Brass Brain was the equal of 100 mathematicians, weighted a mere 2500 lbs

Imagine the fearful gnashings of mathematicians in November, 1928 upon reading this account of the USGS's new "brass brain," which could "do the work of 100 trained mathematicians" in calculating tides:

The machine weighs 2,500 pounds. It is 11 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 6 feet high. Its whirring cogs are enclosed in a housing of mahogany and glass.

Earthquakes, fresh-water floods, and strong winds that cannot be predicted affect the accuracy of the Brass Brain to a degree. Nevertheless 70% of the predicted tides agree within five minutes of the observed tide. The Coast and Geodetic Survey issues an annual bulletin in which it lists the forthcoming tides in 84 ports of the world. The report contains upwards of a million figures, all compiled by the Brass Brain. It has been estimated that the Brass Brain saves the government $125,000 each year in salaries of mathematicians who would be required to take its place.

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[#1 posted by Glossolalia Black , May 12, 2008 5:10 AM]

So, each mathematician would have to be portly or at the least very muscular for it to be... er... quid pro quo? Am I doing my math right?

And mathematicians made $1,250 a year? That's 1928 bucks, though. Which are worth more than 1929 bucks, I'm guessing.

[#2 posted by buddy66 , May 12, 2008 7:05 AM]

Wow. A hundred 25 lb. mathematicians. Must have looked like Santa's mathshop.

[#3 posted by MarlboroTestMonkey7 , May 12, 2008 8:10 AM]

More power to you, mathematician busting contraption.

[#4 posted by Jake0748 , May 12, 2008 9:48 AM]

They built an improvet model that would also predict good times for fishing. It was call the Bass Brain.

[#5 posted by Trantor , May 12, 2008 11:01 AM]

More pics here: http://www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/predma2.html

[#6 posted by Maddy , May 12, 2008 11:33 AM]

now that's steam punk!