Meilensteine der Rechentechnik: Band 1: Analog- und Digitalrechner, Automaten und Roboter, wissenschaftliche Instrumente, Schrittfür-Schritt-Anleitungen [Milestones in computing technology: Volume 1: Analog and digital computers, automata and robots, scientific instruments, step-by-step instructions], and: Meilensteine der Rechentechnik: Band 2: Erfindung des Computers, Rechnerbau in Europa, weltweite Entwicklungen, zweisprachiges Fachwörterbuch, Bibliografie [Milestones in computing technology: Volume 2: Invention of the computer, computer construction in Europe, worldwide developments, bilingual technical dictionary, bibliography] by Herbert Bruderer (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by:

• Meilensteine der Rechentechnik: Band 1: Analog- und Digitalrechner, Automaten und Roboter, wissenschaftliche Instrumente, Schrittfür-Schritt-Anleitungen [Milestones in computing technology: Volume 1: Analog and digital computers, automata and robots, scientific instruments, step-by-step instructions], and: Meilensteine der Rechentechnik: Band 2: Erfindung des Computers, Rechnerbau in Europa, weltweite Entwicklungen, zweisprachiges Fachwörterbuch, Bibliografie [Milestones in computing technology: Volume 2: Invention of the computer, computer construction in Europe, worldwide developments, bilingual technical dictionary, bibliography] by Herbert Bruderer
• Matthias Röhr (bio)

Meilensteine der Rechentechnik: Band 1: Analog- und Digitalrechner, Automaten und Roboter, wissenschaftliche Instrumente, Schrittfür-Schritt-Anleitungen [Milestones in computing technology: Volume 1: Analog and digital computers, automata and robots, scientific instruments, step-by-step instructions] Meilensteine der Rechentechnik: Band 2: Erfindung des Computers, Rechnerbau in Europa, weltweite Entwicklungen, zweisprachiges Fachwörterbuch, Bibliografie [Milestones in computing technology: Volume 2: Invention of the computer, computer construction in Europe, worldwide developments, bilingual technical dictionary, bibliography]
Third edition. By Herbert Bruderer. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter Verlag, 2020. Pp. 946 and 1035. [English edition: Milestones in Analog and Digital Com puting. Basel: Springer, 2020. Pp. 2053.]

When reviewing a publication, a lot depends on expectations, and this is particularly true in this case. Anyone who is, as the reviewer was, deceived by first impressions and expects a comprehensive two-volume encyclopedia, compiled according to objective criteria, could be disappointed. However, anyone expecting the collected findings of Herbert Bruderer, a recognized expert in historical calculation techniques, will be rewarded with an incredibly rich and detailed work. In two bulky volumes with a total of over 2,000 pages, the author covers a wide range of historical tools for calculating.

The first volume focuses on mechanical devices and their functioning, context of creation, and preservation in museums and collections. The spectrum of devices covered ranges from the ancient abacus, slide rules, and mechanical calculators to figure machines. There is a focus on devices with links to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. For example, the history of the Curta, a compact four-species machine by inventor Curt Herzstark, is explored in depth. The numerous color photographs of devices and document facsimiles are particularly noteworthy, indicating that the volumes are primarily directed to enthusiasts and collectors of historical computing devices. For this special clientele, the meticulously researched known serial numbers and the location of the devices of the Millionär calculating machine, which was produced in Switzerland, will probably be relevant. By contrast, the detailed operating instructions for various mechanical calculating machines, with which the first volume concludes, are likely to be interesting to a broader audience as well as to historians of technology with a hands-on perspective. An index of persons, places, and subjects increases the usability of the volume significantly.

Electronic computers are the subject of the second volume. Again, there is a special focus on computers with a connection to Switzerland. Thus, the author deals in particular with the Swiss activities of Konrad Zuse. There are also fifty pages of colored reproductions of documents on the use of the Z4 at ETH Zurich and the Ermeth computer project there. By contrast, developments in other countries are only dealt with very briefly. However, this part of the book is generally shorter than the size of the volume might suggest. Almost a third of the volume is occupied by a bilingual dictionary (German-English/English-German), in which numerous commonly used terms are translated. It would have been better if this part of the volume had been made available as an online supplement. The last third of the volume is taken up by the extensive bibliography, which is unfortunately organized alphabetically. Although the author gives introductory, thematic references, [End Page 1043] a thematically sorted specialized bibliography would be more beneficial. I would therefore recommend that academic users who are looking for literature conduct a full-text search in the e-book version of the volume.

In the German version, the way translations of English-language quotations are handled is a little unfortunate. These are found directly after the original, with no typographic contrast, which means they could easily be mistaken for the author’s comments. It is, however, particularly pleasing that the work is also...