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Gizmo Quiz

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Lilliabeth

5:00 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



What is this thing [pg.photos.yahoo.com]?

bunltd

5:10 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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does it engrave?

LisaB

bakedjake

5:10 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Administrator 10+ Year Member Top Contributors Of The Month



Is it used to measure humidity?

Lilliabeth

5:10 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Does not engrave

Lilliabeth

5:12 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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I cannot imagine a circumstance where it would be involved with humidity

bakedjake

5:12 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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What about earthquakes?

Lilliabeth

5:13 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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Earthquakes? Not a typical use of this device

SuzyUK

5:14 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



for Tensioning?

bunltd

5:15 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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Does it measure something?

Lilliabeth

5:15 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Not a device for tensioning, as a matter of fact, one of its weak points is slippage, otherwise it might be more broadly used.

Lilliabeth

5:16 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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Measure? YES! WooHoo - you are on to something there!

bakedjake

5:17 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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Some sort of depth measurment system?

Lilliabeth

5:19 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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depth? While it is capable of measuring a broad range of things, depth is not a typical employment of it.

bakedjake

5:23 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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8 minutes to poker tournament

Is it precision? Does it measure things that other equipment can't or measure improperly?

Lilliabeth

5:24 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Other than issues of slippage that I mentioned earlier, it is intended to be highly precise...

werty

5:26 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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Do you have any other pictures?

Does that "metal rod" run through the enclosure(top to bottom), and is that another metal rod running from left to right?

Lilliabeth

5:27 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



It was involved in a type of measure that was problematic for other measuring techniques of the day.

werty

5:30 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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Does it "record" something on to those white disks?

Lilliabeth

5:31 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I have other pics, but they really do not offer anything new.

I do not believe the metal rods penetrate the enclosure.

I believe the enclosure is merely used for storage of this precision instrument.

Lilliabeth

5:31 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



NOt a recorder of any kind.

But an excellent question.

Lilliabeth

5:33 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Big hint: is an analog computing device that pre-dates ENIAC -- it's your job to figure out specifically what kind of computing device.

Lilliabeth

5:37 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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Circa 1917, cataloged in a computer history exhibit

Lilliabeth

5:44 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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Anybody?

Lilliabeth

5:45 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Another hint: Hannibal Ford greatly improved this device in the 1940s

2oddSox

5:50 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

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Tidal wave predictor?

Lilliabeth

5:51 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Tidal waves? No

Lilliabeth

5:53 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Was used in WWI and WWII weapons firing calculations. What is it called?

willybfriendly

5:54 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Given the hints, it is either a naval gun sight or, and perhaps more likely, a torpedo sight. Still looking though

WBF

2oddSox

5:54 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Wheel and disc integrator? (buggered if i know :)

Lilliabeth

5:55 pm on Jul 24, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



catalogued in a computer history exhibit, 1917
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