Machine Project: The Great Calculation<http://machineproject.com/archive/events/2012/11/10/the-great-calcula...>

Calculators are silent, ubiquitous, boring, and utterly reliable- to the
point where you don’t even question the answers that you get. In the early
1960’s they were big, heavy, noisy, smelly objects. They had unique
interfaces and needed constant maintenance for reliability. Calculation was
a visceral process that shook the entire table.

Mark Glusker will talk about his collection of mechanical calculating
machines and what makes them so compelling: from their mechanical
complexity to the unique interfaces, and industrial design.

After the talk there will be an orchestrated calculation performed
simultaneously by 6 mechanical calculators and members of the audience plus
a very special secret musical guest!
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1) Machine Project is excited to bring you the Great Calculation Weekend<http://machineproject.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6312594d92b74...>.
Mechanical engineer Mark Glusker and Museum Exhibit Developer Maria Mortati
will be in residence all weekend to provide a series of lectures,
interactive performances and workshops oriented around vintage calculating
machines.

We'll be kicking things off on *Friday, November 9th* at *8pm* with The
Lost Calculator<http://machineproject.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6312594d92b74...>:
a lecture about 19th century inventor Thomas Fowler and his calculating
machine made entirely of wood. Collaborating with a team of English
historians, Mark Glusker successfully reconstructed this machine based only
on a written description and a stained-glass image. Free.

The Great Calculation<http://machineproject.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6312594d92b74...>happens on
*Saturday, November 10th* at *8pm*. A collection of calculation machines
from the 1960's will be on display with a discussion about what makes them
complex and unique. Following the talk there will be a participatory
mechanical calculation orchestra as well as a very special secret musical
guest performing a live remix of their rhythmic sounds. Free.

On *Sunday, November 11th* from *noon to 3pm* participants will be given a
chance to take apart these calculating machines and see how they work. As
these machines are dissected and disassembled, Maria Mortati will lead a
simultaneous workshop where participants can make miniature gesture
drawings of the motors in action, as well as creating large-scale
compositions of their tiny gears, cams, and springs.