Index: ANGELOG.txt
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- .************************************************************.
- * *
- * TTTTT EEEE CCCC H H N N III K K U U M M 222 999 *
- * T E C H H NN N I K K U U MM MM 2 2 9 9 *
- * T EEE C HHHH N N N I KK U U M M M 2 99999 *
- * T E C H H N NN I K K U U M M 2 9 *
- * T EEEE CCCC H H N N III K K UUUU M M 20052 9 *
- * *
- * C H A N G E L O G *
- * *
- * Willkommen beim Changelog der Technikum29-Homepage, dem *
- * "Protokoll" über die Veränderungen (Changes) und neuen *
- * Versionen der Homepage. *
- * *
- * Anhand dieser Datei lässt sich einfach feststellen, welche *
- * Version der Homepage in diesem Verzeichnis installiert ist: *
- * es wird einfach nach der Version geschaut, die ganz oben *
- * steht. *
- * *
- *================================================================*
- *== Jetzt neu: technikum29 unter VERSIONSKONTROLLE ==*
- *== http://dev.technikum29.de/wiki/Homepage/SVN ==*
- *== $Id:: $ ==*
- *================================================================*
- * *
- * Weitere Dokumente: *
- * *
- * - http://www.technikum29.de/etc/txt/roadmap - Eine Roadmap *
- * wo alle gemachten/geplanten grossen Versionen verzeichnet *
- * sind *
- * *
- * - http://www.technikum29.de/TODO - Dinge, die in den *
- * nächsten Versionen (noch) getan werden müssen *
- * *
- * - http://www.technikum29.de/etc/txt/VERSIONCOUNTING *
- * Vorstellung des Technikum29-Versionszählprinzips *
- * *
- * - http://www.technikum29.de/etc/txt/WHYCOUNTING *
- * Warum Versionszählung so wichtig ist *
- * *
- ******************************************************************
-
- VERSION 5.8 FINAL - (24.08.2008 16:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Das Sprachlinkkonzept wurde überarbeitet, außerdem all CSS-Dateien.
- Zudem viele kleinere Bugfixes
- * /shared/css/ - Alle Dateien geändert
- * /shared/img/fresh.design/langbg.menu.png, langbg-hot.menu.png,
- langbg-on.menu.png neu/geändert
- * Alle Dateien in /de/inc und /en/inc wurden verändert
- Siehe /etc/txt/v5.8 für einen Kommentar zur Version 5.8.
-
- VERSION 5.8 DELTA - (20.08.2008 04:40)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Alle Extraseiten (Englisch + Deutsch) wurden in das Seitendesign
- übertragen. Zudem viel neuen Inhalt und Designfixes
- * /de/geraete/univac9400/kosten.shtm: Neue Seite, dafür
- /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/univac/kosten-gleichsetzung
- /shared/img/fresh.design/menu-bg/autos.png sowie neu
- /en/devices/univac9400/costs.shtm englische Übersetzung
- * Illustriertes Magnetdrahtspeicherfoto neu:
- /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/speichermedien/magnetdrahtspeicher
- dazu Speichertechnikseiten auf engl. und deutsch aktualisiert,
- neue Übersetzungen
- * Alle Dateien in /de/geraete und /en/devices wurden im
- Zuge der Designumstellung geändert
- * Viele Dateien in /de und /en wurden geändert (Berichtigungen,
- neue "Was gibt es neues"-Texte)
-
- VERSION 5.8 GAMMA - (06.08.2008 00:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Die komplette Homepage wurde in das SVN-Repositorium überführt.
-
- VERSION 5.8 BETA - (28.07.2008 16:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Das Verzeichnis /en wird jetzt erstmals in einem SVN-Repositorium
- geführt. An dem Changelog aendert sich dabei aber zunächst nichts.
- * /en: Quasi komplett geaendert
- * /de: Sehr viele undokumentierte Aenderungen Heriberts, quasi
- alles geaendert
- * Neue Seiten: /de/geraete/ncr446 und /en/devices/ncr446;
- * Neue Bilder, alle autonom vom Heribert:
- /shared/photos/kommunikationstechnik/schulelektronik.jpg,
- ~/aeg-oszi.jpg, ~/hellschreiber.jpg, ~/klein-reporter,spulen.jpg,
- ~/klein-reporter.jpg, ~/kosmograph.jpg, ~/schulphysik.jpg
- ~/olympia-schreibautomat.jpg, ~/schaub-lorenz-supraphon.jpg,
- /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/ncr-rechner.jpg, ~/ncr_446-detail
- Eine Zusammenfassung von allen Änderungen seit v5.7 FINAL gibt es
- auf /etc/txt/v5.8
-
- VERSION 5.7.22 - (18.06.20008 03:18)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Sync der englischen Übersetzung:
- * /en/index: "What's new": BULL GAMMA 3
- * /en/computer/tabulating-machine: BULL GAMMA 3, 10
- * /en/computer/storage-media: Delay Line Memory (BULL)
- * /en/inc/menu.inc.shtm: "Tabulating Machine" erweitert um
- "BULL GAMMA 3 and GAMMA 10"
- Viele undokumentierte Änderungen Heriberts:
- * /de/index, /de/lehrerinfo, /de/suche,
- /de/rechnertechnik/kommerzielle, ~/tabelliermaschine
- * neue bzw. geänderte Fotos:
- /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/wang_320se.jpg,
- bull-gamma-3-offen.jpg, bull-gamma-10.jpg,
- gamma-10-von-hinten.jpg, gamma-10-drucker.jpg,
- /shared/photos/start/dezi-exp.JPG
-
- VERSION 5.7.21 - (03.2008 bis 08.04.2008)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Viele undokumentierte Änderungen Heriberts:
- * /de/index inzwischen mehrfach geändert, "Was gibt es neues",
- mittlerweile BULL GAMMA 3, dafür neu
- /shared/photos/start/bull-gamma-10-offen-klein.jpg
- * /de/impressum wurde auch geändert, Änderung aber zurückgenommen
- (irgendein blöder Spruch über kB und kiB...)
- * /de/lehrerinfo hat sich offensichtlich auch geändert
- * /de/suche wurde weiter verschandelt (
zur
- Formatierung missbraucht...)
- * in mir unbekanntem Ausmaß wurden /de/rechnertechnik/analogrechner,
- /de/rechnertechnik/lochkarten-edv und
- /de/kommunikationstechnik/faxtechnik offensichtlich verändert
- * BULL GAMMA 3 neu, dafür
- * /de/rechnertechnik/tabelliermaschine komplett geändert
- * neue Bilder: /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/bull-gamma-3-offen.jpg,
- ~/bull-gamma-3.jpg, ~/bull-gamma-10-offen.jpg,
- ~/bull-gamma-10.jpg, ~/bull-bs-pr/bull-tabelliermaschine.jpg,
- ~/bull-bs-pr/offen1.jpg (schrecklich! was für Namen!),
- ~/bull-bs-pr/relais1.jpg (das schmerzt in den Augen...)
- * /en/computer/tabulating-machine.shtm, weil er intelligenterweise
- mal wieder alle Bilder gelöscht hat. Dort auch gleich noch
- verzerrt eingebunden, musste also nachgebessert werden
- * /de/inc/menu.inc.shtm wg. verändertem Seitentext für
- Tabelliermaschinenseite
- * BULL GAMMA 3 Laufzeitspeicher neu, dafür
- * /de/rechnertechnik/speichermedien oben hinzugefügt
- * neue Bilder:
- .../speichermedien/bull-gamma-3-laufzeitspeicher-gross.jpg
- und ~/bull-gamma-3-laufzeitspeicher.jpg
- * eine kleine saubere Änderung von mir:
- /shared/css/fresh.css - Seitenhöhe endlich gefixt
-
- VERSION 5.7.20 - (21.03.2008 23:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- kleine Aenderungen an der deutschen Version:
- * /de/rechnertechnik/analogrechner: Heathkit EC-1 korrigiert
- * Heriberts Aenderungen an /de/index ("Was gibt es neues")
- Komplett-Synchronisation der englischen Version
- * /en/index: What's new: analog computer Heathkit EC-1
- * /en/communication/broadcasting: Neues Rundfunkecke-Bild inkl. Text
- * /en/communiaction/fax: Neue Eingangsbilder inkl. Text und
- /en/devices/morse_telegraph neu, ausserdem
- * Siemens KF 106 neu, KF 108 mit neuem Bild
- * Hellfax BS 100 mit neuen Bildern, Siemens Teletype neu
- * /en/computer/punchcard: Punch card sorter und collator erstmals
- übersetzt (u.a. Dank an Udo)
- * /en/devices/punchcard-sorter neu, dafuer die uebersetzte Grafik
- /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/grafiken/lochkartensortierer.en.gif
- * /en/devices/punchcard-collator neu, auch dafuer die Grafik
- /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/grafiken/lochkartenmischer.en.gif
- * /en/computer/analog: Heathkit EC-1 hinzugefuegt
- * /en/computer/storage-media: Neues Kernspeicherbild
-
- VERSION 5.7.19 - (irgendwann 03.2008)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Verschiedene eigenständige Änderungen Heriberts
- * /de/index: Was gibt es neues: Heathkit EC-1, dafür
- /shared/photos/start/Heathkit%20EC-1.JPG
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/faxtechnik: KF 106 neu, dafür
- /shared/photos/kommunikationstechnik/siemens_kf106.jpg
-
- VERSION 5.7.18 - (18.02.2008)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * Lehrerinfo ins Menue aufgenommen, dazu
- * /de/index: Seitenrelationen (naechste Seite)
- * /de/etc/menu.inc: Lehrerinfo aufgenommen vor Rundfunktechnik
- * /de/lehrerinfo: Umbenannt zu "Didaktische Konzeption,
- Informationen für Lehrer", neuer Text, Seitenrelation,
- Praesentationsbild verkleinert, kein Link mehr zum Klassenfoto
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/rundfunk: Seitenrelation (vorherige)
- * /de/geraete/lochkartensortierer-funktion: Typos von Udo
- * /en/index: Datum korrigiert ("january 2008")
- * Zwischenzeitlich ist ausserdem geschehen:
- * /de/rechnertechnik/speichermedien: Neues Kernspeicher-Bild
- /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/speichermedien/kernspeicher-weiss
-
- VERSION 5.7.17 - (03.02.2008 24:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Aenderungen vom 02.02.08 hier mit aufgefuehrt:
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/rundfunk: Ausschnitt Rundfunkecke
- neues Bild (+ Text), dafuer neu:
- /shared/photos/kommunikationstechnik/neuer-ausschnitt-rundfunkecke
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/faxtechnik neu bebildert:
- * Bereichsausschnitt neue Bilder:
- telegrafie-regal.jpg, morseschreiber.jpg
- * Morsetelegraf rausgenommen, dafuer neue Extraseite
- /de/geraete/morsetelegraf.shtm mit altem grossem Bild
- * Siemens KF108 neues Bild: siemens_kf108-gross.jpg
- * Hellfax neue Bilder: hellfax_bs110-geschlossen.jpg,
- hellfax_bs110-geoeffnet.jpg
- * Siemens Fernschreiber neu: fernschreiber.jpg
- * IE-Bug bei .boxed-Layout zentral korrigiert unter
- /shared/css/fresh-iefixing.css
-
- VERSION 5.7.15 - (29.01.2008)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- technikum29 ist heute nachmittag auf den neuen V-Server von Strato
- umgezogen! Die Homepagestruktur blieb zunächst gleich, als kleine
- Neuheit gibt es /favicon.ico
- * /de/lehrerinfo wurde zur Inhaltsseite angehoben, allerdings ohne
- Auflistung im Menue
- * /de/inc/menu.inc.shtm und /en/inc/menu.inc.shtm: Copyright von
- "2003-2007" auf "2003-2008" umgestellt
-
- VERSION 5.7.14 - (07.01.2008 00:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/index: Was gibt es neues: Praesentationsbereich
- * /de/lehrerinfo mit dem gleichen vergroesserten Bild
- * neu: /shared/photos/start/praesentation.jpg und
- /shared/photos/start/praesentation-gross.jpg
- * /shared/css/common: .desc-right fuer Lehrerinfoseite veraendert
-
- VERSION 5.7.13 - (01.12.2007 24:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /en/computer/storage-media: Plated Wire hinzugefuegt
- * /en/devices/plated-wire-storage neu, eigene Uebersetzung
-
- VERSION 5.7.12 - (27.11.2007 24:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Englischer Sync mit den 5.7.11-Aenderungen:
- * /en/index: Univac-Panorama
- * /en/communication/fax: Telegrafenboxtext geaendert
- * /en/computer/univac9400: Panoramabild, Text geaendert
- * /en/devices/univac9400/panorama neu, ~/console+uniservo geaendert
-
- VERSION 5.7.11 - (04.11.2007)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/index: Telegrafenbox raus, Univac-UNISERVO 16 rein, dafür
- * /shared/photos/start/univac-panorama.jpg neu
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/faxtechnik: Text zu Telegrafenbox geändert
- * /de/rechnertechnik/univac9400: Neues Panoramabild, Text geändert
- * /shared/css/common.css geändert (Menü auf Univac nach unten)
- * /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/univac/panorama-rechts.jpg,
- panorama-links.jpg, panorama-links.klein.jpg, uniservo-12-16.jpg,
- uniservo-12-16.klein.jpg neu
- * /de/geraete/univac9400/panorama-links neu,
- ~/konsole+uniservo.shtm geändert wg. neuem Bild
-
- VERSION 5.7.10 - (19.10.2007)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/geraete/: Lochkartensortierer- und
- Mischer-Grafiken Fehlerberichtigungen
- Außerdem undokumentierte Änderungen an Dateien von v5.7.9 seitens
- Heriberts.
-
- VERSION 5.7.9 - (15.10.2007 23:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Vektorgrafiken zur Funktionsweise von Magnetdrahtspeicher und
- Lochkartensortierer/-mischer, dazu
- * Ordner /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/geraete/ neu (10 GIFs)
- * /de/rechnertechnik/edv-technik zwecks Links zu (neu:)
- /de/geraete/lochkartenmischer-funktion, lochkartensortierer-funktion
- * /de/rechnertechnik/speichermedien Titel umbenannt + Magnetdraht-
- speicher hinzugefügt, Link zu (neu:)
- /de/geraete/magnetdrahtspeicher
- Verschiedene Ordner (in /shared) haben jetzt HEADER.shtm-Dateien
- zwecks informeller Beschreibung. Änderungen betreffen nicht die
- Homepage und werden hier nicht aufgeführt.
-
- VERSION 5.7.8 - (16.09.2007 00:20)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Viele englische Updates
- * kleine Fixes: /en/fax, /en/measurement, /en/devices/ultramar_back,
- /en/inc/menu, /en/computer/electron-tubes, ~/punchcard
- * Initialübersetzung von Speichermedien: /en/computer/storage-media
- neu: /en/devices/magenetic-stick-memory, /en/devices/threaded-rom
- Vielen Dank an Bernd Ulmann (www.vaxman.de) für die zahlreichen
- englischen Übersetzungen und Tipps :-)
-
- VERSION 5.7.7 - (08.09.2007 24:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/rechnertechnik/analogrechner und /en/devices/analog EAI 185,
- EAI 180 und DO 240 hinzugefügt, dafür
- * /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/analogrechner-details.jpg,
- do_240.jpg, eai185.jpg neu, eai180.jpg aktualisiert
-
- VERSION 5.7.6 - (29.08.2007 22:20)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /shared/css/fresh: Safari2-Bug (Opacity) beseitigt
- * /en/search neu, dafür /en/computer/storage-media, /en/inc/menu
- und /en/contact Relationen geändert
- * /de/suche: Heriberts Text neu + enlink
-
- VERSION 5.7.5 - (28.08.2007 21:40)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Komplettsynchronisation der englischen Homepage inklusive Übernahme
- des neuen Designs
- * /en: komplett neu
- * Viele (vor allem in /de/geraete) Dateien geändert, zwecks korrektem
- Sprachlink.
- * /de/index: "Über die Homepage"-Box entfernt
- Außerdem Designanpassungen und -korrekturen:
- * /shared/css/: Alle CSS geändert
- * /shared/img/banner/big.en.png neu
-
- VERSION 5.7.1 - (17.08.2007 23:45)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/index, Was gibt es neues: Telegrafenstation
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/faxtechnik: Telegrafenstation neu
- mit Javascript-"Öffnen"-Spielchen, dafür
- * /shared/photos/start/telegrafenstation,
- /shared/photos/kommunikationstechnik/telegrafenstation-halboffen
- und telegrafenstation-offen
- * /de/rechnertechnik/speichermedien: Gefädeltes ROM neu, dafür
- * /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/speichermedien/nixdorf-rom-gesamt
- * /de/geraete/gefaedeltes-rom.shtm neu
- * /shared/photos/re...medien/nixdorf-rom-ausschnitt
- Zwischenzeitlich wurden vermutlich undokumentierte Änderungen
- Heriberts durchgeführt.
-
- VERSION 5.7 FINAL - (23.07.2007 24:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Offizielle Veröffentlichung des neuen Designs. Viele neue Inhalte,
- Gliederung neu, Aufmachung neu -- Zusammenfassung auf /etc/txt/v5.7
- Nur kleine Änderungen von 5.7 BETA:
- * neue Sidebar-Hintergründe für Fernsehen, Messtechnik, Lochkarten
- * Messtechnik: Stäbchenspeicher inkl. Extraseite anders/neu
-
- VERSION 5.7 BETA - (23.07.2007 01:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Größtes Update in der Geschichte der technikum29.de-Homepage:
- Komplettes Redesign und sehr viel neuer oder geänderter Inhalt
- * Alle Seiten in /de/ geändert. Viele neue Seiten, aber auch einige
- nicht mehr genutzte (in /de/geraete/)
- * Komplette Restrukturierung in /shared/css
- * Komplette Restrukturierung in /shared/img
- * /shared/js/ie5.js neu
- * Sehr viele neue oder aktualisierte Bilder in /shared/photos, z.B.
