Episode 49: Herculano de Carvalho’s hand crank calculating machine

With Swedish origins, in the 1930s, this hand-cranked calculating machine occupied a prominent place on the desk of António Herculano de Carvalho (Director of Técnico between 1938 and 1942). Capable of multiplying, dividing, adding and subtracting, it was the best resource of its time, based on wheels and cranks, about 30 cm wide and weighing approximately 10 kg. The calculating machine occupies a prominent place in the history of Técnico’s Analysis Laboratory, which Herculano de Carvalho also directed, and is a testament to the research work that the engineer developed in the areas of water analysis but also nuclear energy.

  • Acknowledgements:
    Carlos Albuquerque
    Maria Cândida Vaz
    Cristina Vaz

Episode only available in Portuguese in: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Anchor.fm

Further reading and additional audio in the Portuguese version of this webpage.

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