"Larry Blanchard" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 23 Oct 2010 16:35:50 -0700, Lobby Dosser wrote:

Holtzapffel lathes are among the most complex mechanical contrivances on
the planet.

Possibly true, but a Linotype machine would give them a run for the
money. See:

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

I'd heard a while back that Mergenthaler had a nervous breakdown after he
finished the design, but I can't find anything currently to confirm that.

--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw


The Wikipedia article on Babbage is worth a look:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babbage#Difference_engine

And from there jump to the Jacquard loom.

The BC example I mentioned is he

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