- Verzeichnis ~/rechnertechnik/speichermedien neu mit 6 Bildern
- Ausführliche Änderungen unter /etc/txt/v5.7
-
- VERSION 5.6.17 - (20.06.2007 22:45)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/index: Neuzugänge: Universalmessgerät Siemens & Halske, dafür
- /shared/photos/start/universalmessgeraet2.jpg
- * Nixdorf 820 von Neuzugang nach /de/rechnertechnik/lochkarten-edv
- verschoben
- * /de/geraete/nixdorf: Rückverweis auf Lochkarten-EDV erstellt
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/fernsehen:
- * Saba-Telerama anklickbar, dafür neu /de/geraete/saba-telerama
- und /shared/photos/kommunikationstechnik/telerama-schmitt-optik
- * .../kommunikationstechnik/telefunken_bildplattenspieler_tp1005
- hinzugefügt
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/tontechnik:
- * Loewe-Opta-Bild ersetzt (kommunikationstechnik/loewe_opta.jpg)
- * .../kommunikationstechnik/schaub-lorenz_supraphon.jpg
- * Das neue schaub-Lorenz-Supraphon anklickbar
- (/de/geraete/schaub-lorenz-supraphon.shtm), dafür
- /shared/photos/kommunikationstechnik/supraphon_ausschnitt.jpg
-
- VERSION 5.6.16 - (11.06.2007 23:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/fernsehen: Saba Telerama & Sony KP 5000
- neu, dafür /shared/photos/kommunikationstechnik/saba_telerama.jpg
- und ~/sony_kp5000.jpg
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/tontechnik: (Schaub-)Lorenz Supraphon neu,
- dafür /shared/photos/kommunikationstechnik/schaub-lorenz_supraphon
- * /de/rechnertechnik/lochkarten-edv: kleine Designänderungen an der
- Seite, IBM 083 Sortiermaschine neu, dafür
- /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/ibm_083.jpg
-
- VERSION 5.6.15 - (07.06.2007 23:15)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/rechnertechnik/lochkarten-edv: IBM 029 & Juki sowie IBM 548 neu
- * Neu: /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/ibm_029-juki.jpg & ~/ibm_548.jpg
-
- VERSION 5.6.14 - (06.06.2007 22:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/index: Neuzugang (Nixdorf 820 Komplettanlage)
- * Neu: /de/geraete/nixdorf820 (Konsole)
- * Neu: /shared/photos/start/nixdorf_820
- * Neu: /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/nixdorf_820-konsole
-
- VERSION 5.6.13 - (26.05.2007 24:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/impressum, /en/contact, /en/inc/menu.inc.shtm:
- Impressums-Übersetzung war uralt und fehlerhaft
-
- VERSION 5.6.12 - (01.05.2007 22:30)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/rechnertechnik/programmierbare: Wang 320 SE hinzugefügt
- * /de/geraete/wang320.shtm: Neu (Großes Photo)
- * /shared/photos/wang_320se.jpg, wang_320se-keyboard.jpg
-
- VERSION 5.6.11 - (25.04.2007 21:45)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/impressum: Link zu Google Maps
- zwischenzeitlich undokumentierte Änderungen an den 5.6.10-Dateien
-
- VERSION 5.6.10 - (24.04.2007)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Viele neue Bilder (mit Text) in der Rechnertechnik:
- * /de/rechnertechnik/transistoren: Friden 130 hinzugefuegt
- * ~/programmierbare: Olivetti P203, HP 9100
- * ~/ic-technik: Wang 700 (neues Bild+Text), neu /de/geraete/wang700
- * Neu unter /shared/photos: wang700-detail.jpg, wang_700-anlage.jpg,
- hp9100.jpg, olivetti_p203, frieden130 (sic)
-
- VERSION 5.6.9 - (04.2007)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- undokumentierte Änderungen Heriberts während der Osterferien:
- * 04.04: /de/ (Tag des Museums), 05.04: /de/rechnertechnik/univac9400,
- 10.04: /de/impressum, /de/suche
-
- VERSION 5.6.8 - (24.03.2007 24:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /en/index: Sync mit /de/index (VW-Samstag Neuzugänge)
- * /en/computer/programmable: Sync (NCR von 5.6.4, Diehl Combitron
- von Extraseite direkt rein)
-
- VERSION 5.6.7 - (11.03.2007 22:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/index: Neuzugänge vom VW-Samstag (Nixdorf-Stanzer, Yoki-Stanzer,
- IBM Sortierer-Nachfolgemodell)
- * /shared/photos/start/neuzugang-maerz-2007.jpg neu dafür
-
- VERSION 5.6.6 - (16.02.2007 23:45)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/computer/lochkarten-edv: Bull-Kartenstanzer dazugekommen
- * /en/computer/punchcard: Mit DM-Euro-Dollar-Wechselkurs umgerechnet;
- Bull-Kartenstanzer mitübernommen
- * /de/index: Sync des aktuellen Teiles mit aktuellem BULL-Inhalt
-
- VERSION 5.6.5 - (03.02.2007 20:30)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * Initialübersetzung der Lochkarten-EDV (v5.6)
- * /en/inc/menu.shtm aktualisiert
- * Neu: /en/computer/punchcard.shtm
- * /en/computer/electro-mechanical &
- /en/computer/electrontubes Relationenänderungen
- * Neue Extraseiten /en/devices/bull-bs-pr mit jeweils
- relais.shtm, uncovered.shtm und uncovered-side.shtm
- * Wichtig: /de/rechnertechnik/lochkarten-edv: Englischer Link!
- * /en/devices/anita: Glimmlampenbild neu (Sync mit deutscher Version)
-
- VERSION 5.6.4 - (02.02.2007 22:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/index: NCR-Rechner verschoben und neugetextet nach
- /de/rechnertechnik/programmierbare
-
- VERSION 5.6.3 - (29.01.2007 23:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Verschiedene kleine Bugfixes verstreut in der deutschen Fassung:
- * /de/lehrerinfo: des technikum*s* - Genitiv "S" bitteschön.
- * /de/rechnertechnik/analogrechner: Absätze formatiert, en-link fix
-
- VERSION 5.6.2 - (25.01.2007 22:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/geraete/bull-bs-pr/* typo "BS-PR"
- Zwischenzeitliche unkommentierte Änderungen Heriberts möglich. So
- zum Beispiel
- * /de/rechnertechnik/lochkarten-edv - v5.6.1-Edit von ihm
- überschrieben. Englischer Linkfix nochmals vollzogen
-
- VERSION 5.6.1 - (08.01.2007 22:30)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/rechnertechnik/lochkarten-edv (englischer Link)
- * /en/no-translation
- Mit der Regex-Implementierung, die Apache 1.3.3s mod_include, welches
- 1und1 anbietet, ist es sinnlos, irgendetwas mt Verstand aufsetzen
- zu wollen. Die "Keine Übersetzung"sseite besteht nun nur noch aus
- einem Satz und fertig. Wird Zeit, dass technikum29.de zu einem
- ordentlichen Webhosting-Angebot umzieht.
-
- VERSION 5.6 - (06.01.2007)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~
- Großes inhaltliches Update in der Rechnertechnik-Branche
- * Neue Seite: Lochkarten-EDV
- * /de/inc/menu.shtm aktualisiert
- * /de/rechnertechnik/elektro-mechanik &
- /de/rechnertechnik/elektronenroehren Relationenänderungen
- * Neu: /de/rechnertechnik/lochkarten.shtm
- * Neue Extraseiten: /de/geraete/bull-bs-pr mit jeweils
- offen.shtm, relais.shtm und seitlich-offen.shtm
- * Verschiebungen der (Lochkarten-)EDV-Anteile aus "Frühe Computer"
- * /de/rechnertechnik/ic-technik & /de/rechnertechnik/univac Rel.
- * /de/rechnertechnik/fruehe-computer Titel umbenannt, Inhalt
- * "Neuzugänge" mit BULL BS-PR erweitert, Messgerät entfernt
- * /de/index aktualisiert
- * Zahlreiche neue Bilder:
- * /shared/photos/start/bull-bs-pr-tabelliermaschine.jpg
- * /shared/photos/rechnertechnik/bull-bs-pr neu mit
- bull-tabelliermaschine.jpg, offen.jpg, offen.thumb.jpg,
- relais.jpg, relais.thumb.jpg, seitlich-offen.jpg
- seitlich-offen.thumb.jpg
- * IBM Sorter: shared/photos/rechnertechnik/ibm-082-sorter.jpg
- und ~/ibm-082-sorter.offen.jpg
-
-
- VERSION 5.5.11 - (30.12.2006 01:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- /en-Update:
- * /en/index mit /de/index synchronisiert (New entrants auf 5.5.9)
- * verschiedene Uploads von alten Bugfixes: Seiten mit
- "seccond" => "second"; /en/details1 und /en/details2
-
- VERSION 5.5.10 - (15.12.2006 23:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/index: "einfachen Counter" auf Anliegen entfernt, siehe
- /etc/counter
- * (vermeintliches) Aufräumen einzelner Verzeichnisse in /de,
- konkret wurden alte Backup-Dateien in "old"-Verzeichnisse
- geschoben
- * nicht-protokollierte Änderungen Heriberts (mindestens eine Datei
- in /de/kommunikationstechnik)
-
- VERSION 5.5.9 - (02.12.2006 22:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de ("Neuzugänge") wieder einmal aktualisiert, neu dazu kamen
- NCR-Rechner und Universalmessgerät (siehe /photos/start/)
- Hinweis: zwischenzeitliche Änderungen an /de/index auf Seiten
- Heriberts sind wie immer undokumentiert...
-
- VERSION 5.5.8 - (30.09.2006 18:30)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /en/index: Kleine Textänderungen
- * /en/communication/broadcasting: Neuübersetzung, danke an B.Ulmann
- * /en/inc/menu.inc.shtm: Univac9400 mit in der Liste (bug behoben)
-
- VERSION 5.5.7 - (04.09.2006 21:30)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /shared/css/screen: min-height für #content von 660 auf 750px
- erhöht, weil Menü in Footer reinrragte (Bug bei besonders kurzen
- Seiten, z.B. /de/suche)
-
- VERSION 5.5.6 - (06.08.2006 24:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * neue Startseite mit gleicherwertiger Nennung von
- deutsch und englisch - /index.html
- * Update: /shared/css/startseite.css - Designänderung
- * Neu: /shared/js/startseite.js - Funktion zum Anklicken der Sprache
-
- VERSION 5.5.5 - (02.08.2006 22:07)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * Erstübersetzung von /en/computer/univac9400. Mitbetroffen sind:
- * Relationen: /en/~/early-computers, /en/~/analog,
- /de/rechnertechnik/univac9400
- * Neu: /en/devices/univac9400 (Ordner) inklusive aller 9 Dateien
- * Update von /en/index ("aktuell"-sync mit deutscher Version)
-
- VERSION 5.5.4 - (~ 07.2006)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * update /de/index
- * /shared/photos/start/bull_kartenstanzer.jpg
- /shared/photos/start/telefunken-RA_742.jpg
- neu für /de/index
-
- VERSION 5.5.3 - (03.06.2006 13:40)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * Designfehler bei /de/rechnertechnik/univac9400 besetitigt,
- /shared/css/additional.css dafür etwas verändert
-
- VERSION 5.5.2 - (12.05.2006 22:25)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * update /de/index, /de/rechnertechnik/univac9400
- * Zerstümmelung des Listenlayouts im /de/index-Inhalt in
- /shared/css/start.css (auf Wunsch)
-
- VERSION 5.5.1 - (26,04,2006 24:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * neu /de/geraete/univac/werbung & /shared/../univac9400/werbung*
- update /de/rechnertechnik/univac9400
- * /de/rechnertechnik/analogrechner update wegen link auf en
- * zahlreiche Updates in /en (kleine Verbesserungen)
-
- VERSION 5.5 FINAL - (23.04.2006 23:44)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * Erste Veröffentlichung der englischen Version unter /en
- * /robots.txt verändert
- Ausführliche Hinweise zu den Vorhaben und deren Umsetzung in
- /etc/txt/v5.5.shtm
-
- VERSION 5.5 BETA - (20.04.2006 23:50)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /shared/photos neu strukturiert (in Unterordner eingeteilt)
- * Umstellung aller Seiten auf XHTML
- * Umstellung aller Seiten auf das neue Photos-Verzeichnis
- * Kleinere Fehler entfernt
- * Links auf englische Version bereits gesetzt
- * Zusammenlegung von /de/inc/details.inc.shtm und
- /de/inc/extra.inc.shtm
- * CSS aktualisiert (u.a. /shared/css/print)
- Die 5.5 ALPHA war die Ersteinführung von /en/, wurde aber
- nicht dokumentiert. Während der Entwicklungsphase ist das
- englische Projekt in /en-v5.5/ anzutreffen
-
- VERSION 5.4.1 - (31.03.2006 22:30)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * (Auf dringenden Wunsch) Screendesign kaputt gemacht
- (Hässlicher Riesenabstand im Menü erzeugt)
- * Kleinere Typo-Fehler beseitigt
-
- VERSION 5.4 FINAL - (28.03.2006 22:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * Sehr viele neue Inhalte (Univac-Seiten), große Updates
- * Viele neue Bilder (z.B. Messtechnik, HP-Rechner, etc.)
- * Viele geupdatete Dateien (quasi Komplettupdate)
- * Neues CSS: additional.css
-
- VERSION 5.2.16 - (15.12.2005 20:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/index - Rechtschreibfehler entfernt, HTML gesäubert
- zwischen v5.2.15 un v5.2.16 können unter Umständen undokumentierte
- Änderungen an der Datei /de/index vorgenommen worden sein.
-
- VERSION 5.2.15 - (06.11.2005 21:45)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Das technikum29 wurde am 05.11.05 eröffnet!
- * /de/index - kleine Textänderung, Univac9400 Thumbnail Link
- * /shared/photos/univac9400 - update
- * /shared/photos/univac9400_thumb - für /de/index
- * /de/geraete/univac9400 - große Version des Univac9400-Bildes
-
- VERSION 5.2.14 - (03.11.2005 19:15)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Typo-Fehler durch Tante Sia
- * /de/index - sonntags klein, ihr fehlt die Uhrzeit bei "Erste Öffnung"
- * /de/suche - Kommatafehler nach "würden" und "alles"
- * /de/rechnertechnik/analogrechner - x-y-Schreiber zu xy-Schreiber!?
- 10ms zu 10 ms, und mehr (siehe diff zu $0-backup)
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/rundfunk - "das waren nur wenige" durch
- Gedankenstriche abgegrenzt
-
- VERSION 5.2.13 - (28.10.2005 02:05)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Typo-Fehler und ähnliches
- * /de/lehrerinfo - Leerzeichen vor ? entfernt
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/faxtechnik - Solidität :
- * /de/rechnertechnik/fruehe-computer - >> Details 2
- * /de/rechnertechnik/analogrechner - placiert zu plaziert
-
- VERSION 5.2.12 - (14.10.2005 19:40)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/kontakt - Hinweis wegen Formular (war noch erreichbar)
- * /de/index - Link zum Kontaktformular weggemacht
-
- VERSION 5.2.11 - (13.10.2005 01:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/tontechnik - Designfehler ist weg
- * /de/rechnertechnik/ic-technik - hp-rechner haben mehr Abstand
- * /de/index - richtiger Counter eingesetzt (siehe /etc/tmp/counter)
- * unter Umständen andere kleinere undokumentierte Updates
-
- VERSION 5.2.10 - (05.07.2005 22:40)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/rechnertechnik/analogrechner - update
- * /shared/photos/heathkit-analogrechner.jpg - neu
- * /shared/photos/heathkit-analogrechner-ausschnitt.jpg -neu
-
- VERSION 5.2.7 - (26.05.2005 15:30)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * kleines Update von /shared/css/screen.css
-
- VERSION 5.2.6 - (21.05.2005)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * Es gibt wohl keine eigenen Programme mehr - siehe auch /dev/
- * /de/impressum.shtm, /de/index.shtml update wegen Counter
- und Mailprogramm
-
- VERSION 5.2.5 - (16.05.2005 21:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/lehrerinfo.shtm update
- * /shared/css/screen.css update (h2 margin-top)
- * /de/fernsehen.shtm, /de/rundfunk.shtm & /de/faxtechnik.shtm
- Designkorrektur
-
- VERSION 5.2.4 - (13.05.2005 20:30)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/index.shtml update
- * /de/lehrerinfo.shtm neu
- * /de/impressum.shtm update
-
- VERSION 5.2.3 - (12.05.2005)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Einige Änderungen, u.a. an /de/index.shtml, /de/impressum.shtm,
- /de/suche.shtm, /de/rechnertechnik/fruehe-computer.shtm
-
- VERSION 5.2.2 - (02.05.2005 20:15)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/kommunikationstechnik/index.htm
- * /de/rechnertechnik/index.htm
- wurden entfernt und durch symlinks auf die jeweiligen Startdateien
- der Homepageteile ersetzt. Vorteil: keine lästigen
- "Weiterleitungs"-Nachrichten.
- Zu Symlinks ("Softlinks") siehe auch
- http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolischer_Link
-
-
- VERSION 5.2.1 - (01.05.2005 22:45)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Designproblembehebungen
- * /de/fernsehen.shtm, /de/rundfunk.shtm & /de/faxtechnik.shtm
- Ausschnitte (ganz oben) Designkorrigierungen
- * /de/tontechnik.shtm - Designproblem an Seitenende gelöst
- * /de/index.shtml - Musemsgebäude-Box mehr Abstand und
- Floating-problem gelöst, etc.
