Skip to main content

Search

My Visit
Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution

Site Navigation

  • Visit
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Maps and Brochures
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
      • Group Sales
  • What's On
    • Exhibitions
      • Current
      • Upcoming
      • Past
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
  • Explore
    • - Art & Design
    • - History & Culture
    • - Science & Nature
    • Collections
      • Open Access
    • Research Resources
      • Libraries
      • Archives
        • Smithsonian Institution Archives
        • Air and Space Museum
        • Anacostia Community Museum
        • American Art Museum
        • Archives of American Art
        • Archives of American Gardens
        • American History Museum
        • American Indian Museum
        • Asian Art Museum Archives
        • Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art
        • Hirshhorn Archive
        • National Anthropological Archives
        • National Portrait Gallery
        • Ralph Rinzler Archives, Folklife
        • Libraries' Special Collections
    • Podcasts
    • Stories
  • Learn
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
      • Art & Design Resources
      • Science & Nature Resources
      • Social Studies & Civics Resources
      • Professional Development
      • Events for Educators
      • Field Trips
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
      • Smithsonian Call Center
      • Ambassador Program
      • Museum Information Desk
      • Docent Programs
      • Behind-the-Scenes
      • Digital Volunteers
      • Participatory Science
  • About
    • Our Organization
      • Board of Regents
        • Members
        • Committees
        • Reading Room
        • Bylaws, Policies and Procedures
        • Schedules and Agendas
        • Meeting Minutes
        • Actions
        • Webcasts
        • Contact
      • Museums and Zoo
      • Research Centers
      • Cultural Centers
      • Education Centers
      • General Counsel
        • Legal History
        • Internships
        • Records Requests
          • Reading Room
        • Tort Claim
        • Subpoenas & Testimonies
        • Events
      • Office of Human Resources
        • Employee Benefits
        • How to Apply
        • Job Opportunities
        • Job Seekers with Disabilities
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • SI Civil Program
        • Contact Us
      • EEO & Small Business
        • EEO Complaint Process
        • Individuals with Disabilities
        • Small Business Program
          • Doing Business with Us
          • Contracting Opportunities
          • Additional Resources
        • Special Emphasis Program
      • Sponsored Projects
        • Policies
          • Combating Trafficking in Persons
          • Animal Care and Use
          • Human Research
        • Reports
        • Internships
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
      • Annual Reports
      • Metrics Dashboard
        • Dashboard Home
        • Virtual Smithsonian
        • Public Engagement
        • National Collections
        • Research
        • People & Operations
      • Strategic Plan
    • Newsdesk
      • News Releases
      • Media Contacts
      • Photos and Video
      • Media Kits
      • Fact Sheets
      • Visitor Stats
      • Secretary and Admin Bios
      • Filming Requests

Logic Machine, Compulogical Tutor

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Compusad, Inc.
Description
The Compulogical Tutor was a simple circuit-based teaching tool, created and copyrighted by Compusad, Inc. of New York Mills, New York, in 1970. The machine was designed to teach individuals without a background in computers, logic, or mathematics the basic principles of Boolean logic and computing machines. In addition to the control board, on which users would build their circuits, the machine came with a set of Logic Module boxes (“and,” “or” and “not”) that simulated particular logic operations. It also had connecting wires of three different lengths and an instruction manual. The Compulogical Tutor was advertised as for both children and adults looking to understand the logical operations of a computer. As the brochure for the machine says, the computer as a 20th century object changed “the outlook for every young and not-so-young person who is planning, or has adopted, a career in science, politics, business, law or medicine,” and so the need for “computer trainers” like this one had become more pressing. Its competitive price of $69.99 made it affordable for the home or the classroom.
Users operated the Compulogical Tutor by placing Logic Modules on the wooden control board, which had a built in circuity in its base, and connecting these modules with the wires supplied. With these materials, anyone could build a wide variety of computational programs and learn how to construct complex decision-making processes and programs from simple logical propositions. The accompanying instruction manual gave users sets of problems and puzzles to set up on the machine, as well as a basic introduction to ideas in computer programming, such as Boolean logic, logic tables, computer architecture, error-detection and cybernetics.
The Smithsonian owns two Compulogical Tutors, one operated with a battery pack in the base of the control board and another with an accompanying electrical control box which plugged into the wall and was operated by a series of toggle switches. Both machines come with their own set of Logical Module boxes and wires. The machine with this number is the one operated with the battery pack.
For related documentation, see MA.305773.03 and MA.305773.04.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of Compusad, Inc.
1970
ID Number
MA.333935
accession number
305773
catalog number
333935
Object Name
Logic Machine
logic machine
Physical Description
wood (base material)
cloth (case lining material)
metal (circuitry material)
plastic (modules material)
leather (case material)
glass (light bulbs material)
Measurements
overall: 13 cm x 48.5 cm x 43 cm; 5 1/8 in x 19 3/32 in x 16 15/16 in
overall: 13 cm x 48.5 cm x 43 cm; 5 1/8 in x 19 3/32 in x 16 15/16 in
place made
United States: New York, New York Mills
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Mathematics
Teaching Machines
National Museum of American History
Subject
Mathematics
Psychology
Record ID
nmah_1415947
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-1252-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
Logic Machine, Compulogical Tutor, with Extra Parts
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Footer logo

Link to homepage

Footer navigation

  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Get Involved
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • EEO & Small Business
  • Shop Online
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Social media links

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Sign up for Smithsonian e-news

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Email powered by BlackBaud (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use)
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Back to Top