In english—...I will describe the arithmetic machine more precisely some other time, now I don't have enough time: aaa are the upper faces of vertical cylinders, whose side surfaces are inscribed with multiplication tables. The digits of these tables can be looked out of the windows bbb of a sliding plate. From the inner side of the machine to the disks ddd are attached wheels with 10 cogs, and each wheel is clutched with a similar wheel in a manner that, provided some of the right wheels spins round ten revolutions, the left wheel will make one revolution, or provided the first wheel spins round 100 revolutions, the third wheel to the left will make one revolution. In order [for] the revolutions of the wheels to be in the same direction, intermediate wheels h are necessary. [See the following sketch].

In english—...I will describe the computer more precisely some other time, now I don't have enough time: aaa are the upper faces of vertical cylinders, whose side surfaces are inscribed with multiplication tables. The digits of these tables can be looked out of the windows bbb of a sliding plate. From the inner side of the machine to the disks ddd are attached wheels with 10 cogs, and each wheel is clutched with a similar wheel in a manner that, provided some of the right wheels spins round ten revolutions, the left wheel will make one revolution, or provided the first wheel spins round 100 revolutions, the third wheel to the left will make one revolution. In order [for] the revolutions of the wheels to be in the same direction, intermediate wheels h are necessary. [See the following sketch].

[Note that you can have various possible translations of this latin text, including of "Rideres clare" with it often rendered as: "You would burst out laughing" whilst here it is more moderately phrased as "You would rest satisfied". As always, the overall meaning what is most important to convey.  JF.]

Transliteration of the key paragraphs in Kepler's letters is provided in an elegant article on "The Rechenuhr (Calculating Clock) of Wilhelm Schickard" available at [[http://history-computer.com/MechanicalCalculators/Pioneers/Schickard.html]].  These are replicated (with some suggested modifications by JF - in square brackets) below:

[^#^]

In english—...I will describe the computer more precisely some other time, now I don't have enough time: aaa are the upper faces of vertical cylinders, whose side surfaces are inscribed with multiplication tables. The digits of these tables can be looked out of the windows bbb of a sliding plate. From the inner side of the machine to the disks ddd are attached wheels with 10 cogs, and each wheel is clutched with a similar wheel in a manner that, provided some of the right wheels spins round ten revolutions, the left wheel will make one revolution, or provided the first wheel spins round 100 revolutions, the third wheel to the left will make one revolution. In order the revolutions of the wheels to be in the same direction, intermediate wheels h are necessary. [See the following sketch].

[A marginal note] Each intermediate wheel moves to the left needed carry, but not to the right, which made special caution measures necessary. [End of the note].

1. The teeth are unequally made and don't work...)[^as noted in the text, this was kindly translated by Mr Stephan Weiss, www.mechrech.info^]

1. The teeth are unequally made and don't work...)

(kindly translated by Mr Stephan Weiss, www.mechrech.info):

Transliteration of the key paragraphs in Kepler's letters is provided in an elegant article on "The Rechenuhr (Calculating Clock) of Wilhelm Schickard" available at [[http://history-computer.com/MechanicalCalculators/Pioneers/Schickard.html]].  These are replicated (with some suggested modifications) below:

...Arithmeticum organum alias delineabo accuratius, nunc et festinate hoc habe, aaa sunt capitella cylindrorum erectorum, quibus multiplicationes digitorum inscriptae, et prominent, quantum ijs opus est, per fenestellas bbb ductiles, ddd intus habent affixas rotulas 10 dentium, sic contextas, vt mota qualibet dextra decies, proxima sinistra semel; aut illâ 100 vicibus circumactâ, tertia semel etc. promoveatur. Et quidem in eandem partem; quod vt praestarem, intermediâ consimilj h opus fuit. (A marginal note) Quaelibet intermedia omnes sinistras movet, debitâ proportione; nullam verò dextram, quod singularj cauitione indiguit. (End of the note)


In english—...I will describe the computer more precisely some other time, now I don't have enough time: aaa are the upper faces of vertical cylinders (see the upper figure), whose side surfaces are inscribed with multiplication tables. The digits of these tables can be looked out of the windows bbb of a sliding plate. From the inner side of the machine to the disks ddd are attached wheels with 10 cogs, and each wheel is clutched with a similar wheel in a manner that, provided some of the right wheels spins round ten revolutions, the left wheel will make one revolution, or provided the first wheel spins round 100 revolutions, the third wheel to the left will make one revolution. In order the revolutions of the wheels to be in the same direction, intermediate wheels h are necessary. [See the following sketch]. [A marginal note] Each intermediate wheel moves to the left needed carry, but not to the right, which made special caution measures necessary. [End of the note].