- darüberhinaus geupdatet:
- * /de/inc/head.inc.shtm
- * /shared/css/screen.css
- * /shared/css/screen.ie5-fixes.css
- * /shared/css/start.css
- Ungelöste Designprobleme: * Linkpfeile der Extraseiten für IEs
- (siehe auch TODO.txt) * Linkpfeile generell für IEs
-
- VERSION 5.2 - (30.04.2005 23:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~
- Sehr viel inhaltliche Updates, neue Bilder
- * geändert praktisch alles in /de/
- * neue Bilder in /shared/photos/
- * /shared/css/screen.css und extra.css
-
- VERSION 5.1.2 - (25.04.2005 20:00)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- einige updates: fehlerseiten, /dev-Zone. zur Homepage:
- * /shared/css/screen.css
-
- VERSION 5.1.1 - (18.04.2005 23:30)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- * /de/inc/details.inc.shtm - Fehler:
fehlte
- * /shared/css/print.css - kleine optimierung
-
- VERSION 5.1 FINAL RELEASE - (15.04.2005 21:24)
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- 5.1 FINAL! Alle Zusammengefassten Neuheiten von Version 5.0 bis 5.1
- siehe unter www.technikum29.de/etc/txt/v5.1.shtm
- Changes von 5.1. Gamma:
- * Geräteseiten haben jetzt richtige ul.nav-Linkbullets
- * weitere kleine updates (z.b. gibt es jetzt richtige 404er im style)
- aktualisiert/neu:
- * /shared/css/screen.css, extra.css
- * /shared/img/banner/int.jpg (internationaler banner)
- * /de/inc/extra.inc.shtm (
- Clicking on the picture yields the innards of the
- Telefunken T 40W.
-
-
-
-
The following pictures show some recievers of outstanding design
- and outstanding technical features. The picture gallery could be
- continued with open end.
- Many other curiosities can be found in our museum, and there's
- no epoch without an outstanding audio experience: Detector devices,
- battery driven recievers (1920s), "Luxus-Super" (1930s), early
- radiogramophones (1932) and the first postwar recievers with
- motor-channel search and cable-remote control: SABA Freiburg 3D
- (1954). This milestone features five built-in speakers, having
- such an impressing sound that even today's people with all their
- consumer electronics are faszinated of this 50 years old device.
- Overall, you can get an impression how broadcasting was experienced
- two or three generations ago.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Telefunken T650 and T500
-
-
-
-
Loudspeakers were integrated into broadcasting devices since about 1932.
- Furthermore the devices were (of course) still adapted to contemporary
- style. These Telefunken export devices (T650 and T500) especially stick
- out. Being built as "super" models (improving recieve quality by generating
- an intermediate frequency) the technical working was very good.
-
-
-
-
-
- Having intelligent all-in-one furniture suitable for all kinds of music is an old dream
- which appeared some years after the introducion of mass broadcasting. The radiogramophone
- on the left is the Telefunken 650 GK from 1931/32. The record player was quite
- modern, featuring a magnetic system and electric motor. On the other hand it still used
- gramophone needles and the needlessly weighty pick-up stressed the records.
- Nevertheless the sound quality of the radiogramophone was much better, compared to an
- ordinary gramophone player. The chassis is made out of noble walnut trees, therefore
- this piece of furniture was very expensive.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Körting Ultramar: One of the most
- nobel, most complex and most expensive recievers made in 1935.
- Its circuitry contains 11 vacuum tubes driving two loudspeakers
- which results in an astonishable quality of sound. See also
- some pictures showing the Innards of the Ultramar.
-
-
-
-
-
-
The portable reveceiver from Metz, built in
- 1956 and shown on the left, is another outstanding piece of equipment.
- It is a so called "Kofferradio" (suitcase radio) since it is portable
- and optionally battery driven, and of course since it is as compact as
- carry-on-baggage. It even features an integrated recordplayer - forseeing the
- development of modern multipurpose receiver/CD-player combinations.
- Of course it still used tubes. Youth would have been able to listen to
- Elvis Presley at the swiming pool if the device were not as expensive.
+ Som of the broadcast devices in the exhibition – from left to right:
+ the twenties, early thirties, mid-thirties, late thirties,
+ early fifties.
+
+
+
+
+
+
It is astonishing to see the incredible pace at which the development of
+ broadcasting systems took place. Beginning with very simple devices using
+ crystals for demodulation the technology matured very fast and resulted
+ in the design and development of high performance transmitters and receivers
+ employing super heterodyning and the like.
+ This paved the way from simple crystal receivers which required special
+ skills to operate to everyday radios which were easy to operate and soon
+ could be found in nearly every household. A process which took a mere 15
+ years from its first steps to near perfection.
+ This development is reflected in the appearance of the devices as well. While
+ the first receivers were of a very technical design, later devices turned into
+ wonderful pieces of furniture, fitting neatly into the average household and
+ denying the fact that the receiver itself was a rather complicated piece of
+ equipment. This page shows some selected examples from the collection of the
+ museum which contains about 150 different receivers.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Receiver made by Signalbau Huth (model E72):
+ This is an example of a cheap
+ receiver made in 1928. It was one of the first models which could
+ be connected to the mains thus eliminating the bulky anode batteries
+ requires by previous generations of receivers.
+ The sound quality of this receiver is quite limited and the horn
+ loudspeaker makes for a sound which one would expect from a tin can.
+
+
+
+
+
Wealthy people could afford a Telefunken W9
+ (shown in the picture on the left) which was available during the
+ same time frame. Equipped with an Acrophon loudspeaker it featured
+ a rich sound although with very limited bass. In addition to this
+ the receiver was quite sensible and could even receive stations
+ far away while the cheap model above was limited to the reception
+ of local broadcast stations.
+
+
+
+
The following pictures show some receivers of outstanding design
+ and outstanding technical properties. Apart from these the
+ museum's collection contains a lot of different receivers
+ covering all stages of the development of public radio
+ broadcasting.
+ These receivers include crystal radios, battery powered receivers
+ from the 1920s, a 'Luxus Super' (1930s) as well as the first postwar
+ receiver equipped with motorized search functionality and remote
+ control by cable, the SABA Freiburg 3D. The sound of this receiver
+ is so rich and impressive that even young people are faszinated and
+ admire this 50 year old technical miracle.
+
+
+
+
+
+
Körting Ultramar: One of the most
+ nobel, most complex and most expensive recievers made in 1935.
+ Its circuitry contains 11 vacuum tubes driving two loudspeakers
+ which results in an astonishable quality of sound. See also
+ some pictures showing the
+ Innards of the Ultramar.
+ The Telefunken 650
+ is another example of the wonderful receivers built in the 1930s.
+
+
+
+
+
The portable reveceiver from Metz, built in
+ 1956 and shown above, is another outstanding piece of equipment.
+ It is a so called "Kofferradio" so it can be carried around and
+ it features even an integrated recordplayer - forseeing the
+ development of modern multipurpose receiver/CD-player combinations
A part from the broadcast devices, in this photo espacially apparatures from the 1920s and 30s.
+
+
+
+
The short time between the moderate launch of broadcasting in the early 1920s and its perfection is amazing. The era of broadcasting began in Germany in 1923, at first with very limited reception quality. 15 years later the quality of reception was almost perfect. At the beginning the apparatures had a very technical design (exactly like today), but since the 30s the radio apparatures changed to partially attractive pieces of furniture. Chosen examples from the museum-holding (150 pieces) for both kinds are shown on this page.
+
+
+
+
Receiver made by SIGNALBAU-HUTH (model E72): This is a cheap affordable apparature from 1928. It could already be connected to the "lighting main" and did not need batteries anymore. The reception quality of the small feedback apparature is very poor. The connected horn made of metall completes the tinny sound.
+
+
+
+
+
Rich persons could buy a Telefunken W9 at the same time. Equipped with the compatible Arcophon loudspeaker, the sound was not tinny anymore, but there was also almost no bass. Additionally the apparatures could receive many broadcast stations that were stationed far away.
+
+
+
+
The next two pictures show two apparatures that point out themselves optically and also technically, but the picture gallery could be continued without stopping.
+ Many other curiosities can be admired in the museum, an audio experience is possible in every epoch: detectors, batterie-receivers (1920s), "Luxus-Super" (1930s) and at the end the first postwar receivers with motor-channel search and cable-remote control: SABA Freiburg 3D. The sound of this milestone with 5 built-in loudspeakers is so impressing that even CD-spoiled kids would stand wondering in front of this nearly 50-years old apparature.
+ All in all you see how broadcasting was two or three generations ago and how fast the aparatures developed.
+
+
+
+
Körting Ultramar, the most nobel, most complex and most expensive apparature from 1935. It contains 11 tubes, two loudspeaker and an enormous quality of reception. See also some pictures of the Inner life of Ultramar. The Telefunken 650 is also one of the most nice apparatures made in 1932.
+
+
+
+
+
A rapid leap in time to the youngest model in the museal collection: The portable receiver from Metz with built-in gramophone. Of course the apparature, built 1956, still uses tubes. Youth would have been able to hear their "Elvis Presley"-records in the swimming pool if the radio were much more cheaper.
An extract from the area fax and writing engineering.
-
Humans always wanted to communicate over very long distances. In the early 20th century
- "Morse" was almost synonymously used for the telegraph technology. Around 1938 the first
- traffic telegraphs arised.
-
-
-
-
-
-
The picture above was printed in the little book "The technical telegraph service" from 1876. As you
- can see, morse telegraphs were already used at that time. This kind of technology is amazing due
- to it's overwhelming simplicity.
- Clicking on the picture which shows the rack yields the telegraph station, made by S.A. HASLER (Bern, Switzerland).
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
This telegraph station was built in the time about 1900. More than 100 years ago, no one cared about time
- thus communication was quite unhurried.
-
-
-
-
-
This picture shows the edgewise view from the morse reciever. The apparature is connected to a paper tape morse transmitter from the 60s.
-
-
-
Fax engineering, Picture Telegraphy
-
-
-
-
It is quite incredible: Fax machines were already mass-produced in 1929. However, it
- was difficult to run these machines. The first pracitcal fax machines are a german invention: The "Normalpapierfax" (a fax machine that
- used usual paper) from Siemens-Hell, year of manufacture 1956, with tube technology, is still completely runable.
- An unhurried and transparent fax transmission (DIN A5) takes about 4 minutes. Theoretically you
- could send a colored fax with that machine!
-
-
-
-
-
-
The Fultograph is an "image reciever", invented by the
- Englishman Otho Fulton in 1929. This devices made it possible to transmit weather
- chartes by funk for the first time in the world.
- The following text is cited from an unknown source from about 1930. It shows up
- a strange world for today's people:
-
-
-
- Who hasn't felt, when listening to a thrilling wireless transmission
- from the opera or when enjoying a radio play, the wish to experience
- such a feat not only with one's ears, but also with one's eyes? How
- often have you regretted to rely solely on your own imagination rather
- than being able to actually see the presentations which sound so
- natural in your ears?
- The realisation of these aspirations, which would be possible by
- distance cinema, has not only failed due to the technical complexities
- of the problems, but especially because of the enormous costs caused
- by such an equipment.
- It is now a truly invaluable achievement that every owner of a good
- wireless apparatus has been put into a position to call something his
- own, which is at least a preliminary stage of a distance cinema, namely
- a radiophoto receiver, providing beautiful and steady images out of the
- ether.
- In the future, broadcasting stations will be able to illustrate their
- acoustic transmissions. Scenic images of public performances, portraits
- of artists, comments on lectures, illustrations of daily reports,
- sketches of sporting events, weather charts, public quizzes and many
-
-
-
-
- other such events can be made an issue of broadcasting in a simple way.
- All owners of a suitable apparatus can – without previous technical
- knowledge and without a dark room – receive these images, which
- will appear in front of your eyes in brilliant brown colour in a matter
- of minutes and which will be ready in stable conditions immediately.
- The simple appliance providing such miracles was quietly developed to
- such a perfection by an English inventor, Captain Otho Fulton, and within
- a short period of time regular image broadcasting will be carried out
- in most European countries, so that the owner of a "Fultograph" –
- this is how Fulton called his image receiver – will be able to
- receive an international image broadcasting programme in his own home.
- The images are true to the originals, distinct and pleasant to watch,
- and apart from that of particular artistic efficacy because of their
- special granularity.
- It takes 3 to 5 minutes to transmit a picture in the format of 9 to
- 12 centimetres.
-
-
The rotating roll, which had been coated with chemically preperated paper, was spirally
- scanned by an attached "pen" (tabluator). In this way an electric current could flow
- from the pen over the paper to the roll in the rythm of the picture informations. That way, the
- image developed by electrolysis.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Very rare Siemens (HELL) fax machine KF 106
-
-
-
-
- This "remote copy machine" was produced in 1954/55. The ink-based write
- approach was already matured. Sad to say, the service-friendliness was
- quite bad. The bulky device (27 kilogram) scans only a DIN A5 sheet.
- Already 1956 the successor KF 108 came on the market, with great
- improvements.
-
- The KF 108 works in a similar way like the Fultograph. Instead of the
- electrochemical recording, ink is put on the usual paper with the help
- of complex mechanics.
-
- It works similar to the fultograph. Instead of a electochemical
- notation, ink is brought by a small rotating sapphire reel onto normal
- paper.
- A KF 108 will even be able to send and recive faxes when the modern
- fax devices are trashed. Of course, it is not compatible to today's
- devices. Siemens produced the device in a typical german manner: Everything
- is huge and indestructible. In these days you did not throw everything away.
-
-
-
- The next fax (year of manufacture 1963, also used for weather cards) weights
- 90 kg and has even electonic tubes. In the 1960s, weather offices were able
- to recive the latest weather cards (with pages bigger than DIN A3) with
- these machines.
- The Hellfax-Blattschreiber BS 100 shows how exhausting it was to send
- DIN A2 fax drawings in the 1960s. This device was used to recive weather
- cards with radio communication. You can also see an Hellfax
- unctional diagram. Clicking on the picture will open the front lid.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Hellfax-Blattschreiber BS 110
-
-
-
-
Teletype technology
-
-
-
-
- Siemens Springschreiber T32
-
-
-
The heyday of mechanics in telecommunications was clearly marked by a wide
-variety of teletypewriters (by the way - this reflects until today in the
-naming of serial line interface devices in UNIX which are traditionally called
-"tty"). The so-called "Springschreiber T32" is quite rare and was built between
-the 1930s and the 1950s. It writes onto a narrow paper strip. It is built so
-heavily that it is nearly indestructible. As F. Schiweck ("Fernschreibtechnik",
-1942) notes:
-
-
"The Teletypewriter is one of this most stunning productions and a marvel of
-mechanical design. It requires the best materials available and is a marvel of
-construction. According to general opinion, its relability of operation is
-extremely high."
-
-
-Back in those heydays of mechanical engineering the field engineers required a
-steady hand, good hearing to spot troublesome noises, and, of course, an oil
-can as well. Their profession vanished in the 1980s.
-
-
-
-
-
- The Hellschreiber GL 72, year of manufacture 1952
- (in the picture on the left). This device assignes an unique
- sequence of frequencies to each key. Thus the device could make use of the
- telephone network, like the later modems did to build up the
- internet. This feature distinguishes it from the ordinary
- teletypes.
-
-
-
-
-
Nevertheless the clatting teletypes coined high speed
- telecommunication for decades. The first teletype was presented
- in 1930 by Siemens & Halske – only three years later,
- the German Post used them for communication all over Germany.
- The first official connection in Germany was build between the capital, Berlin,
- and the Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Unlike the
- Hellschreiber, the teletype did not use the already existing
- telephone network, so they had to build up a seperate telex
- network.
-
- At first there were only 21 subscribers in 1933, but only six
- years later, they counted 1500 subscribers in 1939. In 1975
- there were actually more than 90,000 subscribers. In these
- days, the mechanically working teletypes were replaced by
- electronically driven devices (Telex). Even nowadays, in
- times of the internet, a few developing countries use this
- disaster safe kind of communication.
-
-
-
-
- Siemens Teletype, year of manufacture 1952
-
-
-
-
- Below in the picture, you can see a paper tape sender.
- While typing the text, it was fed into the paper tape and could be send afterwards quite fast.
- This is quite equal how today's e-mail clients work: They buffer the text while the user inputs
- it until it is send in one go, instead of streaming the keyboard input "live" to the recipient.
- Of course this apperature is still fully executable.
-
Recently we saved this large (70cm by 60cm) and wonderful "decoder" from scrap
-at a local university. This device translates 5 bit telegraph codes to their
-corresponding characters. It has been built as a demonstration object by the
-university's machine shop sometime between 1937 and 1949 and has been used
-extensively in lectures.
-Principle of operation: A 5 bit value is set by means of the large levers. Then
-the code wheel is turned slowly until the correct character is in the top
-position which is denoted by lighting a lamp. If, e.g., 10101 is set and the
-code wheel is turned, the lamp will be lit under the character "Y".
-What once was state-of-the-art technology is now used as a decoding device for
-our experimental workshops. There kids can decipher texts given in binary and
-thus gain experience with binary data representation.
-
-
-
Flexowriter
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
As a kind of spin-off products of the teletype
- development, the electromechanical "wordprocessing systems"
- (1962 – 1964) were invented. They were capable
- of duplicating and writing texts automatically, using
- paper tapes and punch cards as storage media.
- The technology of these devices was quite complex
- – at that time only big companies could afford these
- typically German devices.
- The picture above shows the Olympia flexowriter
- with two paper tape readers and one paper tape puncher,
- year of manufacture 1962.
