Philipp Matthäus Hahn
In 1770 the Württemberg pastor, astronomer, engineer, and entrepreneur Philipp Matthäus Hahn turned his attention to the creation of calculating machines, devising a simple calculation device (so called Rechentrommel – calculation drum), then an adding device, and finally a more elaborate cylindrical calculating machine. First two devices were not so..Read More
Charles Stanhope
The British statesman and versatile scientist Charles Stanhope, Viscount Mahon, was a very strange peer—a full of temperament man with enormous mental energies, voice, and earnestness, who devoted a large part of his time and income not to pleasures and parties, but to experiments, science and philosophy. Interestingly, in 1770s..Read More
Johann Helfrich Müller
The German engineer and master builder—Johann Helfrich Müller (1746-1830) is a very interesting figure in the world of mechanic calculators, not only for his small calculator, essentially an improved version of the machine of Philipp Matthäus Hahn, which he created, but for his plans to build a difference engine almost..Read More
Johann Conrad Gütle
The first man, who was flashed upon to use the electricity for calculation purposes, was probably a German mechanic, showman, electrifier and miracle healer, physicist, chemist, teacher, author, and mail order company owner, named Johann Conrad Gütle (1747-1827). Gütle was a self-taught scientist, who from 1780 worked as a traveling..Read More
Jacob Auch
Jacob Auch (1765-1842) was a very good German mechanic and clock-maker, who created about 1790 a calculating machine not of original construction, but of very good workmanship. Auch was born in Echterdingen, a small town in the district of Esslingen, in Baden-Württemberg. In the same town, from 1781 till 1790..Read More
Johann Reichold
The German pfarrer Johann Reichold (1753-1798) was a bright-minded parson, who was not so interested in theological problems, but preferred to spend his time studying and lecturing sciences, especially philosophy, mathematics and engineering. In 1792 he devised a very interesting arithmetische maschine (arithmetic machine), rather similar to the device of..Read More
Johann Christoph Schuster
In the end of 1770s the Württemberg pastor and genius engineer Philipp Matthäus Hahn hired for his workshop in Kornwestheim as an apprentice the young Franconian Johann Christoph Schuster (1759-1823). Schuster remained in the Hahn’s workshop for two and a half years, then in 1785 he married his sister Maria..Read More
Johann Jakob Sauter
In 1767 the pastor (and self-taught genius engineer) of Onstmettingen village in Württemberg—Philipp Matthäus Hahn designed, and together with his friend and local schoolmaster Philipp Gottfried Schaudt constructed a big brass and iron astronomical clock, presented to Duke Karl Eugen, the Herzog of Württemberg, who admired the inventor and ordered..Read More
Joseph-Marie Jacquard
Joseph-Marie Jacquard was not the inventor of the programmable loom, as it is generally acknowledged, in fact he created an attachment to the loom, which played a very important role not only in the textile industry, but also in development of other programmable machines, such as computers, for example the..Read More