Over half a century ago you would have been about equally close to 1917 as to today.
Computers were already well-established and quite advanced, but uncommon enough to have always been out of reach for almost everybody up to that point.
However I would say the vast majority of computer programmers at the time were very familiar with how to make wise use of reference books like this to accomplish bold computational objectives without the use of computers.
Before they would have ended up in that profession for the most part.
Over half a century ago you would have been about equally close to 1917 as to today.
Computers were already well-established and quite advanced, but uncommon enough to have always been out of reach for almost everybody up to that point.
However I would say the vast majority of computer programmers at the time were very familiar with how to make wise use of reference books like this to accomplish bold computational objectives without the use of computers.
Before they would have ended up in that profession for the most part.