+ An extract from the area fax and writing engineering.
+
Humans always wanted to communicate over very long distances. In the early 20th century
+ "Morse" was almost synonymously used for the telegraph technology. Around 1938 the first
+ traffic telegraphs arised.
+
+
+
+
+
+
The picture above was printed in the little book "The technical telegraph service" from 1876. As you
+ can see, morse telegraphs were already used at that time. This kind of technology is amazing due
+ to it's overwhelming simplicity.
+ Clicking on the picture which shows the rack yields the telegraph station, made by S.A. HASLER (Bern, Switzerland).
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
This telegraph station was built in the time about 1900. More than 100 years ago, no one cared about time
+ thus communication was quite unhurried.
+
+
+
+
+
This picture shows the edgewise view from the morse reciever. The apparature is connected to a paper tape morse transmitter from the 60s.
+
+
+
It is quite incredible: Fax machines were already mass-produced in 1929. However, it
+ was difficult to run these machines. The first pracitcal fax machines are a german invention: The "Normalpapierfax" (a fax machine that
+ used usual paper) from Siemens-Hell, year of manufacture 1956, with tube technology, is still completely runable.
+ An unhurried and transparent fax transmission (DIN A5) takes about 4 minutes. Theoretically you
+ could send a colored fax with that machine!
+
+
+
+
The Fultograph is an "image reciever", invented by the
+ Englishman Otho Fulton in 1929.
+ This devices made it possible to transmit weather chartes by funk for the first time.
+ The rotating roll, which had been coated with chemically preperated paper, was spirally
+ scanned by an attached "pen" (tabluator). In this way an electric current could flow
+ from the pen over the paper to the roll in the rythm of the picture informations. That way, the
+ image developed by electrolysis.
+
+
+
+
+
+ The Siemens (HELL) fax machine KF 106 is very rare. This "remote copy machine" was produced in
+ 1954/55. The ink-based write approach was already matured. Sad to say, the service-friendliness was quite
+ bad. The bulky device (27 kilogram) scans only a DIN A5 sheet. Already 1956 the successor KF 108
+ came on the market, with great improvements.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ The illustration shows the SIEMENS fax machine KF 108 (year of manufacture 1956).
+ It works in a similar way like the Fultograph. Instead of the electrochemical recording,
+ ink is put on the usual paper by the help of complex mechanics.
+
+ It works similar to the fultograph. Instead of a electochemical notation, ink is brought by a small rotating sapphire reel onto normal paper.
+ A KF 108 will even be able to send and recive faxes when the modern fax devices are trashed. Of course, it is not compatible to today's devices. Siemens produced the device in a typical german manner: Everything is huge and indestructible. In these days you did not throw everything away.
+
+
+
+
The next fax (year of manufacture 1963, also used for weather cards) weights 90 kg and has even electonic tubes. In the 1960s, weather offices were able to recive the latest weather cards (with pages bigger than DIN A3) with these machines.
+
+
+
+
+
+ The Hellfax-Blattschreiber BS 100 shows how exhausting it was to send DIN A2 fax drawings in the 1960s. This device was used to recive weather cards with radio communication. You can also see an Hellfax functional diagram.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Teletype from Siemens, year of manufacture 1952. Below in the picture, you can see a paper tape sender.
+ While typing the text, it was fed into the paper tape and could be send afterwards quite fast. Basically
+ this is comparable to an SMS or e-mail which is buffered in the device until it is sent in one go.
+ Of course this apperature is still fully executable.
+
+
+
+
Long time before, telegraph offices (about 1900), the early teleprinters (1938) and Hellschreiber (1952) were used. A demonstration shows something unbelievable: The Hellschreiber writes a dictate from a dictating machine from the early fifties without mistakes!?
+ The electomechanical "text processing systems" (1962-64) show you how texts could be duplicated and written automatically with punched tapes and punch cards as storages. Only big companies could afford the complex technology which was typically german. See the Olympia flexowriter.
Measurement and Experimental technology can link Communication and Computer
- Technology. Measurement technology has a long history and there have been nice and
- remarkable devices.
-
-
-
-
-
- This picture shows some devices from the "experimental physics" area. You
- will probably note the use of "natural" materials (wood, glass, metal) and the
- well-designed very simplified interface that makes comprehension simple.
- We will go into detail for some of the devices shown on the left.
-
-
-
-
Galvanometer
-
-
-
-
- This is a remarkably functional, big and beautiful all-purpose measurement device made by Siemens & Halske (about 1905). At that time even simple objects of utility were made with lovely details. This device was used as an auxiliary device for morsing purposes in the national administration of the German Empire.
-
-
-
-
-
-
In 1891, this beautiful galvanometer was purchased from Hartmann & Braun (Frankfurt/Main, Germany) and offered in catalogs. The principle is simple: in the underlying coil (green) flows the current to be measured, which builds a magnetic field. In this field sits a very sensitive compass needle which is hung up on a thin wire. The longer and thinner the torsion wire, the more sensitive the device.
-Measuring was then an art that had to be mastered. Particularly disturbs the Earth's magnetic field, so that a correct positioning were only able by experts.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Until the invention of measurement amplifiers, measuring very small voltages
- and currents was a big problem. To do that job, moving coil devices had to be
- very sensitive. This was realized with a moving coil that was mounted on a
- torsion wire. The reflecting mirror at the lower end of the wire was spotted by
- a light ray, so the whole composition acts like a very long "light needle".
- By this way very long needle lengths (multiple meters) could be simulated.
- Such a galvanometer must be set up absolutely horizontally and vibration-free.
- The Mirror Galvanometer by Hartmann & Braun is
- a simple and functional demonstration model from the 1920s.
-
-
-
-
-
Radio engineering
-
-
-
-
With the NEVA radio technology system, students could
- do challenging experiments like measuring the wave lengths in the VHF area
- with the Lecher lines.
-
-
-
-
Cathode Ray Tubes
-
-
-
-
- Before television and oscilloscopes, the Cathode Ray Tube was a sensation, especially in schools. This was one of the very first experiments where students could see that electrons have almost no inertia, so they can be deflected easily in the presence of an electric field. This tube (with power supply on the left) from the German company Loewe is an historical piece from the 1930s. It measures about 50 cm!
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- After the currency reform in West Germany, the production
- of mesurement devices got going again. This AEG
- oscilloscope was built in 1949. It seems to be an exact
- replica from an AEG device of the late thirties. It is
- equipped with steel tubes that were put on the German
- market at 1938. Neither the time base of the horizontal
- deflection nor the amplitude of the vertical deflection
- are calibrated by the manufacturer. To measure
- absolutely with this device, you always need reference sizes.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- The "Physikalischen Werkstätten" (phsyical facilities), Phywe,
- built this small oscilloscope for demonstration purposes. It can be
- used to show the electromagnetic interaction of an electron beam in E/B fields.
- Since (CRT driven) television was not yet a mass medium, these experiments
- were state-of-art in those days.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
TEKTRONIX Oszilloscopes
-
-
-
- In the heyday of pulse technology as used in radar and computing the development of high performance oscilloscopes was necessary. This is where an Oregan based company named Tektronix Inc. made a name for themselves. Their products are examples of high precision measurement equipment showing great workmanship and extraordinary performance. In addition to that Tektronix oscilloscopes
-came with service manuals that are a joy to read and a source of knowledge in electronic circuit design. Over the years Tektronix oscilloscopes became the epitome of high quality commercial oscilloscopes nearly unrivaled by other companies.
-On the left hand side the truly gigantic Tektronix Type 555 oscilloscope is shown. The oscilloscope sitting next to it is a Type 564 which is also quite big but does not compare with the 555.
-The Type 555 was first sold in 1963 and is a true dual-beam oscilloscope with two individual time bases. This makes it superior compared with traditional dual-channel oscilloscopes with only a single time base and an electronic chopper for the dual-channel display.
-The 555 features a separate power supply which is sitting on the bottom of the oscilloscope cart (a scope mobile). All in all the 555 contains about 100 tubes - an extraordinary amount for such a device. As a result the power requirement of the 555 is quite high with about 1 kW.
-The maximum signal frequency that can be displayed with the 555 is 33 MHz - an outstanding value for the time. Oscilloscopes like the 555 were normally carried from one place to another on a cart (it is next to impossible for a single person to lift such a device). Therefore the scope mobile often had storage space for additional modules that were not regularly used.
-The 555 on display is in mint condition---a rare circumstance since most oscilloscopes from this time show signs of their heavy duty use.A high resolution picture of the 555 can be seen here.
-
-The Type 564 oscilloscope on the scope mobile on the right uses a bistable storage tube---a technology that was not mature at this time. These tubes were characterized by a short lifetime. Most notably the brightness of the display decreased rapidly with time and the maximum beam velocity for
-storing images was about 500 cm/ms.
-Below the 564 is a Tektronix Type 453 - a small oscilloscope which is quite difficult to service and repair due to its small physical size. By the way: Modern Tektronix oscilloscopes offer bandwidths up to 80GHz!
-
-
-
-
Digital experience system
-
-
-
-
This big white board is an experience system from
- Leybold from the early 1970s. At that time, the subject
- "digital electronics" was taught in schools. Students could set up
- logic systems like binary counters, full adders, flip-flops, multiplexers,
- etc. This was quite fascinating for students at that time. Today, in ordinary
- schools, there is no more time for electronics in the curriculum.
-
-
-
The world of electronical calculating
-
-
-
-
Calculating requires counting
- Last but not least, we show a composition of (frequency) counters from
- different epoches. There are, among others, devices equipped with tubes (57
- electron tubes) or discrete transistor logic (mostly germanium).
- The different counting tubes (e.g. E1T or GC10B) and the very different
- display types are quite impressive.
Professionals can see many beautiful measurement devices, from the complex mirror galvanometer (a piece from the German Kaiserzeit) to the scintillation measuring station with counting devices from several epoches (since 1956), used for measurement of radioactivity.
+
+
+
+
+ This is a remarkably functional, big and beautiful all-purpose measurement device made by Siemens & Halske (about 1910). At that time even simple objects of utulity were made lovely detailed. This device was used as auxiliary device for morsing purposes.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
This is only an example from the early measurement technique: any galvanometer from the 20s. The lovely, sumptuous and nice design of the appearance is unmistakable, althought it is only a simple customer equipment.
+
+
+
+
In addition to the measurement technology that mostly covers the big area of counting, there are also exhibits which show how electronics was taught in schools since 1930. The picture stated below shows at the top demo models for tube technology (approx. 1935) and galvanometers, demo tubes (approx. 1939) and an oscillating circuit (variometer) under it.
+
+
A giant leap in time from 40 years to the picture below: In the early 1970s digital electronics was taught in the school for the first time. A wonderful combination of physics, informatics and mathematics. Unfortunately that time is over. There is no more time for electronics in the curriculars. Of course that is not totally wrong: The every day electronics has developed too much away from the basis.
Professionals can see many beautiful measurement devices, from the complex mirror galvanometer (a piece from the German Kaiserzeit) to the Szintillationsmeßplatz with Zählgeräten from several epoches (since 1956), used for measurement of radioactivity.
+
+
+
+
This is only an example from the early measurement technique: any galvanometer from the 20s. The lovely, sumptuous and nice design of the appearance is unmistakable, althought it is only a simple customer equipment.
+
+
+
+
+
In addition to the measurement technology that mostly covers the big area of counting, there are also exhibits which show how electronics was taught in schools since 1930. The picture stated below shows at the top demo models for tube technology (approx. 1935) and galvanometers, demo tubes (approx. 1939) and an oscillating circuit (variometer) under it.
+
+
A giant leap in time from 40 years to the picture below: In the early 1970s digital electronics was taught in the school for the first time. A wonderful combination of physics, informatics and mathematics. Unfortunately that time is over. There is no more time for electronics in the curriculars. Of course that is not totally wrong: The every day electronics has developed too much away from the basis.
It was a long way with many strange and interesting variants until the today's CD.
- Trumpet gramophone, tape recorders in its history of development, (among others
- AEG, 39kg heavy full-track technology from 1938), Optaphon, the first mechanically
- controlled autoreserve (1952) until professional tape recorders from 1960 are shown.
- Futhermore: Wire recorders, automatical answering machines (1954), devices with
- "gramophone bands" where the sound was not saved magnetically but like on
- gramophone records (Tefifon) and many more.
-
-
-
Dictating machines
-
As an excerpt, this is one of the dictaphones from the early office technology.
-
-
Only the drive was electrical. The sonic oscillations were conducted through a
- mouthpiece and an hose made of metal and scored in the rotating disc with a
- kind of graver. The disc could be played back with an horn (left side of
- the picture) or with earphones that were connected with hoses to the pickup
- (left side). Of course the quality was cruel.
-
-
-
-
- Dictating-machine KOSMOGRAPH from the dictating machine factury of Dresden (1935)
-
-
-
-
-
Rare tape recorders
-
-
-
-
- Tape recorders that are built before 1952 are technically very interesting
- and nowadays very rare. The AEG Magnetophon AW 1 was built in 1948/49
- with the state of art of 1939. The auxiliary case contains amplifiers for
- recording and replay as well as a loud speaker. On the original tape that
- is pictured in the photography, one can listen to a german carneval
- convention recorded in the early 1950s. At that time the
- device was too expensive for private customers.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- A radio reporter in 1951 had to be a strong guy to carry the Ferrophon
- around. This semi-professional tape recorder of Loewe Opta Radio AG Type
- "Ferrophon IIIc/3" was hardly affordable for the non-commercial user. The
- replay quality is excellent (max. tape speed of 76cm/sec!) and likewise
- the used components (a lot of copper parts) which was rare in the early
- past war years.
-
-
-
-
Shellac disc changer
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Gramophone records were used as sound storage media for quite a long time.
- After all, in the 1950s, the shellac records were invented. Breakage was
- very common in this era, until it was displaced by the vinyl records.
- Automatic record changers were quite rare in the shellac era. The photography
- above shows the "Dual 1000", built in 1951/52. The slowly moving
- pick-up arm while record changing demonstrates the way of listening music
- at that time.
- At first this device used the old steel needles that decreased in quality
- after only three records, until sapphire styluses were invented.
-
-
-
-
Wire recording devices
-
-
-
-
- (Schaub-) Lorenz Supraphon
-
-
-
-
- This device (year of manufacture 1952) uses wires as sound storage media.
- An hour of music fits into the small coil shown on the right side of
- device. This is the advantage of using steel wire: It doesn't need much
- space. The quality of sound was almost tolerable, but the flimsy wire was
- always in danger of tearing.
-
-
- With this device, you could also listen to a shellac record (78 RPM) while
- recording it concurrently to wire. The era of devices using wires to store
- sound began before the second world war but was already finished at 1965.
- In this time, tape recorders conquered the market.
- Clicking on the picture will show a larger and more detailed version.
-
-
- Among others, dictating machines also used wires as sound storage media. Thus
- they could be built quite compactly. The width of a wire tape is only 7cm
- about 1.5 inch), but it records about 100 minutes. The Klein-Reporter W 52
- (translated literally "small reporter"), shown below, was made by the german
- company REICHHALTER, year of manufacture 1952. On the record tape (as shown
- in the photography) you can listen to an original law lecture about the allied
- powers in Germany after the World War II.
-
-
-
-
-
- This record is at least 55 years old. Apparently the magnetization of the wire
- is still very good.
-
It was a long way with many quaint and interesting variants until the today's CD. Trumpet gramophone, tape recorders in its history of development, (among others AEG, 39kg heavy full-track technology from 1938), Optaphon, the first mechanically controlled autoreserve (1952) until professional tape recorders from 1960 are shown. Futhermore: Wire recorders, automatical answering machines (1954), devices with "gramophone bands" where the sound was not saved magnetically but like on gramophone records (Tefifon) and many more.
+ On this page, we have chosen one of the three dictaphones from the early office technology.
+
+
Only the drive was electrical. The sonic oscillations were conducted through a mouthpiece and an hose made of metal and scored in the rotating disc with a kind of graver. The disc could be played back with an horn (left side of the picture) or with earphones that were connected with hoses to the pickup (left side). Of course the quality was cruel.
+
+
+
+
Dictating-machine KOSMOGRAPH from the dictating machine factury of Dresden (1935)
+
+
+
+
+
A radio reporter in 1951 had to be a strong guy to carry the Ferrophon around. This semi-professional tape recorder of Loewe Opta Radio AG Type "Ferrophon IIIc/3" was hardly affordable for the non-commercial user. The replay quality is excellent (max. tape speed of 76cm/sec!) and likewise the used components (a lot of copper parts) which was rare in the early past war years.
+ Including a match box in the picture helps to visualize the physical size of this recorder combination.
+
+
+
+
+
+ (Schaub-)Lorenz Supraphon, year of manufacture 1952
+
This device uses wires as sound storage media. Thus an hour of music fits into the small coil shown on the right side of device. This is the advantage of using steel wire: It doesn't need much space. The quality of sound was quite suitable, but the flimsy wire was always in danger of tear apart.
+ With this device, you could listen to a shellac record (78 RPM) while record concurrently to wire.
+
The era of devices using wires to store sound began before the second world war but was already finished at 1965. In this time, tape recorders conquered the market. Clicking on the picture will show a larger and more detailed version.
In 1952, television was a sensation and only affordable by paying several
- monthly salaries. Many still working televisions from 1952 to 1956 (of
- course black and white, one programme!) show how television was watched
- in its early time. You can also see the former East Germany's
- first television (round picture tube), "colored television" (by using a
- foil) and projection systems from the early fifties.