In english— The digits, inscribed upon the each wheel, can be looked [at through] the windows ccc of the middle bank. In the end of the lower bank are arranged rotating heads eee, used for recording of numbers, which are the result of the calculations, and their digits can be looked [at] out of the windows fff. [But this is a hastily written, and can not easily understood unless seen(?). [J.F.]] I have already [placed an order] for a copy for you to our Johann Pfister, together with some other things for me, especially some copper plates, but when the work was half finished, yesterday night a fire burst out and everything burnt out, as Maestlin informed you. I take this loss very heavily, because there is no time for its replacement.

In english— The digits, inscribed upon the each wheel, can be looked out of the windows ccc of the middle bank. In the end of the lower bank are arranged rotating heads eee, used for recording of numbers, which are the result of the calculations, and their digits can be looked out of the windows. [But this is a hastily written, and can not easily understood unless seen(?). [J.F.]] I have already [placed an order] for a copy for you to our Johann Pfister, together with some other things for me, especially some copper plates, but when the work was half finished, yesterday night a fire burst out and everything burnt out, as Maestlin informed you. I take this loss very heavily, because there is no time for its replacement.

1. The teeth are inequally made and don't work...)

Transliteration of the key paragraphs in Kepler's letters is provided in an elegant article on "The Rechenuhr (Calculating Clock) of Wilhelm Schickard" available at [[http://history-computer.com/MechanicalCalculators/Pioneers/Schickard.html]].  These are replicated (with some suggested improvement) below:

Transliteration of the key paragraphs in Kepler's letters is provided in an elegant article on "The Rechenuhr (Calculating Clock) of Wilhelm Schickard" available at [[http://history-computer.com/MechanicalCalculators/Pioneers/Schickard.html]].  These are replicated below:

This paragraph seems to refer to the some further aspects, notably the results of the adding appearing on the top of the adding machine part in the middle of the machine, and provision of a set of dials in the lower part of the machine on which can be noted intermediate results,  "but this is hastily written, and these cannot be easily witnessed", goes on to talk of the consignment of the work on the making of our prototype to John Pfisterum, but together with some papers this was lost in the blaze of the fire at night three days ago, and how he takes that loss very amiss, especially as there is no time now to fix it quickly.[J.F. - with apologies for his degraded memory of school Latin, studied more than half a century ago.]

In english —I have tried to discover a mechanical way for performing calculations, which you have done manually till now. I constructed a machine, which includes eleven full and six partial pinion-wheels, which can calculate automatically, to add, subtract, multiply and divide. You would rest satisfied, if you can see how the machine accumulates and shifts to the left tens and hundreds, and makes the opposite shift during a subtraction....

This paragraph seems to refer to the some further aspects, notably the results of the adding appearing on the top of the adding machine part in the middle of the machine, and provision of a set of dials in the lower part of the machine on which can be noted intermediate results,  "but this is hastily written, and these cannot be easily witnessed", goes on to talk of the consignment of the work on the making of our prototype to John Pfisterum, but together with some papers this was lost in the blaze of the fire at night three days ago, and how he takes that loss very amiss, especially as there is no time now to fix it quickly.[J.F. - with apologies for his degraded memory of school Latin.]

This paragraph refers to the some further aspects, "but this is hastily written, and these cannot be easily witnessed", goes on to talk of the consignment of the work on the making of our prototype to John Pfisterum, but together with some papers this was lost in the blaze of the fire at night three days ago, and how he takes that loss very amiss, especially as there is no time now to fix it quickly.[J.F.]

In english (upper paragraph only)—...I will describe the computer more precisely some other time, now I don't have enough time: aaa are the upper faces of vertical cylinders (see the upper figure), whose side surfaces are inscribed with multiplication tables. The digits of these tables can be looked out of the windows bbb of a sliding plate. From the inner side of the machine to the disks ddd are attached wheels with 10 cogs, and each wheel is clutched with a similar wheel in a manner that, provided some of the right wheels spins round ten revolutions, the left wheel will make one revolution, or provided the first wheel spins round 100 revolutions, the third wheel to the left will make one revolution. In order the revolutions of the wheels to be in the same direction, intermediate wheels h are necessary. [See the following sketch]. [A marginal note] Each intermediate wheel moves to the left needed carry, but not to the right, which made special caution measures necessary. [End of the note].

The second paragraph refers to the some further aspects, "but this is hastily written, and these cannot be easily witnessed", goes on to talk of the consignment of the work on the making of our prototype to John Pfisterum, but together with some papers this was lost in the blaze of the fire at night three days ago, and how he takes that loss very amiss, especially as there is no time now to fix it quickly.[J.F.]

