periscope used in Mark I to deflect a light beam
Date: 1940-1945
Inventory Number: 2014-1-0001
Classification: Optical Accessory
Maker: IBM Corporation ? (1911-present)
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Place of Origin:
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Dimensions:
9.5 × 2.3 × 1.9 cm (3 3/4 × 7/8 × 3/4 in.)
Material:
Description:
Small rectangular optical instrument composed of a steel casing in which are introduced angled mirrors at each end, positioned in such a way that it will deviate sideways a beam of light.
Signedunsigned
FunctionThis periscope, a part of the Mark I computer, was used to deflect a light beam sideways in order to fire a photoelectric relay. The Mark I was so massive that it required several steel beams to support the weight, and one of these beams lay in the critical path of the light beam.
ProvenanceGiven to the CHSI by Prof. Mark Van Baalen, Lecturer at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University.
According to an email Prof. van Baalen sent to Peter Galison (April 4, 2014), he mentioned that "This item was given to me ca. 1968 by Robert J. Burns, then the operations manager of the computer center at the Aiken lab, that stood were Maxwell Dworkin now stands. Back in the 1940s, Burns was a technical assistant to Howard Aiken, and often was the person to actually run the computer. From time to time in the 1960s, Burns would fire up the Mark I for a demonstration."
According to an email Prof. van Baalen sent to Peter Galison (April 4, 2014), he mentioned that "This item was given to me ca. 1968 by Robert J. Burns, then the operations manager of the computer center at the Aiken lab, that stood were Maxwell Dworkin now stands. Back in the 1940s, Burns was a technical assistant to Howard Aiken, and often was the person to actually run the computer. From time to time in the 1960s, Burns would fire up the Mark I for a demonstration."