-
-
-
-
-
- One of the first television recievers from the postwar period is
- the Saba Schauinsland WII. In 1954 people crowded together
- in front of the showcase from a radio shop for watching the soccer
- world championship just out of the 36cm-picture tube installed in
- this device.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Saba Telerama
-
Since 1956, the German company SABA produced projection TV-sets. The advertisements said you could even watch television in light rooms which are not shaded. This promise was exaggerated: Only with a special projection screen (made by Saba) which reflects the light primarily in one direction, you can see a sufferable image. Clicking on the picture will show you an explanation of the Telerama projection technology.
-
On the right hand in the background you can see a multifunctional device made by Nordmende to see television, hear to broadcasting and gramophone records. On the left the concurrency device with the same features made by Telefunken. They are both made in 1954.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Sony KP 5010
-
This is the world's first rear projection color television set. It was built in the early 1970s and does not yet use ICs but transistors (second generation).
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Furthermore we demonstrate executable heavy video recorders with 1- or as well 2-inch tapes (Ampex, Grundig, Philips) and players for optical videodisks which are quite awesome. In 1975 the Telefunken optical videodisc player TP 1005 (picture on the right) came on the market. A mechanically driven micro-diamond scanned the optical videodisks. Unfortunately the system did not get recognition any more because the disks stores only ten minutes of video.
-
-
-
-
-
AMPEX VR 650, an early bulky transportable video unit from Ampex, equipped with 2-inch tapes from 1964. It was the first transistorized apparature made by Ampex, featuring germanium transistors. Of course the device was not intended for privat use. Although it was versatile, hospitals often recorded radiographies with this apparature.
In 1952, television was a sensation and only affordable by paying several monthly salaries. Many still working televisions from 1952 to 1956 (of course black and white, one programme!) show how television was watched in its early time. You can also see the former East Germany's first television (round picture tube), "colored television" (by using a foil) and projection systems from the early fifties.
+
+
+
+
One of the first television recievers from the postwar period is the Saba Schauinsland WII. In 1954 people crowded together in front of the showcase from a radio shop for watching the soccer world championship just out of the 36cm-picture tube installed in this apparature.
+
+
+
+
+
+ Saba Telerama
+
Since 1956, the German company SABA produced projection TV-sets. The advertisements said you could even watch television in light rooms which are not shaded. This promise was exaggerated: Only with a special projection screen (made by Saba) which reflects the light primarily in one direction, you can see a sufferable image. Clicking on the picture will show you an explanation of the Telerama projection technology.
+
On the right hand in the background you can see a multifunctional device made by Nordmende to see television, hear to broadcasting and gramophone records. On the left the concurrency device with the same features made by Telefunken. They are both made in 1954.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Sony KP 5010
+
This is the world's first rear projection colour television set. It was built in the early 1970s and does not yet use ICs but transistors (second generation).
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Furthermore we demonstrate executable heavy video recorders with 1- or as well 2-inch tapes (Ampex, Grundig, Philips) and players for optical videodisks which are quite awesome. In 1975 the Telefunken optical videodisc player TP 1005 (picture on the right) came on the market. A mechanically driven micro-diamond scanned the optical videodisks. Unfortunately the system did not get recognition any more because the disks stores only ten minutes of video.
+
+
+
+
+
+
AMPEX VR 650, an early bulky transportable video unit from Ampex, equipped with 2-inch tapes from 1964. It was the first transistorized apparature made by Ampex, featuring germanium transistors. On the right side you see a matchbox that helps to visualize the physical size of this recorder. Of course the device was not intended for privat use. Although it was versatile, hospitals often recorded radiographies with this apparature.
Analog computers were used to compute mathematical, physical and
- technical problems. They were especially capable of solving equations
- containing variables that depend on time or differential equations.
-
-
Analog computers simulate the given problem by abstracting it to a
- physical system which follows the same mathematical laws. This
- system is "plugged together" on a patch-board by using electronical
- networks which are situated in the computer's inner life (negators,
- summing unit, integrator, multiplier, function generator, etc.). Unlike
- digital ones, analog computers don't count but measure (input) parameters.
- Thus an anlog computer does not even recognize the complexity of a
- differential equation – it solves even non-linear ones where
- there does not exist any approach very quickly by simply drawing the
- graph of the solution. On the other hand, analog computers are not suitable for
- solving literal equations and suitable for commercial calculations
- not at all.
-
-
All systems that yield the same mathematical model are called analog
- systems among one another, disregarding their technical or physical origins.
- The quality of the analogy of a system depends on the accuracy of
- both approximation and output. According to the price the available
- analog computers at that time highly differed from each other.
-
-
Among others, computer systems by Telefunken (1961-64) are installed. They drew awesome curves on a storage oscilloscope and xy plotter. They solved difficult problems quite quickly, but handing, programming (plug connections) and analysis is not easy.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Heathkit Analog Computer H1
-
-
-
-
Heathkit, known for it's construction kits, developed an analog
- computer in 1956 that was primary designed for education. This
- monster has 70 tubes, whereas 45 were placed external due to better
- cooling. It is equipped with 15 computing amplifiers.
-Excerpt from the original prospekt:
-This is a highly flexible and accurate analog computer, designed to fill requirements not presently met by commercial computer. It is an instrument suitable for use as a design tool in industry and universities. An advanced “slide rule” which permits engineering or research personnel to electronically simulate equations or physical problems and save many hours of calculation or experimentation.....
-Because it is a kit, and the labor and overhead costs found in present day computers are eliminated, the Heath Computer can be obtained for use in situations where a computer was ruled out in the past because of cost.......
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Heathkit Analog Computer EC-1
-
-
-
-
This is a very small analog computer that was designed for
- educational purpose. It was built since 1960 and was equipped
- with only 17 tubes (whereas 5 were used for stabilisation of
- voltage). With such a sparse equipment the device is just good
- enough to yield the function of an analog computer – it is too
- inexactly to be used for real computing.
- This device costed around 1.900 DM (about 900 Euro/500US$)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Telefunken RAT 700
-
-
-
-
-
- The image shows the Telefunkten RAT 700 in the bottom (first
- model from 1961), above a part from the successor. On the new model
- you can change the whole patch board and thus change prgorams quickly.
- When it's running, you hear an undetermined buzzing (400 Hz), due
- to the mechanical chopper that change direct voltage in alternating
- voltage. That was the only chance to disable the disturbing termeratre
- drift (Changing of the germanium transistor parameters). Principally,
- direct voltage is amlified by using choppers still today, but of course
- they are made with electronic components.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
GTE Analog Computer EA22
-
-
- It's quite remarkable that the EA22 from GTE looks like the Telefunken
- computers. But unlike the competitive products, the GTE computer is
- equipped with more computing amplifiers (22 units), has a much clearer
- system design and is therefore much easier to maintain.
- This analog computer was build in the early 1960s from the german
- firm Goldmann Technische Eelektronik,
- Ulm/Donau.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
EAI 180 and EAI 185 digital-anlog computer
-
-
EAI 180 from "Electronic Associates Incorporated",
- New Jersey, is a so called hybrid computer (hybris [greek]: From twofold parentage), year of manufacture 1970. It contains the parts of an analoge computer and these from a digital computer. The device is equipped with IC's from the first generation (DTL-technology). The calculation circuit is plugged with cables on the front panel. The cycle time from the analoge part can be set to less than 10ms. With that parameter, an equation will be solved at least 100 times per second. So you can watch the output with a simple oscilloscope.
-
-
-
-
-
EAI 180 hybrid computer
-
-
-
-
-
EAI 185 hyprid computer
-
-
-
- The EAI 185 is almost exactly the same as the EAI 180 (shown in the photo above). The
- only difference is the stage of expansion – you will notice that the EAI 185 is
- much more taller than the EAI 180.
- They were both used in the applied physics and informatics of German Technical Universities.
-
-
-
-
Dornier DO 240 analog computer
-
-
-
- The analog computer DO 240, made by the German enterprise DORNIER, is a high precision device,
- compared to the EAI hybrid computers, which were used almost only for education due to their
- moderate precision.
- It features very much elements in a highly compact case. Among others there are digital potentiometers
- (gating pulse manually adjustable), a highly customizable digital clock generator (which uses
- nixie tubes as a display), a digital counter, two function generators and many more.
- This computer was built in the early 1970s and was priced at 80.000 DM (about 40.000 euro/dollar)
-
-
-
-
(Cylindrical) slide rules
-
-
-
-
-
- Last but not least a mechanical analog computer that was used up to
- the 1970s for scientific calculations without hand and desk calculators.
- The picture above displays a 1.8m long demo slide rule
- made of wood (1950s) that was used in schools for students since the
- 10th grade. Compared to hand calculators, these analog computers
- also had some advantages: Students could not give absurd computing
- precisions, these "computers" were cheap and quite fast. The big
- disadvantage was that adding and subtracting was not possible at all.
- To get higher precisions in the 1920s, there was this
- "Cylindrical slide rule". This 60cm NESTLER device can be compared
- to an ordinary slide rule measuring 12.50m.
-
Analog computers were used for the calculation of mathematical, phycial and technical problems. They were especially capable of solving equations containing variables which are dependent on time or differential equations.
+
+
Analog computers simulate the given problem by abstract it to a physical system which follows the same mathematical laws. This system is "plugged together" on a patch-board by using electronical networks which are situated in the computer's inner life (negators, summing unit, integrator, multiplier, function generator, etc.). Therewith even non-linear problems which differential equations which cannot be solved in a notation free of integrals can be solved with analog computers.
+
+
Among others, computer systems by Telefunken (1961-64) are installed. They draw awesome curves on a storage oscilloscope and xy plotter. They solve difficult problems quite quickly, but handing, programming (plug connections) and analysis is not easy.
+
+
+
+
Heathkit Analog Computer H1
+
+
+
Heathkit, known for it's construction kits, developed an analoge computer in 1956 that was primary designed for education. This monster has 70 tubes, whereas 45 were placed external due to better cooling. It is equipped with 15 computing amplifiers.
+
+
+
+
+
+ It demonstrates archaic early technology from the first generation. We will refloat it and equipp it with a tube filled xy plotter
+
The glimming tubes gives the cold technology an fantastic warmness.
+
+
+
+
+
+
Heathkit Analog Computer EC-1
+
+
This is a very small analog computer that was designed for educational purpose. It was built since 1960 and
+ was equipped with only 17 tubes (whereas 5 were used for stabilisation of voltage). With such a sparse
+ equipment the device is just good enough to yield the function of an analog computer – it is too
+ inexactly to be used for real computing.
+
+
+
+
+
+
Telefunken RAT 700
+
+
+ The image shows the Telefunkten RAT 700 in the bottom (first model from 1961), above a part from the
+ successor. On the new model you can change the whole patch board and thus change prgorams quickly.
+ When it's running, you hear an undetermined buzzing (400 Hz), due to the mechanical chopper
+ that change direct voltage in alternating voltage. That was the only chance to disable the
+ disturbing termeratre drift (Changing of the germanium transistor parameters).
+
+
+
+
+
+
EAI 180 digital-anloge computer
+
+
EAI 180 from "Electronic Associates Incorporated",
+ New Jersey, is a so called hybrid computer (hybris [greek]: From twofold parentage), year of
+ manufacture 1970. It contains the parts of an analoge computer and these from a digital computer. The
+ device is equipped with IC's from the first generation (DTL-technology). The calculation circuit is
+ plugged with cables on the front panel. The cycle time from the analoge part can be set to less than
+ 10ms. With that parameter, an equation will be solved at least 100 times per second. So you can watch
+ the output with a simple oscilloscope.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
EAI 185
+
+
+
+
+ The EAI 185 is almost exactly the same as the EAI 180 (shown in the photo above). The
+ only difference is the stage of expansion – you will notice that the EAI 185 is
+ much more taller than the EAI 180.
+ They were both used in the applied physics and informatics of German Technical Universities.
+
+
+
+
+
+
Dornier DO 240
+
+
+ The analog computer DO 240, made by the German enterprise DORNIER, is a high precision device,
+ compared to the EAI hybrid computers, which were used almost only for education due to their
+ moderate precision.
+ It features very much elements in a highly compact case. Among others there are digital potentiometers
+ (gating pulse manually adjustable), a highly customizable digital clock generator (which uses
+ nixie tubes as a display), a digital counter, two function generators and many more.
+ This computer was built in the early 1970s and was priced at 80.000 DM (about 40.000 euro/dollar)
+
In contrast to computers used for scientific applications, commercial data processing systems have a different structure, since they are optimized to support large storage systems and to process lots of data, as in payroll applications and the like. Sometimes the distinction between scientific and commercial systems is not a clear one. The examples below are typical small to medium systems for commercial applications.
-
-
Olivetti P 203
-
-
-
- Olivetti P203
-
-
-
1967 the PROGRAMMA 101 was not only
-extended with respect to memory but also coupled to an electric typewriter.
-This made it possible to print the results of a computation. Nevertheless,
-this combination was restricted to printing numeric values only. If text was
-required on a printout it had to be typed manually.
-The typewriter could also be used standalone without control be the PROGRAMMA 101.
-The memory system, which is based on the magnetostrictive effect, has an overall capacity of 320
-bytes organized as 10 registers with 30 digits each.
-
-This early "personal computer" was designed by the italien artist Mario
-Bellini. Its unique design won several avards. Even today it is admired for
-its aesthetics.
-Following Olivetty computers were just plain cubes. Moving
-this unique piece of computing history is quite a feat at 130 kg.
The pictures above can be enlarged by clicking on them. The first picture
-shows the first model of this machine as well as its successor system with a
-faster typewriter (on the right). The second picture is a detail photograph.
-The third picture shows the incredibly amount of mechanical parts in this
-system. Both machines in the museum are fully operational.
-
-
-
-
-
-
NCR 446
-
-
-
-
- The NCR 446 is a typical example of a 2nd generation computer
-(transistorized).
-It was developed 1966/67 in Germany at the "National Registrier Kassen GmbH"
-in Augsburg by four engineers fresh from the university. One year later their
-development was finished and the system announced.
-
-The architecture is rather unique. Programs are stored on a paper tape while
-operations are controlled by means of a threaded wire ROM. The system was
-sold as a accounting machine but was not limited to that area of application.
-
-The system not only contains the paper tape reader for the program control,
-but also two paper tape readers for input data, one paper tape punch, a
-keyboard, and an IBM ball-head typewriter.
-
-This system was quite expensive. The basic model without a paper tape punch
-and without the additional paper tape readers for data input was sold for about
-35,000 DM (about 18,000 EUR) - about as much as three mid-class cars would
-have cost at the same time.
-
-The NCR 446 was the first "small" commercial system which was able to print
-text as well as numerical values. Such a machine was used by structural
-engineers to perform the necessary calculations and directly generate a
-printout that could be used by the customer. (Competing systems like the
-Olivetti Programma 101, 203 could only print plain numbers on a small strip
-of paper.)
-
-Watching the operation of the machine is a great experience. Things like the
-calculation of a square root allow the viewer to get an idea of the
-underlying algorithm. Since the program is stored on a paper tape, every step performed
-by the machine can be seen.
- Clicking on the picture yields a more detailed picture
-
-
Paper tape accessories:
-
-
Also interesting are typical paper tape accessories as shown below. It is
-next to incredible that not too far ago programs had to be prepared with
-tools like these. The figure below shows a manual paper tape punch on the left
-which can be used to punch programs on a paper tape. For the most basic version
-of the NCR 446 which lacked the attached paper tape punch, this was the only
-way to create program tapes!
-
-
-
-
Manual puncher for paper tape (left) und Tapewinder (right)
-
-
Programming in those days was done as follows: First, the program was written
-down by hand. Each character was then translated manually using a NCR
-supplied code table to its corresponding numerical code. The paper tape was then
-punched by a secretary. Correcting errors was obviously rather cumbersome and
-time consuming.
-
-The NCR 446 in the museum's collection allowed the creation of paper tapes by
-means of the built-in keyboard and the automatic paper tape punch
-unit at an additional cost of 20,000 DM (10,000 EUR).
-
-The motor driven paper tape winder shown on the right could be used to wind
-the paper tapes after using them on the computer.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
NIXDORF 820
-
-
-
Nixdorf 820 with card puncher and printer
-
-
-
A typical small to medium data processing system is the NIXDORF 820 built in 1969/1970. This system is built entirely from modules, has a magnetic account reader and a threaded ROM which was user modifiable. The console consists of a typewriter, the magnetic account reader and two punch card readers. In addition to this the system supports a card punching unit, a high speed matrix printer (visible on the right), two cassette tape drives and a stand alone card puncher (IBM or YUKI, see above). Clicking on the picture will yield a more detailed version of it.
In contrast to computers used for scientific applications, commercial data processing systems have a different structure since they are optimized to support large storage systems and to process lots of data like in payroll applications and the like. Sometimes the distinction between scientific and commercial systems is not a clear one. The examples below are typical small to medium systems for commercial applications.
+
+
+
+
+ Olivetti P 203
+
In 1968 the Olivetti P 101 with enlarged memory capacity was coupled with an electric type writer which led to a system capable of printing the results of computations directly. This system is of a remarkable design and won quite some prices for Olivetti in its time. The following machines made by Olivetti departed from that and were packaged in simple cubic enclosures.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Apart from desktop calculators other small computer systems were introduced to solve commercial problems. The NCR 446 on display is a so called accounting machine and consists of a paper tape reader and punch, a keyboard and an IBM selectric typewriter as printer. It was built 1968 in Germany. Due to its core memory and woven ROM the machine is freely programmable and thus very versatile.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ A typical small to medium data processing system is the NIXDORF 820 built in 1969/1970. This system is built entirely from modules, has a magnetic account reader and a threading ROM which was user modifyable. The console consists of a typewriter, the magnetic account reader and two punch card readers. In addition to this the system supports a card punching unit, a high speed matrix printer (visible on the right), two cassette tape drives and a stand alone card puncher (IBM or YUKI, see above). Clicking on the picture will yield a more detailed version of it.
