[Leica] The anatomy of model numbers

[jhnichols at lighttube.net (Jim Nichols)]

I did a search, and it supports my recollections.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNIVAC_1102

Thanks for a smile about times long ago.

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA

On 3/14/2015 8:33 PM, Herbert Kanner wrote:
> I?ve been bemused by the description of Leica?s flagship camera as M (type 
> 240) Could it mean that 239 previous designs were considered and found 
> wanting?
>
> This reminds me of a funny way of picking the model number of a computer. 
> In 1952, I saw a computer at George Washington University called the ERA 
> 1101. Over a half-century later, working at the Computer History Museum, I 
> learned that Engineering Research Associates (ERA) had been a group of 
> guys working for the Navy during WWII on hardware to aid in cracking codes 
> and ciphers. incorporate as a company. They were initially given thirteen 
> tasks, the last of which was to build a general-purpose computer with a 
> secret instruction that aided in cryptography. The computer was so 
> successful that they got permission to sell it publicly with the secret 
> instruction removed. Remember, the computer was their thirteenth task. 
> Well, 1101 just thirteen expressed in binary!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Herb
>
> Herbert Kanner
> kanner at acm.org
> 650-326-8204
>
> Question authority and the authorities will question you.
>
>
>
>
>
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