A fantastically remarkable (circa.1926) gadget:

…The Web in Technological Embryo!
What is it — and Why?
First to answer correctly, Wins: a 500-word piece, by me, on any topic — you choose.
It’s the first-ever Open Your Brain speedRace. Spun cookies are in the Starting Gate…
Hint: Listen…
the first computer??
i thought that was more in the 50’s?
hum now i’m currious, and will let my fingers to the googling.
Good luck — the post is laden with Hints.
ps thanks, pippi, for the contest idea — nifty.
laden with hints? i see you added ‘money’
but it isn’t the first ATM. (or is it??? possibly atm’s or everything in our known realm of existance works upon the principles ofthe vector calculator. i thought that was all silly java. humph. who wouldda thunk it was all cogs and sprockets.
whattda i win? oh, i have to come up with a why…
just because, it is fun to look at and every blue moon you needed to (back then) add diffrent vectors? (blowing air out my ass…)
It’s another electro-mechanical fuck up, promising much and leading nowhere.
Sound familiar?