+
From left to right: magnetic tape drive, 1. LGP-21, Tally paper-tape-reader and punch, 2. Tally reader, two additional hard drives, 2. LGP-21, Flexowriter
-
-
-
-
This machine is particularly interesting in more than one way: 1) The hardware
-is extremely simple, 2) the machine already employs a bus system for
-interconnecting the various units. 3) The machine features a fixed disk which
-holds all registers as well as timing tracks. As the picture above shows we
-have two complete systems which simplifies troubleshooting and repair.
-
-Citing from the original brochure (1964): "The LGP-21 is produced by Schoppe &
-Faeser as a licensee in Europe and is distributed by EUROCOMP GmbH."
-
-The LGP-21 had been developed by Librascope, division GP1 (USA). This company
-once was one of the largest calculating machine manufacturers in the world.
-Starting in 1962 the LGP-21 was marketed in the USA by General Precision. The
-machine is a very small computer but was advertised as "The first complete
-program controlled digital computer for only $16,250 in the minimum
-configuration." This configuration consisted of the CPU and a Flexowriter only.
-This machine was the successor of the LGP-30 (1st generation, 1956, also build
-by Schoppe & Faeser in Germany as a licensed product). The LGP-21 is very rare
-- only about 100 machines were built in Germany. Even rarer is the magnetic
-tape unit of which only 5 known units were built. The machine in the museum has
-serial number 4.
-
-
-
-
The external memory of the LGP-21 are perforated papertapes, which are scanned mechanically of the Tally-tape reader. The magnetic tape drive and other external drives were added in the late 60s.
-
-
As external storage the LGP-21 employs a paper tape system using Tally
-papertape readers. The magnetic tape unit and two external disks with a
-capacity of about 8000 words each were added in the late 1960s.
-
-A rotating disk serves as the machine's main memory and clock generator. It
-rotates with 1475 RPM and holds 4096 words of 32 bits each which equals 12 kB,
-a reasonable size back then.
-
-
-
-The disk contains 64 data tracks, four timing tracks and tracks for three registers (accumulator, instruction register and
-counter register).
-The mean write density is about 10 Bit/mm (about 1/200th of
-today's disk drives).
-The LGP-21 supports 23 different instructions - enough to program typical
-scientific applications.
-
-Repairing the machine turned out to be quite a challenge. Having two machines
-of this type helps a lot.
-
-More information about this interesting and rare system will follow.
-
-
-
-
Mini-computers
-
-
-
-
Today's kids think of the latest mobile devices when talking about "mini computers".
- In contrast, in the 1960s and the early 70s, a computer was always huge (like our
- UNIVAC mainframe), thus a 300kg computer was "mini".
- Early computers are well worth seeing due to their enormous size and the nice
- transparent auxillary devices.
- There is a very important computer family that finally lead to (today's)
- personal computers: The development of the "Mini" computers from Digital Equipment
- Corporation (DEC), series PDP-8 and PDP-12 (both 12-bit architecture). The museum
- owns a complete production run from that devices: From the PDP-8 (also called
- Classic-8), year of manufacture 1965 to the PDP-8a (1975, this one is less
- important so it is located in the archive). PDP means Programmed Data Processor.
-
-
-
-
The manuals of these computers are very detailed, with full circuit
- documentation. There never have been any other computer with such an
- elaborate documentation. For restoration purposes these manuals are
- indispensable. Even in those days, other manufacturers kept their
- blueprints in secret for fear of unauthorized re-use (e.g. HP).
-
-
PDP computers were especially used by scientists. By using self-made
- (CPU) interface boards, already existing (experimental) equipment could easily
- migrated to the new hardware. DEC even offered prefabricated boards to
- encourage own extension development.
- The figure above shows a typical second generation module (1965) without ICs
- from the classic PDP-8 on the left. In the middle is a smaller third generation
- module with ICs (from 1967) which was used in the PDP-8i, PDP-8L and PDP-12.
- On the right is an empty module just suitable for being equipped by the
- user for interfaces to own periphery.
-
-
- One of the museum highlights: The complete PDP-8 system with processor,
- a big tape deck TU-580 (originally belonged to the PDP-5, manufactured in 1963),
- punch card reader/puncher PC-01, hard-disc DF-32 with immovable heads
- and a teletype as printer. The Classic PDP-8 is considered the world's first mass-produced
- "minicomputer". Due it's use of ICs, unlike its predecessors, it is considered
- a second-generation computer.
-
-
-
This computer features various different logic and register modules. All logic
- is only built with NAND and NOR gatters. Registers are constructed with flip-flop
- circuits. The extensive wiring of the modules (see picture) is called
- Wire wrapping. This kind of
- connections were used in all bigger computers until the 1980s, since it is an
- easy way to connect two points which are not mounted on the same board or on the
- same level. In the early days this wiring was manually performed and later executed
- by machines. Even today there are still some wire-wrap-connections in testing
- environments.
-
- The picture shows the uncovered computer with opened right wing where you can easily
- see the wire-wrap connections.
-
-
Top: Complete PDP-8 system, center: console of the computer below: open computer, the right wing is extended. Here you can see the wire-wrap connections.
- The processor and the tape reader are on loan from the "FITG", Frankfurt (Germany)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
PDP-8I
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Left: The PDP-8i system with two-DECtapes TU 55, hight-speed paper tape reader/punch
- PC 04, 563 CALCOM plotter (top) and a TELETYPE (not shown). Above: the computer console
-
-
-
-
In 1967 the first series 74xx TTL ICs (transistor-transistor logic) came on the market.
- DEC was at the bleeding edge, releasing the 8i ("with integrated circuits"). No one
- knew about the stability of the new ICs (later bugs). Therefore UNIVAC used the well established
- DTL technology even two years after. Fortunately, the TTL ICs proved to be as stable as the DTL
- series. Since the integration degree was much higher, less space has been needed for computers.
- DEC's first calculator with integrated circuits was very expensive. The CPU on alone
- (in the picture: Left case, middle) cost US$ 27,000 without peripherals at that time.
- The main memory had a capacity of 8kB. While computing a "large" problem, it was possible to swap
- programs or data to files on magnetic tape and read in afterward be reread. DEC developed
- an intelligent operating system (OS/8) which worked very efficiently with such little memory.
- It is very interesting to watch this computer working.
-
If you have not been in the presence of this computer, you should know that it is quite large.
- With the plotter, it stands at a height of almost 7' (2m) and weighting at more than 600 lbs (300kg).
-
The peripherals consist of two TU-55 (tape drives), a PC-04 (high speed paper tape reader),
- Calcomp 563 plotter (at the top) and of course a teletype (not pictured).
-
-
-
-
PDP-8L
-
-
-
-
PDP-8L (build in 1968) with HSR Paper Tape Reader
-
-
-
Many DEC customers did not need the high memory capacity or installable options.
- Therefore DEC developed the stripped-down computer PDP 8L (Low-cost) with
- only a few pre-wired installed options in the lower price range.
- The core memory had only 4kB capacity, it was extendable to 8kB with an external cabinet.
- Our PDP-8L has many extensions: HSR (High Speed) paper tape reader, TC01 Tape Control
- with two drives TU55 and additional memory.
- DEC invented the interpreted programming language FOCAL (Formulating Online
- Calculations in Algebraic Language), which allowed the user an interactive
- programming environment (like a Unix shell). This language is similar to BASIC, but
- slightly simpler. FOCAL required no operating system and ran smoothly with 4kB core
- memory and lacking mass storage.
-
-
-
-
PDP-12, LAB-12
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
The PDP-12 was released in 1969. Just 755 units were sold worldwide. It was the last series that
- could operate in LINC-Mode (it could be switched to either LINC
- or PDP-8 Mode). This is a laboratory computer, equipped with AD and DA
- converter as standard. Such computers were usually kept up to date
- with hardware updates. The memory of this device was gradually
- increased from 8kB up to 32kB (DW 08E storage extension).
- Besides the tape drives, the computer was also equipped with
- an 8-inch floppy drive. Afterwards they were removed again in
- favor of two removable disk drives. Finally they even tied the
- device to 10BASE-T ethernet, using a selfmade controller with an
- handwritten TCP/IP stack on a selfmade operating system.
- Thus this device can demonstrate the era from paper tapes up to
- today's storage standard.
- Check out the console in a large scale:
-PDP-12 console (dark picture)
-or: PDP-12 console (ligh picture)
-
-
-
-
-
The picture on the left shows the PDP-12 inner life with all 462 Flip-Chip-Boards.
-
-
-
By having all the following options, our computer was very comfortable
- (the number in parentheses indicates the number of neccessary boards):
-
-
-
AD12 [A-D-Control] (12 modules):
-
The AD12 includes 16 channels of input, 10bit output resolution and features
- up to 60kHz signals at 30dB down.
-
-
DM12 [Data Break Multiplexer for KF12-B] (6 modules):
-
The DM12 provides the capability of operating up to three data break devices.
- The Data Break facility allows an I/O device to transfer information directly
- with the PDP-12 core memory on a cycle-stealing basis. This is particulary
- well suited for high-speed devices which transfer large amounts of information
- in block form. Peripheral I/O equipment could reach a maximum transfer rate
- of 6,5 Mbit/sec.
-
-
DP12A [TTY-Dataphone] (4 modules):
-
The DP12 options permit interfacing additional Teletypes and Modems. They are
- capable of accepting data asynchronously up to 100,000 baud. The units are
- designed for US-ASCII and meet the EIA-standard (RS232) requirements.
-
-
DR12 [Relays and Control] (1 module):
-
The relay buffer is a six-bit register connected to six relays that are mounted
- on the data terminal panel. They can be used for controlling experiments or
- external equipment not otherwise directly interfaced with the PDP-12 Computer.
- The states of the relays can be examinede at any time via the register.
-
-
The EAE enables the CP (the DEC operating system) to perform arithmetic
- operations at higher speed. The ALU is extended by asynchronous logic such as a
- 12-bit Multiplier Quotient Register and a 5-bit Step Counter. These components
- are used by auxillary CPU instructions (opcodes).
-
-
KF12 [Multi Level] (54 modules):
-
The Multi-Level Automatic Priority Interrupt is designed to reduce the CPU
- overhead during the servicing of program interrupts. Up to 15 levels of interrupts
- can be accomodated with each level having an unique vector address. The interrupts
- can be accepted from other options (CPU extensions) or from up to six external
- devices. Storing of priority and vectoring of interrupt service routines is
- performed with a Stack.
-
-
KT12 [Time-Sharing Option] (2 modules):
-
This module provides the additional logic circuits required for the PDP12 Time
- Sharing System. Having satisfied the minimum equipment, it perimts up to 16 users
- to operate their individual programs in an apperantly simultaneous manner. The
- system is controlled by a group of subprograms called "TSS/12 Monitor".
-
-
KW12-A [Real Time Clock] (19 modules):
-
The RTC can be used to generate Program Interrupts over a range of intervals of
- 2.5us to 40.96s; detect external and internal events in order to count them,
- measure them against a time base, measure the interval between them, use them as
- time base standard or control sample times of A/D conversions. In our system
- this module was used to connect the german longwave time signal radio station
- DCF77 in order to recieve the atomic clock time from the German master clocks
- in Frankfurt.
-
-
-
The computer is equipped with further cabinets which allow much more peripherals:
-
-
-
-
Typical picture in the 1970s: PDP-12 in the scientific domain. [Source: "digital products and applications, 1971"]
-
-
-
-
AA50P [12 Bit DAC Controller]
-
Cabinet to upgrade the number of digital-analog converters (half filled in our setup)
-
-
BA12 [Peripharal Expander]
-
Cabinet for peripheral extension, e.g. paper tape reader/puncher, PC05, card
- readers, etc.
-
-
DW08A [I/O Bus Converter]
-
Cabinet to connect "negative bus system" units. The "negative logic level" was used
- at the time of germanium transistors (PNP), for example the DF32 disk drive with
- fixed heads.
-
-
DW08E [I/O Bus Converter]
-
This plug-in for the smaller PDP-8e converts the PDP-8, -8i and -12 bus to the
- OMNIBUS system from the PDP-8e. Thus all 8e interfaces could be connected, e.g. the
- RK8E interface (Digitl RK05) or Plessey PM DD/8 disk drives.
-
-
BM812 [Memory Expansion Box]
-
Memory expansion box that is capable of expending either a PDP8i or PDP12
- from 8kB to 32kB with MM8e-stacks (like in the PDP-8e).
-
-
-
-
-
So logs the PDP-12-demo program
-
-
-
This system is fully developed. This was a common approach at that time: At first the
- computer was purchased in the basic version which was barely affordable. Afterwards
- more options were installed step-by-step. That way the enormous acquisition costs
- were distributed over several years and the computer was always up to date.
- We have very good programs [Demo-12 running on DIAL], which shows with extreme illustrative the performance of the computer. This includes an on-screen analog clock with real-time display and the game
-"SPACE WAR". Some of will be soon available on our special page [in working].
-
-
-
-
(Google-translation!):We have a PDP-12 price list from the year 1973, a period in which the PDP-12 was already an outdated model. Our fully-equipped computer was a PDP-12 LDP (Laboratory Data Processor), here specifically a "clinical lab12", sold at a price of DM 206.700. Most of the options listed above were built in. (In 1973 3,50DM corresponds to 1$).
- This computer was equipped with 4kB Memory Core. So one needs in adition a "Memory Extension Control" for 16.600 DM and a 4kB Memory Module for 25.100 DM. The price for the unimposing Peripheral Expander BA12 was 5.400 DM (equivalent to a midsize car) and "High-Speed Paper Tape Reader/Punch" incredible 16.200 DM.
-
-
-
- A Disk Cartridge Drive RK05 where sold for DM 21.200, where one needs in addition the "Positive I/O Bus to Omnibus Converter" DW8E (6750 DM). Similarly is the Converter DW08A and the Cabinet AA50 for additional D/A Controller. The 3 plugged D/A modules were calculated with 1.680 DM per unit.
- The memory expansion to 32K does not appear on the list, but the price for this option was about 50.000 DM including the controller.
-
- In the sum it is a staggering number of 387.690 DM, which is today corresponding about 500,000 Euro or 600.000 $!
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Lab-8e, PDP-8e
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
The successor of the PDP-8i was the PDP-8e (1970). This computer came with an
- internal bus system, so you could easily attach any peripherals using interface cards. This
- feature made the "mini"-computer all-purpose. This computer type was offered with diverse
- A/D- and D/A-converters and connection facilities as a laboratory computer for analogue
- devices (shown in the picture). The peripherals are:
-
-
VR 12 (oscilloscope display)
-
PC 04 (High speed paper tape reader/puncher)
-
3 x TU 56 (double tape drive)
-
A/D- and D/A-converter
-
-
-
-
-
The picture on the left shows a board for own peripheral interfaces. In this unit,
- bus amplifiers, etc. are already mounted. You could install your own ICs in front of
- them and connect them with Wire-Wrap or soldered wires.
- On the right is a typical module with a lot of ICs. Both modules are only partially
- visible.
-
-
-
-
-
Data General: NOVA 2
-
-
-
-
Edson de Castro was responsible for product management at DEC and was intent
-on developing a 16-bit computer with a processor that would fit on a single
-printed circuit board. But Ken Olson, the founder of DEC, wasn't
-supportive. So de Castro left DEC in 1968 together with three other
-hardware engineers to found his own company in a vacant barber's shop:
-Data General Corporation (Massachusetts, USA).
-
-Already in 1969 the first 16-bit computer in the "NOVA" series was ready
-for the market. Thanks to the simpler production method (no wire wrapping,
-only two boards + memory boards etc.) the basic version was quite inexpensive
-at $4000. However, this basic model alone wasn't really that useful, and
-after extending the computer the total price was substantially higher.
-The Nova computer was advertised as "the best small computer in the world".
-At this time, DEC was still building the PDP-8/I and the PDP-12, which
-required lots of very small flip-chip-modules.
-
-The successor model (available in 1973), the NOVA 2, was simplified even
-further, and the increased chip density made it possible to have the whole
-processor together with the control logic for slow peripheral devices
-(teletype, paper tape puncher and reader) one single board. Our Nova is a
-NOVA 2/10 model with slots for 10 boards, and therefore enough space for
-quite a few device controllers and memory extensions.
-
-
-From today's perspective, the rather huge boards (15x15 inch,
-nicknamed "circuit graveyards in baking tray size") do have disadvantages:
-any kind of repair is very difficult, because it is not possible to pin down
-a malfunction by exchanging small boards.
-
-The NOVA shown in the picture is from a university. It is equipped with
-two harddisk drives, one twin floppy drive (8" disks!), one teletype,
-one high-speed paper tape punch reader and one punch card reader (not in
-the picture). Later on a terminal was added, which extended the computer
-to a comfortably usable system.
Today's kids think of the latest mobile devices when talking about "mini computers". In contrast, in the 1960s and the early 70s, a computer was always huge (like our UNIVAC mainframe), thus a 300kg computer was "mini". Early computers are well worth seeing due to their enormous size and the nice transparent auxillary devices.
+ There is a very important computer family that finally lead to today's (personal) computers: The development of the "Mini" computers from Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), series PDP 8. The museum owns a complete production run from that devices: From the PDP 8 (also called Classic 8), year of manufacture 1965 to the PDP 8a (1975, this one is less important so it is located in the archive).
