POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Astrograph, Type A-1

Object No. 2010/1/289

This object is part of a collection relating to the history and development of calculating devices assembled by Assoc Professor Allan Bromley of Sydney University, comprising mathematical instruments, slide-rules, mechanical and electronic calculators, electronic analogue computers, computer components, kit computers, education computers, and associated ephemera. Allan Bromley was a lecturer and researcher at the University of Sydney Basser Department of Computer Science from 1978 until his untimely death in August 2002. He specialised in Computer Architecture, Computer Logic and in particular the History of Computing. He was regarded as the world authority on Charles Babbage's Calculating Engines (instigating the building of the Difference Engine No.2 at the Science Museum London) and the Antikythera Mechanism and had extensive knowledge of calculators, analogue computers, logic, stereopsis, totalisators, clocks and time keeping and mechanical engineering.

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Summary

Object Statement

Astrograph with box, Type A-1, metal / glass, made by the Sperti Company, Cincinatti, United States of America, used by the US Army, c. 1940

Physical Description

Astrograph with box, Type A-1, metal / glass, made by the Sperti Company, Cincinatti, United States of America, used by the US Army, c. 1940 It has lighting components behind a window. On the front there is a polar scale with Longitude and Latitude, which may be scrolled. The instrument is packed in a cast metal box with screwed-on shelf with the main components. In the bottom there are compartments for parts. The Astrograph was made by the Sperti Company in Cincinatti, USA.

DIMENSIONS

Height

260 mm

Width

370 mm

Depth

280 mm

PRODUCTION

Notes

This is a Type A-1 Astrograph, Specification 27404, as used by the US Army Air Force. The Astrograph was used in aircraft night-time navigation in which the stars provided reference points. A map of the constellations printed onto a translucent sheet of film was rolled through the device under the glass plate and lit from behind. It was used in conjunction with an astrocompass (see P.159/6). The astrocompass would provide the heading of the aircraft with respect to the declination of a particular star and the astrograph would be used to identify which star you were using. It was probably used during WWII for night flying over the Pacific.

HISTORY

Notes

Used by the US Army.

SOURCE

Credit Line

Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program in memory of Associate Professor Allan Bromley, 2010

Acquisition Date

20 January 2010

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