85/1497 Crucibles (6), ceramic, used at Sydney Observatory workshop, maker unknown
85/1498 Ladles (2), (metallurgists), iron, used at Sydney Observatory workshop, maker unknown, c 1950
85/1499 Pit saw, steel blade, wooden handle, used at Sydney Observatory workshop, maker unknown, 1950-1960
85/1500 Pitch-fork, (garden or hay), used at Sydney Observatory workshop, 1930-1950
Two rain gauge measuring cylinders.85/1913 Rain gauges (2), measuring cylinders, glass, made by Angelo Tornaghi, used at Sydney Observatory, New South Wales, Australia, 1861-1900
85/1914 Sieve, cylindrical, copper, used at Sydney Observatory workshop, [Australia]
85/1915 Funnel, conical, ceramic, size 6 (or 9), used at Sydney Observatory workshop, [1930-1950]
85/1916 Mortar & pestle, ceramic, used at Sydney Observatory workshop, made in [England]
85/1917 Cylinder, glass, graduated, used at Sydney Observatory
85/1918 Cylinder, glass, graduated, stoppered, used at Sydney Observatory, Australia, 20th century
85/1919 Measuring vessel, possibly rain gauge, glass with spout, used at Sydney Observatory
85/1920 Tubing (2 pieces), chemical glassware, used at Sydney Observatory
85/1921 Watch glasses (2), used at Sydney Observatory
85/1922 Test tube, fused silica, used at Sydney Observatory
85/1923 Tube, sealed glass, containing liquid, used at Sydney Observatory
85/1924 Glass discharge tube, used at Sydney Observatory
85/1925 Discharge tubes (3), glass, (containing powders), used at Sydney Observatory
85/1926 Vessels (5), glass, handblown, used at Sydney Observatory
85/1927 Filter flask, glass, used at Sydney Observatory, Crown, Australia
85/1928 Boiling flasks (2), glass, used at Sydney Observatory
85/1929 Funnel & filter chamber, porcelain/glass, used at Sydney Observatory, Buchner's, Japan/England
85/1930 Roentgen tubes (2), X-ray, used at Sydney Observatory, Newton & Co, London, England
Names
Allan Bromely Collection
IDs
2085
Offline Only
Descriptions
A collection of over 570 objects relating to the history and development of computing and other information technology assembled by Assoc Professor Allan Bromley of Sydney University, comprising calculators, mechanical and electronic analogue computers, computer components, kit computers, education computers, and associated ephemera
Allan Bromley was a lecturer and researcher at the University of Sydney Basser Department of Computer Science from 1972 until his untimely death in August 2002. He specialised in computer architecture, computer logic and in particular the history of computing. He was regarded as the world authority on Charles Babbage's Calculating Engines (instigating the building of Difference Engine No 2 at the Science Museum London from Babbage's original drawings) and the Antikythera Mechanism and had extensive knowledge on calculators, analogue computers, logic, stereoscopy, totalisators, clocks and time keeping and mechanical engineering. Allan built an wide-ranging collection of artefacts and a library illustrating and detailing various aspects of the development of computers and computing. While some people believed that he was indiscriminate in his acquisitions, taking items (often very large) that were otherwise destined for scrap, we can now see that he was extremely perceptive about what material would ultimately be regarded as significant, unearthing important stories that might otherwise have been lost.
Some material included in this collection may be subject to copyright
By appointment
Subjects
Allan Bromley; Sydney University
Calculating devices; Computers; Military equipment; Navigational equipment
Computing; Mathematics
Coverage Spatial
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Coverage Temporal
1700
1990
Related Collections
Dates
2012-05-30 23:41
2011-03-08 11:21