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ One of the museal highlights: The complete PDP 8 system with processor,
+ big tape deck TU 580 (originally belongs to the PDP 5, year of manufacture
+ 1963), punch card reader/puncher PC 01, hard disc DF 32 with immovable heads
+ and a teletype as printer. The Classic-8 is called the world's first mass-produced
+ "minicomputer". Without ICs or their ancestor it is a seccond-generation apparature.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
PDP 8I
+
DEC's first calculator with integrated circuits was not cheap. The CPU on
+ its own (in the middle of the picture) without periphery costed 27000$ at that time.
+ The main memory had a capacity of 8kB. While calculating a "bigger" problem, possibly some files
+ (programs, data) had to be swapped on a (magnetic) tape and read in afterwards. DEC developed
+ a very intelligent operating system (OS/8) which could work very efficiently with such few memory.
+ It is very interesting to watch this computer working.
+
If you have not yet seen such a computer, you should know that it is more than 2m high (with
+ plotter) and has a weight of more than 300 kg.
+
The periphery constists of 2 x TU 55 (tape drives), PC 04 (high speed paper tape reader),
+ Calcomp 563 plotter (at the top) and of course a teletype (not in the picture).
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Lab 8e
+
Successor of the PDP8i was the PDP8e (1970). This computer had already an
+ internal bus system. So you could easily attach any periphery with interface cards. This
+ feature made the "Mini"computer all-purpose. This Computer type was offered with diverse
+ A/D- and D/A-converters and connection facilities as laboratory computer for analogue
+ devices (shown in the picture). The periphery is:
+
+
VR 12 (oscilloscope display)
+
PC 04 (High speed paper tape reader/puncher)
+
2 x TU 56 (double tape drive)
+
RK 05 (removable disk drive)
+
A/D- and D/A-converter
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Furthermore the first system that looks like a today's computer is connected: WANG 2200, year of manufacture 1973. The computer with so much peripheral devices is propably unique in Germany. The periphery: paper tape reader, reader for stacked cards, 8-inch triple disc drive, disc system with 38cm big disks (the device has a weight of 100kg and costed 24.000,- DM whereas it only saved 5MB), special basic-keyboard, etc.
+
WANG quickly recognized that the future of computers needed screens. However the concurrent HP built his
+ computers only with a single LED display until 1975.
+
+
+
+
+
+
The first personal computer was also build by WANG: PCS II (1975). The first PC that was affordable for everybody was the PET 2001 from Commodore. It came on the market in 1977 and was as cheap as a today's PC but saved 8kB and had decent applications. Many more Homepcomputer followed, the market got out of hand and therewith the collection of computers ends. See also details 2
- For the sake of completeness, we mention the predecessors of the electro-mechanical calculators: pure
- mechanical "pocket calculators" of the early days. The picture on the left shows a small slide rod calculator
- from "Produx". This handy device Efzet was intended
-
-
for the buisenessman, industrial, craftsman, engineer, student and even the housewife
-
- like the instruction sheet (german only) tells.
- This device does not seem to be very useful.
-
-
-
-
(Electro-) mechanical calculators
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- The first electronically calculating calculators were gigantic mainframes
- in the 1940/50s. Until then, calculators worked mechanically.
- When the handwheel was replaced by an electric engine, the era of mechanical
- calculators began.
-
-
-
-
- From the first fully automatic machines (1927) until calculators with
- accumulating memory (1960s), mechanical calculators computed the result
- indepently after user input.
- Curta I, The world's first "pocket calculator", has 1/3 from the volume of a
- Coca Cola-pin and is consequently the smallest four-species machine ever built.
- Looking at mechanical calculators, one quickly recognize the enormous
- importance of the positional notation.
-
-
- Burroughs Mod. 2.
- The first printing calculating machine was invented in the USA (about 1905)
- and was selled worldwide. It features a complete keyboard for 17 digits, a
- printing unit and a long carriage for the sheet paper. The device could be
- used as a simple electronic accounting machine. At that time the engines
- could already be built just compact enough for such a device. Anyway, the
- huge engine (for today's circumstances) had to be placed below the device
- (on the right hand side in the picture). The sack below the engine is
- intended for collecting the leakage oil.
-
-
-
-
-
-
MADAS, an electromechanical calculator from 1927
- made by the calculating machine factury "Egli AG" in Zurich.
- Since multiplying and dividing needs some time, the inventors installed a small
- bell (at the upper left) that rings after the calculation has finished.
-
-
-
-
-
In 1932, Rheinmetall extended an adding machine with
- a surface mounting, thus creating a 4-species calculating machine.
- The comfortable usability seems to be the reason why they called it "Superautomat".
- Calculating is the only ability of this colossus.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Curta I and Curta II
- These outstanding small pocket calculators were produced almost
- unmodified from 1948 to ca. 1971. This is unbelievable for today's
- technology products. The Curta could perform all basic arithmetic
- operations.
- Packing all the complex mechanics into such a small volume was an enormous
- challenge. For comparision of the sizes, we put a matchbox from the same
- era on the picture.
- The Internet is full of literature about the Curta, e.g. the
- story about inventor Curt
- Herzstark.
-
-
-
-
-
-
DIEHL VSR-18, one of many mechanical calculators
- built between 1955 and 1965.
- The engineers were hardly pressed to design better and better machines, until
- the limit of feasibility. So the operating instructions say: "This DIEHL-device VSR
- performs outstanding work". That is really true: For example, one were able to
- cache results and to transfer back them anytime you want to. With this feature
- daily calculations like 25 + 12 x 7 - 17 x 6 could be solved without notating
- anything. However, this luxury still had a drawback: Maloperation could damage the
- whole device.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Olivetti Logos 27-2,
- a mechanical monstrosity as a last stand against the
- then modern electronic calculators. The first version hit the market in 1965, followed by this big second modell in 1967 which weighs in excess of 27 kg! This calculator features three memory cells, automatic carry, floating point and several additional features.
-
- Olivetti proudly presented this printing calculator as a workhorse for
-scientific applications, "slightly" exaggerating its features and
-versatility.
-As typical applications, the calculation of square and cubic roots were
-demonstrated as well as the solution of systems of linear equations,
-determinants, polynomials, series expansion etc. Of course, these tasks could
-not be performed by just pressing a single key. Instead, simple algorithms
-were necessary, written down as sequences of basic operations which often
-required the user to enter approximate values. The calculation of the cubic
-root of 2993582.625 for example required 25 key strokes and three inputs of
-values. So much for workhorse for scientific applications - without any means
-of storing a program working with this machine was mostly a tedious task.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- It looks as if the brilliant designers of mechanical calculators wanted to created a last fulminant hurrah just to show what could be done with mechanical systems although the time was ripe for electronic calculators. It should be noted that Olivetti already had introduced the rather sophisticated electronic calculator PROGRAMMA 101 back in 1966.
-
-Keeping such a mechanical marvel alive is a formidable task. Even using the
-wrong oil or grease for lubrication can lead to stuck mechanisms resulting in
-a completely unusable machine in a short time. Unfortunately, our machine has
-suffered so badly that it is beyond repair.
-
-By clicking on the small pictures you will get some impressions of this
-mechanical marvel.
-
-
-
-
-
Hands-on-workshop: It is a challenge for kids and young adults to perform a
-division operation with mechanical devices.
The first electronically calculating calculators were gigantic mainframes
+ in the 1940/50s. Until then, calculators worked mechanically.
+
+
+ When the handwheel was replaced by an electric engine, the era of mechanical calculators began.
+ The first printing mechanical calculator (1905) is an unicum with an huge exterior engine!
+ From the first fully automatic machines (1927) until these with balancing memory
+ (1960s), mechanical calculators calculated independently after the input of the numbers.
+ The world's first "pocket calculator machine", Curta I, has 1/3 from the volume of a
+ Coca Cola-pin and is consequently the smallest four-species machine ever built.
+ If you look at the picture of Curta I (shown below), you recognize the enormous importance of the
+ positional notation.
+
+
+
+
Shown above: MADAS, an electromechanical calculator from 1927
+ made by the calculating machine factury "Egli AG" in Zurich. On the left side you see
+ CURTA I, in the background an old matchbox that shows the enormous size of these
+ machines.
+
+
+
+
+
1932 Rheinmetall extended an adding machine with an "annex",
+ thus they made a 4-species calculating machine.
+ The comfortable usability seems to be the reason why they called it "Superautomat".
+
+
+
+
+
+
DIEHL VSR-18, one of many mechanical calculators
+ built between 1955 and 1965.
+ The engineers were hardly pressed to design better and better machines, until
+ the limit of feasibility. So the operating instructions say: "This DIEHL-device VSR
+ performs outstanding work". That is really true: For example, one were able to
+ cache results and to transfer back them anytime you want to. With this feature
+ daily calculations like 25 + 12 x 7 - 17 x 6 could be solved without notating
+ anything. However, this luxury still had a drawback: You must not run them wrongly,
+ because they were highly sensitive agains any operating error.
The development of electronic calculators since the 1950s is at least as interesting as the
- development of broadcast engineering in the 1920/30s.
- The first electronic desk calculator in the world (1962) is a real milestone. The
- modern-looking monster features 188 electron tubes and belongs consequently to the first
- generation of calculators. It has a wonderful glowing display. However, the
- tube based computer can only perform the four basic arithmetic operations and
- cost as much as a VW Beetle and an holiday trip.
-
-
-
-
Anita Mark C/VIII
-
-
- The ANITA ("ANew Inspiration To Arithmetik") was
- manufactured by BELL PUNCH Co, England. This historic calculator revolutionised
- computing on desktops.
- For the first time, you could multiply and divide without mechanics or noise. With a
- 3 kHz clock the device calculated ten times faster than the best contemporary
- mechanical calculators. Anyway, technically speaking, the device was actually
- obsolete in 1962. The calculator works in decimal system, just like
- mechanical sprocket wheel machines. It took two more years until a transistorized desk
- calculator (IME 84) came onto the market.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- The "nightly" Anita inner life: The thyratrons glow red, flashing during calculations.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- This is part of the numeric display. The gas-filled nixie tubes
- (glow lamp principle) came onto the marktet just in time.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- The upper circuit board contains a ring counter. The gas-filled thyratrons are very small. This
- was the only way to place approx. 177 pieces into a manageable case. These relay tubes
- have only two states like mechanical relays.
- Additionally there are 11 vacuum tubes (ECC 81, left side) built into the calculator.
-
- The lower circuit board is a complete counting decade with a nixie tube.
-
The development of electronic calculators since the 1950s is at least as interesting as the
+ development of broadcast engineering in the 1920/30s.
+ The first electronic desk calculator in the world (1962) is a real milestone. The
+ modern-looking monster features 190 electron tubes and belongs consequently to the first
+ generation of calculators. It has a wonderful glowing display. However, the
+ tube based computer can only compute with the four basic arithmetic operations and
+ costed the price of a VW beetle and an holiday trip.
+
+
+
+
Anita C/VIII (Manufactor: BELL PUNCH Co, England), an historic calculator that revolutionised calculating on desktops.
+ For the first time, you could multiply and divide without mechanics and noise. Technically speaken, the device was actually obsolete in 1962. The calculator works in decimal system, just as every other mechanical sprocket wheel machine. It still took two years until transistorized desk calculators (IME 84) came onto the market.
+ You can see more pictures and details at Details of Anita.
- In 1963 BULL (General Electric) presented the BULL GAMMA 10 (G10)
- which was intended for commercial purpose and puchcard
- computing. It was the direct successor of the Tabulating Machine.
- Compared to the really big mainframes, the G10 was intended to
- be set up in a 20 square meter room, without air conditioning.
- The maximum power input was 2.5 kW.
- The standard equipment contains a CPU with
- panel, a punchcard reader/puncher unit and a barrel printer.
- The RAM consists of a 1kb core memory which could be
- extended up to 4kb capacity. There are 59 different
- opcodes to program the CPU.
- The cycle time from the core memory is 7 micro
- seconds. The calculator is capable of reading and
- punching 300 cards per minute. Five punchcards per
- second, that is an amazing speed –
- therefore the punching unit is generously built. The
- printer can only print up to 300 lines per minute. Compared
- to our Univac 9400 this
- is quite slow – the Univac 9400 is capable of
- printing more than 1000 lines per minute.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Gamma 10 uncovered
-
-
-
- The chassis is metallic bright and glossy. It is clearly arranged
- and therefore the machine is quite easy to maintain.
-
- By now the whole mechanics are working again, which is the core
- part of the computer. After adjusting the temperature of the
- heated core memory and replacing some broken transistors, the
- program for duplication punch cards runs again, as well as some
- mathematical programs.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- The control panel could be used for monitoring running
- programs, as well as for early "test driven development"
- for programmers.
- The picture shows details of the programmer's part of
- the control panel. These buttons and switches are intended
- for debugging a program step-by-step and for reading out
- the contents of registers, the ALU and RAM, and, finally,
- for assembling and executing new computer instructions.
- All output is driven by lime-green "DM 160" miniature
- tubes.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- This is a picture of a typical GAMMA 10 board. On the mainboard,
- all conductor paths are aligned horizontally while on the small
- plug-in boards (flip-flops, amplifiers, etc.) they are mostly
- vertically oriented. Almost all transistors are made of germanium.
- The slow non-time-critical logic (like card controlling)
- is performed by 573 relays. Building up such an amount of
- wear parts is quiete brave.
- Summing up, there were about 570 boards like this one in
- the GAMMA 10 (without counting the printer interface). The
- GAMMA 10 was sold as a quite cheap electronic data processing
- system. We have gotten an original list of prices for this device
- from 1968/69, when this model was already out-of-date and
- hence very cheap:
- CPU with 4kB core memory: 267.000,- DM (about 133.000,- Euro or Dollar)
- Printer: 105.000,- DM (about 50.000,- Euro, Dollar)
-
-
-
-
While our GAMMA 10 is in a very good shape, we cannot use the
- printer any more, since all electronics are missing.
- But we were very lucky: An original printer has been donated to the museum by
-the F.E.B. (Federation des Equipes Bull) in France. Although the enclosure is
-missing completely as well as some other parts, we were able to rebuild a
-fully functional printer basied on this devices together with the parts
-already in the collection. The result is remarkable (see below).
-
-
-
-
-
BULL I 50: Before a printer fragment and afterwards fully functional
-
-
-
-Some interesting technical data: The computer contains more than 4,000
-discrete transistors, about 10,000 diodes and more then 2,500 test points
-which aide the service technician.
-Tracking down errors by swapping boards was not possible since the logical
-functions are spread over the whole chassis and are not concentrated on
-single cards. A typical errorneous function had to be traced from card 17,
-which is connected to card 95, which is, in turn, connected to card 43 and
-card 293 which contains a flipflop which is necessary to implement this
-particular basic function. Without detailed schematics and cycle diagrams it
-would be impossible to repair this machine.
- The BULL GAMMA 3 was build since 1952. At these days, such devices were
- called "electronically calculating device" (original translation
- from the BULL maintenance manual), "electron computer" or actually
- "electron mastermind".
- The device could be connected to several punchcard devices, for
- example the Tabulating Machine BS,
- to the card copier PRD or to the ULP puncher.
- The former director of the BULL company, Pierre Letort, described in the magazine "Arts et Manufactures", No. 22, dated June 1953, the operation of the GAMMA 3:
-
-
"In its current configuration, the computer acts as an extension unit for the
-punched card machine it is connected to. The cards are read in the reader
-station which transmits data to the computer. The computer in turn performs all
-necessary calculations and transmits the results back to the punched card
-machine which will print or punch these values. Regardless of the task, the
-computer is so fast that there is no visible delay caused by the calculations".
- The modules could be folded out, hence the calculator is quite
- service friendly. Two big fans circulate fresh air thorught the
- case.
- When this calculator is connected to our BULL Tabulating Machine,
- all the information from the papertape reader brushes are directly
- transfered to the GAMMA 3. Thus programs and data can be manipulated
- directly by the GAMMA 3. The output is transfered back to the
- printing unit from the Tabulating Machine.
- Our GAMMA 3 installation is fully equipped and features seven
- delay line memory units with a capacity
- of 12 decimal digits each. To extend the built-in memory, there
- were special so-called "storage cabinets"
- that contained additional 24 storage units, each with a capacity
- of 12 decimal numbers.
- Summing up, the calculator features almost 400 electron tubes.
- Thyratrons were used to connect this fast calculator to the slow
- punchcard auxillary devices. A thyratron tube is capable of saving
- temporary digital states.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Here you can see a part of the big power supply
-
-
-
-
-
- This picture displays the monster power supply. 39 fuses keep the electric circuits seperated for additional security. Comparing to this,
- you can possibly imagine how power supplies of very big tube
- calculators looked like!
- At these days, selenium rectifier were used to convert AC to DC.
- They are made from stacks of square
- plated with about 1µm of bismuth or nickel. A much thicker layer of selenium
- which has been doped with a halogen is deposited on top of the thin metal
- plating. The selenium is then converted into polycrystalline gray from by
- annealing. Each plate is able to withstand about 20 volts in the reverse
- direction. The metal squares, or disks, also serve as heat sinks in
- addition to providing a mounting place for the selenium disks.
- Plates can be stacked indefinitely to withstand higher voltages,
-
- as you can see in the lower right of the picture.
- At the left side you see dozens of electrolytic capacitors.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Gigantic cables connect the peripheral devices with the rather small (for its time) Gamma-3 vacuum tube computer
-
A second generation calculator: BULL GAMMA 55 (GE-55)
-
-
-
-
-
On the left the printer I41 is visible, in the background the CPU (2m
-wide!) and on the right the paper tape puncher can be seen. On top of
-the desk is a punch card reader with an alphanumeric keyboard in front
-of it.
-
-
-
- We are since 2012 the proud owners of a new BULL computer system: A BULL Gamma
-55 (also known as GE-55 after the merge with General-Electric). The
-system now in the collection was stored in Switzerland with all
-accompanying documentation, punched cards etc. for 26 years.
