Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949

Made:
1949 in Teddington
maker:
National Physical Laboratory
Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Front 3/4 detail view of  object on display in "Alan Turings Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950 Papers relating to the development of computing at the National Papers relating to the development of computing at the National Papers relating to the development of computing at the National Papers relating to the development of computing at the National Papers relating to the development of computing at the National Papers relating to the development of computing at the National Papers relating to the development of computing at the National Papers relating to the development of computing at the National Papers relating to the development of computing at the National Papers relating to the development of computing at the National Papers relating to the development of computing at the National Papers relating to the development of computing at the National

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Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Front 3/4 detail view of object on display in "Alan Turings
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model 1950
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Papers relating to the development of computing at the National
National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

Papers relating to the development of computing at the National
National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

Papers relating to the development of computing at the National
National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

Papers relating to the development of computing at the National
National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

Papers relating to the development of computing at the National
National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

Papers relating to the development of computing at the National
National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

Papers relating to the development of computing at the National
National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

Papers relating to the development of computing at the National
National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

Papers relating to the development of computing at the National
National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

Papers relating to the development of computing at the National
National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

Papers relating to the development of computing at the National
National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

Papers relating to the development of computing at the National
National Physical Laboratory/Woodger archive www.npl.co.uk

Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, by National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, England, 1949. The construction of the (ACE) pilot model was based on designs by Alan Turing.

Details

Category:
Computing & Data Processing
Object Number:
1956-152
Materials:
metal, plastic, glass, composites
Measurements:
control desk: 1410 mm x 1200 mm x 980 mm, 117 kg
mainframe: 1915 mm x 2720 mm x 1025 mm, 599 kg
type:
computer
credit:
From the National Physical Laboratory

Parts

Main frame, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949

Main frame, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, 1949

Main frame, for Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model, made at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, London, England, and some of the valves by Osram, Germany, 1949. The construction of the (ACE) pilot model was based on designs by Alan Turing.


In 1945, while working at the National Physical Laboratory, the British mathematician Alan Turing formulated the design of an 'automatic computing engine' (ACE), which would have been the world's first general-purpose computer. He left the NPL in 1948, but this smaller 'pilot', or prototype, was made in his absence in 1950.

Although just a pilot version, this remarkable machine found a range of applications including working out the stresses on an aeroplane's fuselage.