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Description: | The collection includes material that has been in use in the University of Aberdeen, primarily for the purpose of teaching and research and was brought together by a distinguished line of past Professors of Natural Philosophy. Included amongst these are Patrick Copland, William Knight, James Clerk Maxwell, David Thomson, Charles Niven and Nobel Prize winning GP Thomson. The earliest material dates from the mid 18th century and the most recent material from the 21st century. As a result of its continuity the collection provides an important material record which Aberdeen University Senior Lecturer Dr B Marsden describes as "charting the change in practical and popular scientific culture". Computing and Calculating covers mechanical and electrical calculating machines from the pre-war Brunsviga (likely introduced by Prof. John Carroll, co - founder of the 'Admiralty Computing Service' in 1943) to the digital desk-top machine of the 1970s, a collection of slide-rules from the general purpose to the specialist, a range of digital and analogue computers from the 1970s to recent examples. Also included are peripherals such as a range of magnetic storage media, cards, card sorters, printers, tapes and tape reader, and example software. Computers include both a rack-mounted and a 'coffee table' version of the PDP11, the PDP12, MicroVax and other Dec examples used for scientific computing, HP workstations; microcomputers include those of the BBC, IBM, Commodore PET and Vic 20; early portables such as the Epson HX-20, Huskey Hunter and examples from Toshiba and Compaq. The analogue computers include a large EAL digital/analogue hybrid system used for engineering simulations. The collection also includes example technologies from a large Honeywell mainframe of the 1970s and example circuit boards and components from a range of computers. Some of this material is accompanied by manuals and guides. The Natural Philosophy collection is supported by an informative and detailed webpage which includes links to articles related to the collection, information pages for selected items and documentation for an exhibition 'Precisely' which featured the connections between the museum collection of Natural Philosophy and documentation held in the University's Special Libraries and Archives. Access to the collection is restricted and all enquires should be sent to Dr J Reid, the honorary curator. Information compiled in consultation with the Honorary Curator.
Super collection: Natural Philosophy Collection.
Objects: spiral slide rule Otis King's Patent Calculator model K; paper tape; Honeywell computer central processor stack; Computer operating panel; Panel; Control panel; Data address display; Single computer card punch; Workstation graphics board; circuit board Sun computer; Microcomputer; Digital MicroVAX Computer; Decmate Computer; Card sorter and counter; Computer software; BBC Micro computer; Videogame software; Workstation central processing board; Electronic calculators; Honeywell computer control panel; Honeywell computer door panel; pocket calculator; Lineprinter character band; Ferrite computer memory; External modem; twin disc drive for BBC computer; HP 35 calculator with charger; Hewlett-Packard 9845A; Honeywell mainframe computer disk unit; BBC Master computer in custom briefcase; mechanical calculator; computer digital decscope; automatic calculator; electric calculator; Commodore computer; Commodore printer; paper - tape punch; paper for tape punch; pocket calculator; hand calculator; printing calculator; Single computer card punch; computer punched cards; Soemtron calculator; calculator; box of risc 68000 boards with LCD displays; circuit board - microprocessor teaching board; Huskey Hunter portable computer; Epson HX - 20 portable computer. | Subjects: | History of Science. | Temporal: | 1940-2000 | Source: | University of Aberdeen | Address: | King's College,
AB24 3FX | Identifier: | ABDNP:CLD20 | Relation: | ABDUA:CLD00 | Go to resource |
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