C:\Games\DarkAges\Calc_Machines
Calculate with numbers up to 9,999,999
The Pascaline is a mechanical calculating machine invented by Blaise Pascal in 1642. For a long time, it was considered the first mechanical calculating machine ever.
At first, Pascal’s invention was called machine d’arithmétique in French, then roue pascaline („Pascal’s wheel“), and finally pascaline. Pascal began work on his calculating machine when he was 19 years old, constructing it to lighten the workload of his father, who was a tax official. It was made of brass, ivory and wood, among other materials. Throughout his life, Pascal continued to refine the mechanism, making about 50 versions of the Pascaline. The Pascaline had metal dials on which the desired numbers could be set. The results appeared in boxes above the dials. The prototype had only a few dials, later versions had a larger number and could calculate with numbers up to 9,999,999. Direct subtraction was not possible with the Pascaline; the complementary method had to be used.
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Table of contents
| Yr | Name | Link |
|---|---|---|
| — | Introduction |  |
| 1623 | Schickard calculating machine |  |
| 1642 | Pascaline | |
| 1671 | Four-Species Relay Roll |  |
| 1805 | Jacquard weaving loom |  |
| 1837 | Difference engine |  |
| 1843 | Analytical Engine |  |
| 1890 | Hollerithmachine |  |
| 1936 | Turing machine |  |