as a marine steam engine, a refrigerator, and calculating machines. His slide ruler invention (U. S. patent #7961) was filed with the United States Patent Office on 4 March 1851.Nystrom is most notable for his proposal to switch from decimal to hexadecimal as defined in his 1862 publication titled Project of a New System of Arithmetic, Weight, Measure and Coins, Proposed to be Called the Tonal System, with Sixteen to the Base."[+] Also: In an article of Scientific American the device was hailed as the most important one ever brought before the public. Despite all of the accolades however, it was never widely accepted, and no more than 100 devices were ever produced. This may have been because the cost (there were $10, $15, and $20 models, a huge sum in 1850s), or because the instrument was never well advertised or marketed."--Computer History Museum online (Nystrom). Also see Donald Knuth, "The Art of Computer Programming" section 4.1 (which is in volume 2).

Seller Inventory # ABE-1635173947085

Bibliographic Details

• Title: "Description of a Calculating Machine, Invented by J.W. Nystrom, Philadelphia", in Journal of the Franklin Institute
• Publisher: Franklin Institute, Philadelphia
• Publication Date: 1851
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Computing History
  • Technology
  • Social History