The Coolidge examiner., 1931-05-22
Machines That Are
Almost Human
The Great Brass Brain
3 y E. C. T AYL o r


Washington is thinking ma
chine" that in seven hours does the
work Of fifty to one hundred math-
ematicians working continuously
for year.
1t is called the Great Brass
Brain by scientists. Its task is to
predict the tides for 1890 ports of
the world, and it predicts these
tides for a year ahead, in less than
an average working day for man.
The Great Brass Brain does this
work with absolute accuracy; its
mechanical computations are rap
idly completed without the pOssi-
bility of error to which human
computers would be subject.
This marvel of scientific achieve
ment stands six feet high. 1t is
eleven feet long and two feet wide.
Upon this labOr-saving device de
pends the safety of American ship
ping throughout the world.
In figuring out tides for a year
in advance. thirty-seven factors EN-
ter into each computation. The
year at any given place on the
earth. The Great Brass Brain not
only figures them out. but in its cal
culatiOns ii provides against all
variants, such as spring tides and
neap tides, and tells the extra
height to which the water may be
expected to rise or fall.
Once each year, when the United
States coast and geOdetic survey
prepares to issue its annual guide
for mariners. the wheels of the
Great Brass Brain are set in mo-
tiOn, and before the day is ended
there is ready for the printing
presses the most exact information
as to how the tides will perform
during the coming year in 800 prin-
cipal ports of the world and $500
secondary ports.
The result of the Great Brass
Brains work gives mariners all the
information about tides that they
could require for a year to come,
and keeps many a vessel from be-
coming stranded on shoal be-
cause of low water as it makes for
port.
The Great Brass Brain can delve
hundred years into the future, or
20 back centuries into the past
if called upon, and accurately an
swer any mathematical question
concerning those future or ancient
times. 1t can tell exactly how high
the tide will be at New York. New
Orleans or San Francisco in 213l.
or whether there was high tide
when the Spanish Armada set forth
to conquer the world.
One of the household legends of
American history recently was
blasted by the Great Brass Brain.
Historians of the American Revo-
luton generally accepted the legend
that tides held back the British
army long enough to give Paul Re-
we're chance to complete his
thrilling ride, on which he called
the Minute Men to arms and made
it possible for the American col
oniSts to launch their war for in
dependence.
Seekers after exact facts failed
to find any documentary evidence
to substantiate the legend that the
waters of the sea helped Paul Re
we're, and that small phase of Amer
ican history became clouded with
doubt
So the Great Brass Brain was
consulted. II was asked whether
the British army, that left Boston
at eleven O'Clock that historic night,
and crossed TO East Cambridge.
Mass, were held there until two
O'Clock in the morning because the
tide was against them and they
could not continue their march
against the cOlOnists.
Even Henry w. LOngfellow's
poem, "The Ride of Paul Revere"
contained this legend. Did PrOvi-
dence take a hand? Historians
wanted to know.
The Great Brass Brain quickly
disposed of the myth. Providence
didn't help Paul Revere at all. the
thinking machine" proved. The
machines wheels whirled, and out
came the answer that instead of
the tides retarding the British
army, they were most favorable for
their continued advance on to Con
cord between eleven O'Clock that
night and two o'clock the next
morning.
US 1881 Western Newspaper Uni0n.l