1 HN user recommended this demo1 month2021–2024score 1
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
HN shares it as a fun curiosity about early IBM history, with time stamps for the nameplate and the explanation.
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.
“the IBM cheese cutter restoration video is very cool” (HN, 2022)
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]
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]
Restoration of an IBM computing cheese cutter with nameplate.
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]
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![Frame from IBM Computing Cheese Cutter [Restoration]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z8VhNF_0I5c/hq2.jpg)
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