Topic: The thread on case sealing made me remember this one

[Phaedrus]

Why don't the English make computers?




They can't get them to leak oil.





ETA:
And yes I am aware of the Sinclair computer.

[GeoffT]

Were you aware of the first ever working computer?

Maybe I'll let an Englishman tell you about it. 

[SteveD CB500F]

Yep.

Invented by Charles Babbage in 1837 whilst Professor of Maths at Cambridge.

Only problem is - he never built it...

www.fourmilab.ch/babbage/

[Magpie]

They don't make computers because of one terrifying word - LUCAS!

Hijack: What's the scariest thing an English astronaut will ever see? The "Electrics By Lucas" sign on the dashboard of his space vehicle. (Old joke - sorry, had to do it)

Cliff.

[GeoffT]

Yep.

Invented by Charles Babbage in 1837 whilst Professor of Maths at Cambridge.

Only problem is - he never built it...

www.fourmilab.ch/babbage/

Oh! that was a new one on me. Predates the one I was thinking of by about a hundred years. The one I was thinking of was built and operated but only became public knowledge in the 70's.


http://www.picotech.com/applications/colossus.html

[SteveD CB500F]

"Colossus - the world's first electronic computer" says it all.

As I said, Babbage designed his with brass and steam but it was never built.

[Phaedrus]

I actually know about Babbage and the Colossus created by Tommy Flowers.  The Sinclair was poped into mind as a modern type computer we all know and use.  I find the mental image of a computer leaking oil funny.  In fact I watched a very cool video hosted by Jeremy Clarkson on the history of the computer.

But I still love that joke.

[GeoffT]

Babbage's one could well have leaked water 

[Jonesy]

Why don't the English make computers?




They can't get them to leak oil.

No, but they can leak smoke....

(Refer to the "Electrical Theory According to Joseph Lucas" thread) 

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=4618.0