On Sunday, October 11, 2020, 1:50:25 PM EDT, Jim Scheef via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:

Are you sure that Aiken was aware of Babbage? Babbage is still > not well known even today.

Jim, The most telling information is that the first chapter of the manual of operation is titled "Historical Introduction" and discusses Babbage.  The chapter is introduced by a quote from Babbage that begins: "If, unwarned by my example, any man shall undertake and shall succeed in really constructing an engine..." In the back of my mind, I seem to remember some references where Aiken mentioned being inspired by Babbage.  However, I'd have to do some digging to actually find such a reference. BLS From: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic-bounces@lists.vcfed.org> On Behalf Of Brian L. Stuart via vcf-midatlantic Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2020 11:41 AM To: vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org Cc: Brian L. Stuart <blstuart@bellsouth.net>; Jeffrey Jonas <jeffrey.scott.jonas@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] slight diversion, was "Looking for some knowledgeable with the Harvard Mark I"