...Arithmeticum organum alias delineabo accuratius, nunc et festinate hoc habe, aaa sunt capitella cylindrorum erectorum, quibus multiplicationes digitorum inscriptae, et prominent, quantum ijs opus est, per fenestellas bbb ductiles, ddd intus habent affixas rotulas 10 dentium, sic contextas, vt mota qualibet dextra decies, proxima sinistra semel; aut illâ 100 vicibus circumactâ, tertia semel etc. promoveatur. Et quidem in eandem partem; quod vt praestarem, intermediâ consimilj h opus fuit. (A marginal note) Quaelibet intermedia omnes sinistras movet, debitâ proportione; nullam verò dextram, quod singularj cauitione indiguit. (End of the note) Quotus eorum prominet per foramina ccc in scamno medio, tandem in pavimento inferiorj e vertebras et f similiter foramina pro apparitione numerorum notat, quibus inter operandum usus est. Sed ista sic tumultuariè scribj nequeunt, facilius ex autopsiâ cognoscentur. Et curaveram tibj jam exemplar confierj apud Joh. Pfisterum nostratem, sed illud semiperfectum, vna cum alijs quibusdam meis, praecipuè aliquot tabellis aeneis conflagravit ante triduum, in incendio noctu et ex improsivo ibj coorto, quod Mütschlinus referre amplius sciet. Harum jacturam admodum aegre fero, praesertum nunc quando non vacat alia reficere tam cito.

In english—...I will describe the computer more precisely some other time, now I don't have enough time: aaa are the upper faces of vertical cylinders (see the upper figure), whose side surfaces are inscribed with multiplication tables. The digits of these tables can be looked out of the windows bbb of a sliding plate. From the inner side of the machine to the disks ddd are attached wheels with 10 cogs, and each wheel is clutched with a similar wheel in a manner that, provided some of the right wheels spins round ten revolutions, the left wheel will make one revolution, or provided the first wheel spins round 100 revolutions, the third wheel to the left will make one revolution. In order the revolutions of the wheels to be in the same direction, intermediate wheels h are necessary. [See the following sketch]. [A marginal note] Each intermediate wheel moves to the left needed carry, but not to the right, which made special caution measures necessary. [End of the note].

In english it sound like—I have tried to discover a mechanical way for performing calculations, which you have done manually till now. I constructed a machine, which includes eleven full and six partial pinion-wheels, which can calculate automatically, to add, subtract, multiply and divide. You would rest satisfied, if you can see how the machine accumulates and shifts to the left tens and hundreds, and makes the opposite shift during a subtraction....

(Note that you can have various possible translations of "Rideres clare" with Michael Williams rendering it as: "You would burst out laughing" whilst here it is more moderately phrased as "You would rest satisfied". Jim Falk.)

Transliteration of the key paragraphs in Kepler's letters is provided in an elegant article on Schickard available at [[http://history-computer.com/MechanicalCalculators/Pioneers/Schickard.html]].  These are replicated below:

%center% Small sketch by Schickard  of the mechanics of his machine in 1624

%center%%width=400px% http://meta-studies.net/pmwiki/uploads/Schickard_Small_Sketch.jpg

%center%%width=400px% http://meta-studies.net/pmwiki/uploads/Schickard_Small_Sketch.tiff

%center%%width=400px% http://meta-studies.net/pmwiki/uploads/Schickard-Small_Sketch.tiff

%center%%width=200px% http://meta-studies.net/pmwiki/uploads/Schickard2W200.jpg

%center%%width=200px% http://meta-studies.net/pmwiki/uploads/SchickardSketchW200.jpg

http://meta-studies.net/pmwiki/uploads/Schickard3.jpg
Note by Schickard to artisans building his machine[^found by Dr Hamer in the Württembergischen Landesbibliothek^]

[^#^]

 %center% Sketch by Schickard  of the mechanics of his machine in 1624[^Max Caspar, in his research into the Kepler archives in the Pulkovo Observatory (near St Petersburg, Russia) found a slip of paper in Kepler's Rudolphine Tables which appeared to have been used as a book mark, but containing Schickard's original drawings for his "Calculating Clock" in a letter to Kepler. Somewhat after Dr Franz Hammer whilst carrying out research in the Württembergischen Landesbibliothek (Stuttgart, Germany) found a sketch of the machine (the second sketch reproduced here) together with [[Site.Schickard1623|notes to artisans on building the machine]].^]

%center% Second sketch by Schickard[^found by Dr Hamer in the Württembergischen Landesbibliothek^]

 %center% Original sketch by Schickard ~1623[^Max Caspar, in his research into the Kepler archives in the Pulkovo Observatory (near St Petersburg, Russia) found a slip of paper in Kepler's Rudolphine Tables which appeared to have been used as a book mark, but containing Schickard's original drawings for his "Calculating Clock" in a letter to Kepler. Somewhat after Dr Franz Hammer whilst carrying out research in the Württembergischen Landesbibliothek (Stuttgart, Germany) found a sketch of the machine (the second sketch reproduced here) together with [[Site.Schickard1623|notes to artisans on building the machine]].^]

!!!!The first letter (Wilhelm Schickard to Kepler in Linz, 20. September, 1623):

!!!!The second letter dated February 25th, 1624, includes description of the machine with two drawings and bad news about a fire, which destroyed the machine: