Glory and Failure: The Difference Engines of Johann Müller, Charles Babbage, and Georg and Edvard Sheutz (History of Computing) [Hardcover]

Michael Lindgren (Author), Craig G. McKay (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0262121468 | ISBN-13: 978-0262121460 | Publication Date: June 28, 1990 | Edition: 2nd

The first attempts to mechanize the production of numerical tables were remarkable in conception coming at a time when a "computer" was in fact a person rather than a machine. This book is the first to provide a unified picture of the difference engines that were the mechanical predecessors of today's digital computer, to emphasize them as part of the history of numerical tables, and to give equal weight to the technical and social aspects of their creation.Lindgren analyzes the difference engines of Müller and Babbage and the mathematical principles on which they are based, tells the story of how Georg and Edvard Scheutz learned about Babbage's engine, discusses the design and operation of the Scheutzs' machine, and tells why Babbage failed technically and the Scheutzes failed commercially. The often detailed technical descriptions bring to light the inventors' own ways of thinking as work on the engines progressedMichael Lindgren is Curator at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Lindgren's prolific research brings not only their story, but the whole period to life. A 'must read' for Babbage fans." Charles Halt Annals of the History of Computing

"The author manages to investigate with equal enthusiasm the lives and deeds of the inventors and the structure and principles of their inventions, giving us a fascinating and unique study of personalities at work and countries in change." Ralph Bülow , Technology and Culture

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Swedish

Product Details

• Hardcover: 415 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press; 2nd edition (June 28, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262121468
• ISBN-13: 978-0262121460
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #827,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A glorius story about two almost unknown swedish inventors, September 3, 2001

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"tinaskytt" (Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Glory and Failure: The Difference Engines of Johann Müller, Charles Babbage, and Georg and Edvard Sheutz (History of Computing) (Hardcover)

The story of Georg and Edvard Scheutz is a well written and entertaining scientific book. A young schoolboy, Edvard Scheutz, succeeds in his kitchen to construct a difference engine that works better then that of the famous Charles Babbage. The story of how father and son struggle together to make their difference engine a profitable invention is incredibly interesteting both in a technical and economical aspect but also in a social aspect. Interesting is of course also why a genious invention like theirs becomes such a financial failure.
This is a book to read both for those who have a general interest in history of techology and for those who have a particular interest in swedish history and inventors.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars another failure, alongside Babbage and Lovelace, July 3, 2006

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W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Glory and Failure: The Difference Engines of Johann Müller, Charles Babbage, and Georg and Edvard Sheutz (History of Computing) (Hardcover)

So it wasn't just Babbage. He is now belatedly well known. Considered to have built the first computer. Though it was never fully functional. But what Lindgren has uncovered is that around the same time, Muller and the Sheutzs in Sweden were trying roughly the same approach, independently of Babbage.

Both sides hit upon the idea of replacing a human with automated machinery, in a programmable fashion. The Swedes also seemed to have within themselves the equivalent talent of Ada Lovelace, in being able to devise software.

But both groups failed within their lifetimes. A bridge too far. At best, their efforts were seen as intellectual curiosities by their contemporaries. If anything, this research by Lindgren reinforces a common conclusion about Babbage's work. The Swedes' efforts can be seen roughly as a parallel experiment to Babbage. His failure is considered by us [20th-21st centuries] to be due to the primitive technology that he had to start with. The failure of the Swedes to commercialise their work suggests that it wasn't Babbage's fault that he failed. Or theirs that they failed.

It would be 90 years later, before economically viable machines could be made.