Ferrel Tide Predictor

Object Details

Fauth & Co.

designer

Ferrel, William

Description

In 1872, the British physicist William Thomson (later Lord Kelvin) devised a machine to simulate mechanically the combination of periodic motions that produce tides. Inspired by this example, William Ferrel of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey designed a tide predictor and had it built by the Washington, D.C., firm of Fauth and Company. This elegant machine was more compact than that of Thomson, and gave maxima and minima rather than a continuous curve as output. It was designed in 1880, went into service in 1883 and remained in use until 1910. The success of Ferrel's tide predictor suggested the feasibility of replacing calculations performed by people with computation by machines.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Transfer from U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey

1883

1880

used during

1883-1910

ID Number

MA.315917

catalog number

315917

accession number

223203

Object Name

harmonic synthesizer

Physical Description

wood (overall material)

metal (overall material)

glass (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 62.2 cm x 46.5 cm x 34.3 cm; 24 1/2 in x 18 5/16 in x 13 1/2 in

Place Made

United States: District of Columbia, Washington

See more items in

Medicine and Science: Mathematics

Mechanical Integrators and Analyzers

Science & Mathematics

National Museum of American History

subject

Mathematics

Record ID

nmah_997047

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-5385-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa