3.6M views · Oct 1, 2021 · 46:56 · 1 HN recommender · 4 mentions · discussed 2021–2024
A 47-minute restoration of a 1920s IBM computing cheese cutter, a machine with parts patented between 1901 and 1907. The video covers the restoration work and explains why it is a computing cheese cutter.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN shares it as a fun curiosity about early IBM history, with time stamps for the nameplate and the explanation.
“the IBM cheese cutter restoration video is very cool”HN comment, 2022
“the IBM cheese cutter restoration video is very cool”
Restoration of an IBM cheese cutter.
I don't believe it. In particular, IBM was formed by amalgamating various subsidiary companies, so there's no "first product". Even if you focus on the Computing Scale Company, I think their first product was a computing scale and the cheese slicer was later. That said, the IBM cheese cutter restoration video is very cool: this video
“The nameplate (visible at 11:10 [0]) says patented with a date of 1901”
Restoration of an IBM computing cheese cutter with nameplate.
Wow this is cool! It would be awesome to learn more about its history. The nameplate (visible at 11:10 [0]) says patented with a date of 1901, which is 10 years before IBM was founded [1]. This was curious to me so I looked up the patent [2], which was granted in 1905. Based on this it seems that IBM must have purchased the rights to this patent and that it was either made or refurbished after 1911. [0]: this video [1]: link [2]: link
“you can find the explanation at the 42:30 mark”
Explains why it is a computing cheese cutter.
Just happened to jump to the exact point where he explains why / how it's a "computing" cheese cutter; if you're curious too you can find the explanation at the 42:30 mark: this video
IBM has a track record going back to automatically price calculating cheese cutters [0], but Sam does not. IBM has proven itself in various ways over the years, OpenAI hasn't. While IBM is a behemoth of a money making machine, they put money where their mouth is. OpenAI does not. So I'll trust IBM, but not OpenAI. [0]: this video