-
-It was developed in 1966 by BULL in France and hit the market in 1967.
-It was aimed at small and middle sized companies that were too small
-as customers for other, larger computer systems.
-
-This computer demonstrates the tremendous advances of computer
-technology in the 1960s. While all instructions on the (larger) Gamma
-10 are implemented with a lot of active circuitry stepping through
-many cycles, this is done in the Gamma 55 by means of a rather large
-read-only-memory. This is an implementation of a microprogram which
-reduces the necessary hardware significantly, making the machine
-cheaper and more reliable.
-
-The basic implementation of the machines makes heavy use of mechanical
-parts but at least the card reader is an optical device.
Our machine can be programmed in machine language or some kind of a
-mini-COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language). The compiler is loaded
-via punched cards. To start a program a Supervisor that is loaded by
-punched cards is necessary.
-
-The system was advertised with 2.5 kB, 5 kB or 10 kB of main memory
-(core memory). Our machine has 5 kB of memory and it is really
-astonishing that a high level language like COBOL - even our
-mini-COBOL - is feasible with such a tiny amount of memory at all.
-
-As an extension a memory drum was offered which also allowed the use of
-a mini-FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslator).
-
-Although BULL was quite inventive concerning software their hardware
-was quite outdated. The boards used in this machine are the same as
-those in the earlier GAMMA 10 (based on Germanium transistors). At the
-same time other companies like UNIVAC or IBM already employed
-integrated circuits (DTL, Diode-Transistor-Logic) for their machines.
-
-
-September 2013: Success! The machine is up and running!
-After a substantial amount of time spent for debugging, the machine is now
-fully operational again. More the 30 (!!) defective transistors and diodes had to
-be traced down and replaced to achieve this. These parts failed silently
-during the 33 years in storage. We can now proudly state that this is the
-only surviving Gamma 55 on earth which is still running. If you are
-interested in details concerning the architecture and programming of the
-machine, have a look here (in German only): BULL Gamma 55 manuals
-
-
-The card reader of the GE55 can be seen on the left of the pictures (without
-its cover. It is interesting to see that Bull solved every problem for which
-as (practical) mechanical solution exists in a mechanical way (as compared to
-our times where microcontrollers are abundant even in applications which
-might be implemented more easily with a mechanical approach). The card is
-coupled to a punched tape which generates the clock signal for reading the
-card's columns. Although this part can wear out easily, it is nevertheless an
-ingenious solution.
-Also visible is the projection display: 10 digits and two
-additional symbols are displayed by an array of incandescent lamps with
-associated lenses. This is the main way of communicating with the machine
-like today's video terminals.
-The picture below shows the read-only-memory containing 1024 words. A very
-heavy contraption but very maintainable. (Both pictures can be enlarged by
-clicking on them.)
-
-
-
Right: Read-only-memory removed from the machine.
- (enlarge picture)
-
-
-
-
-
-
Contemporary document: In the following you find some quotations from
-the system description published in 1967/1968:
-
"After intensive market research, BULL GENERAL ELECTRIC developed a
-versatile computer system: Its internal structure resembles that of
-modern computers. Furthermore it is a data processing system that
-allows direct input via keyboard. It is a real data processing system
-because it can grow with your needs and its memory capacity (internal
-as well as external) can be extended.
-
-Construction: The central processing unit (CPU) of the GE-55 supports
-four channels; three of which are normal speed channels for slow
-input/output devices and one high speed channel used by external
-memory units or a fast line printer...
-....the cycle time is 7.9 us. Characters are represented by their
-respective ISO-code. The core memory is used as data and program
-memory. A since byte, comprised of 8 data bits and one parity bit,
-stores a single alphabetical character or up to two numerical
-digits...
-
-
-
-Instructions are analyzed and executed under control of a
-read-only-memory with a capacity of 1024 word of 36 bits each... This
-memory contains micro programs for control, supervision and execution
-as well as arithmetic and character conversion tables.
-
-Software: The programming system is mainly comprised of the following
-parts: Symbolic languages that facilitate the actual programming task
-and an assembler for translating assembler programs to machine
-language...
-"
In December 2013 we got a wonderful and interesting IBM 1130 computer. This model was announced in December 1965 and was shipped beginning in 1966. It was primarily used for scientific, engineering and mathematical purposes. Many universities for applied sciences also had such machines since funding was easy once it had been demonstrated that the machine could also be used for clerical applications as well. Our machine was once used at the university of applied sciences in Darmstadt (see here for background information: ).
-
-Initially, IBM estimated that a market for about 100 machines of this particular model might exist. It turned out that this estimation was far to pessimistic. Since the system featured a disk drive and was very cheap, compared with comparable machines from other vendors, about 50% of the systems running at customer locations were used in clerical applications. Thus, in Germany alone 385 machines were in use in 1970. The monthly rent was between 3500 DM and 14500 DM (this was about 3 to 12 times more than the average montly earnings of a German worker in 1970) depending on the configuration of the system.
-
-Beginning in 1964/65, IBM developed so-called SLT (Solid Logic Technology) devices - precursors of todays SMD (Surface Mounted Device) components. This technology found widespread use in the 1980s - about 20 years after IBMs pioneering developments. (Cf. our repair blog: ) Our machine is as a card-system fully functional since January 2015. We will now focus on the restauration of the disk drive..
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
IBM 1130: IBM 1131 central processing unit (front, right), memory expansion (left), IBM 1442 punched card unit (background, left), IBM 1132 printer (right)
-
- Figure 1 shows the keyboard with the ball-printing mechanism, the control console and the display panel. The keyboard is identical to that used in the IBM 029 card punch - its decoding mechanism is purely mechanic. The smallest configuration of the computer system had no memory expansion (front, left), no IBM 1132 printer, no removable disk drive and used paper tape as the main input/output medium. Since the paper tape system was no match for the rather powerful processor, most machines came with a lot more peripherals than this minimal configuration. The system could be expanded easily and thus could grow with the demands of its users.
-
- The IBM 1132 printer is based in the IBM 407 tabulating machine which was developed in the 1950s. The 1132 features a simplified printing mechanism. Figure 2 shows the printer with its side panels removed. This is the view our visitors have on this rather archaic printing system. After restauration the printer looks like new. Visible on the front are the 120 solenoids which control the printing wheels - rock-solid technology of the 1950s and 1960s.
- The printer is capable of printing 80 lines per minute - not too impressive given the rather modern electronic control system and a result of the comparable low price of the overall system. Users demanding more printer throughput could also attach an IBM 1403 high-speed printer.
-
-
- Figure 3 shows an 8k x 16 bit core memory stack (16 kB) with its associated control circuitry. The high density of this module is typical for IBMs SLT based devices of that time. IBM was far ahead of most of its competitors (not only in this respect). The matchbox shown visualizes the small size of this memory module. Most IBM 1130 systems only had one such module - the memory expansion of our system (left) is a rare device.
-
-
- Our system also features several Facit paper tape devices (figure 4):
- A paper tape winder type 4015, paper tape punch type 4060, paper tape reader type 4001, and punch control type 5104. Back then it was customary to have paper tape equipment connected to computers used in a scientific environment. Since these devices are very sturdy they were sometimes the last means in cases of major malfunctions of other input/output equipment. Unfortunately, it is not possible to start programs from paper tape - this requires an extra option.
-
-
- Figure 5 shows additional output devices such as a plotter and a terminal. The COMPLOT DP-1 digital plotter shown is a fully transistorized high-speed plotter which was used instead of the much slower IBM plotter (which was basically a Calcomp 565 plotter). As simple as the plotter is from a mechanical and electronic point of view, it was extremely expensive at more than 18,000 DM in 1971 (about as expensive as two middle-class cars of that time). The profit-margin back than was quite remarkable.
-
-On the right a Tektronix 4006 graphic terminal can be seen. This device is capable of displaying text as well as graphics and was introduced in 1975. Instead of a bit-mapped display, a storage display tube was used since digital memory chips were prohibitively expensive back then. This display tube is based on the same principles of operation as contemporary storage oscilloscope tubes.
-
-The processing of large data sets required a tape drive such as our Ampex TMZ shown in figure 6. It was cheaper than comparable devices used in larger installations.
-
-*** We are desperately looking for schematics and documentation for this tape drive and its computer interface! Please let us know if you happen to have information regarding this. ***
-
- [The IBM 1130 has been donated by the FITG (Frankfurt), the peripheral devices are on loan from the FITG.]
-
-
-
- As for out UNIVAC 9200 we also maintain a repair blog for this machine. The main challenge in repairing a machine like this is that the machine was very advanced for its time. There are no individual transistors or common integrated circuits, instead IBM used a proprietary technology called SLT (Solid Logic Technology). SLT devices are small ceramic substrates on which extremely tiny transistors, diodes, resistors etc. are mounted (SLT devices are no integrated circuits - they more closely resemble hybrid circuits).
- Of course, these devices are no longer manufactured, so there are virtually no spare parts. Accordingly, defective SLT devices must be "repaired" - a very tedious and time consuming process.
- So the very advanced technology developed by IBM which made this machine feasible now turns out to be a real problem for its repair and restauration. Other companies, like BULL, still used discrete transistors mounted on classic printed circuit boards in the 1960 and some even later.
-
-The time required for a complex endeavor like this is substantial. Fortunately one never knows how complex the repair will be in the end (our BULL Gamma 55 was plagued by more than 30 distinct failures!) - otherwise one would never even begin such a repair attempt. The actual blog starts here and is continued on a follow-up page (see below).
-
-
-
-
- Dec.2013: Cleaning the machine and removing disintegrated foam rubber mats.
-
- 30.12.2013: Due to curiosity we already invested much time. After installing
-32 kB memory (with a word length of 16 bits) the first power on was attempted: No magic smoke escaping - a big success! Nevertheless, the console typewriter banged its type head repeatedly at the left margin so we switched off quickly.
-
-
Typical SLT module. The schematics were printed with standard high-speed printers which makes their interpretation hard all logic-elements look quite similar.
-
-
-
- 2.1.2014: Removal of the console typewriter for easier maintenance. After
-three hours the bug was found: Four small bars, moved by springs, were
-immovable due to old oil which had solidified. Correction was simple due to
-some W40.
-
- 4.1.2014: Since the console typewriter is now working flawless, we
-concentrated on writing data to the memory system. At first sight, the memory
-is working a "bit".
-
- 6.1.2014: After we have learned how to deposit data to the memory and read it
-back, it became clear that there are at least two problems: 1: Depositing
-values in consecutive memory addresses fails, and 2: two out of 15 bits are
-missing at all, causing parity errors.
-
-
- 8.1.2014: The second error was found rather quickly: One "head connector" was
-missing from the second memory module. We fail to understand how such an item
-can get lost. The first error is harder to find.
-
- 11.1.2014: The first error turns out to be a show-stopper: The address
-generation is working fine but the driver for the address lines 11, 12, 13,
-and 14 is missing since there is no board 7342! Somehow this has been removed
-from the machine! That is the worst case for every restoration project! A
-closer inspection revealed, that a second board, 4628, is also missing from
-the printer control.
Programmable third-generation calculators with early IC-technology
-
-
With the development of IC-technology 1967/68 brought along with the development of
- high-performance calculators. We have also arrayed what was among other things the
- world's most expensive desk calculator: the WANG 700. This device outshined everything
- else on the market (costing with very extensive
- peripherals well over 70000 DM or 35000 Euro).
- Furthermore the first calculator with an alphanumeric display (HP 9820, 1971) and the
- world's first BASIC-programmable desk calculator (HP 9830, 1972) are installed.
- With these systems you can marvellously plot function graphs together with labels.
- Three years before something like that was unimaginable!
- In 1971 the first scientifically programmable "pocket calculators" with the size of
- a matchbox came on the market, too.
- See also: Tabular list of desk calculators
-
-
-
-
WANG 700
-
-
-
Unique system WANG 700
-
-
-
The picture shows a unique system with a WANG 700 at its heart. It is a one-of-a-kind machine and was built specifically for the department of mathematical didactics of a German university. Students of pure mathematics were forced to compete for the scarce CPU time on the university's mainframe while students of mathematical didactics had exclusive access to the system shown which eventually led to some arguments between both faculties.
-
On the left the calculator itself can be seen – it features a two line display made from so called NIXIE-tubes, has 2 kB core memory and a built in cassette drive for mass storage. For years this machine was the fastest desktop calculator in the world.
-
In the middle the optical reader can be seen (which, in fact, obscures the manual punch card reader which can not be seen in this picture). On the right is a modified IBM selectric typewriter which can not only be used to print out text, but to create plots of functions as well. Below the calculator an alphanumeric keyboard can be found; on the bottom an additional dual cassette tape drive is located. Programming of this machine was quite cumbersome - a simple plotterprogram took 794 program steps to perform a task which could be done on a later HP desktop calculator like the HP 9830 in only 36 steps using HP-BASIC as its programming language.
- WANGs versioning scheme is a bit unusual: The computers were released in this order: 700, 500, 600, 400.
- The Wang 500 (year of manufacture 1971) is a pared-down version of the 700.
- The most important scientific functions were programmed directly in the
- threaded ROM, they did not have to be loaded via cassette any more. In the
- upper left they embedded a small drum printer (The Olivetti P 101 already
- featured such a printer in 1966). The cassette drive for recording programs
- is the same like in the 700. The "marker card" reader (instead of regular punch
- cards, the fields are only blackend) was perfect for schools and
- universities. Many users could mark cards manually with a simple pencil and afterwards
- test them on a single computer.
- Wang promoted the computer as "The World's Second Most Powerful Calculator"
- (Wang 700 was the first one). This slogan could only refer to the computing speed,
- since the HP 9100 was much more universal. The 500 series is very rare, since
- it was superseded by the Wang 500 shortly after being released.
- The computer in the picture is new and unused. It has been found in the basement
- of an old stock from Wang and was passed to the museum, still unused. Therefore
- it looks great, even being more than 40 years old.
-
-
-
Diehl Combitronic
-
-
-
-
Diehl Combitronic with paper tape reader and puncher
-
-
-
- In 1970-72, DIEHL selled the Combitronic, featured with germanium transistors from the early 1960s
- (used for the printer interface), (still) a paper tape used for booting, a slow delay line memory and ceramic
- ICs (modern LSI technology). This device is a prime example for the enormous speed of development of new
- technology. The transistor logic was implemented by simply taking four LSI ICs together. Therefore the
- computer is logically (almost) identical to the almost obsolte Combitron, but the case is much smaller and the whole
- computer shrank up to two small boards (see detailed pictures from the
- Diehl Combitronic). In the picture above you see the compatible paper tape puncher ELS 850 and the reader
- "Dilector" on the left.
-
-
-
Hewlett Packard HP 9810, 9820, 9830
-
-
-
-
-
-
While DIEHL still emphazised the mechanics, HP tried to hide it as much as possible. For scientifical calculations
- the Diehl computers from the series shown above were too slowly, compared to HP or WANG, whereas the Diehl devices
- were much cheaper than the others. On the other hand, for normal calculations in engineering offices the
- perfomance of the Diehl devices was quite sufficient.
- For large scientifical calculations or even more complex jobs you
- had to buy Wang or HP devices.
-
-
The history of development from the HP-desk calculators in one rack:
Above the successor model HP 9810 (same logic like the HP 9100
- but uses TTL-ICs), uses the very first LED displays that are
- still very small and have only three rows.
-
At the bottom the next model, HP 9820 (year of manufacture 1971)
- with alphanumerical 7x5 pixel LED display.
-
-
At the top the best known computer from HP: HP 9830, year of manufacture 1972
- with paper tape reader, puncher and plotter. This is the world's first desk
- calculator that can be programmed with BASIC.
The development of IC-technology 1967/68 came along with the development of
+ high-perfomance calculators. We have also arrayed the world's most expensive desk calculator:
+ WANG 700. This device outshined everything other on the market (costed with very extensive
+ periphery much more than 70.000,- DM or 35.000,- Euro).
+ Furthermore the first alphanumerically displaying calculator (HP 9820, 1971) and the
+ world's first BASIC-programmable desk calculator (HP 9830, 1972) are installed.
+ With these systems you can marvellously plot function graphes together with its label.
+ Three years before something like this was unimaginable!
+ 1971 the first scientifically programmable "pocket calculators" with the size of
+ a matchbox came on the market, too.
+ see also details 1
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
The picture shows a unique system with a WANG 700 at its heart. It is a one-of-a-kind machine and was built specifically for the department of mathematical didactics of a German university. Students of pure mathematics were forced to compete for the scarce CPU time on the university's mainframe while students of mathematical didactics had exclusive access to the system shown which eventually led to some arguments between both faculties.
+
On the left the calculator itself can be seen – it features a two line display made from so called NIXIE-tubes, has 2 kB core memory and a built in cassette drive for mass storage. For years this machine was the fastest desktop calculator in the world.
+
In the middle the optical reader can be seen (which, in fact, obscures the manual punch card reader which can not be seen in this picture). On the right is a modified IBM selectric typewriter which can not only be used to print out text, but to create plots of functions as well. Below the calculator an alphanumeric keyboard can be found; on the bottom an additional dual cassette tape drive is located. Programming of this machine was quite cumbersome - a simple plotterprogram took 794 program steps to perform a task which could be done on a later HP desktop calculator like the HP 9830 in only 36 steps using HP-BASIC as its programming language.
-
-The 1st-generation dataprocessing system LGP-30 was developed in the United
-States by Librascope and General-Precision in the mid-1950s. About 40 such
-machines were built under a license agreement by Schoppe & Faeser in Germany.
-The LGP-30 was intended as a scientific computer system and was superseded
-by the LGP-21 in 1962.
-
-Programs and data are stored on 1" paper tape which are fed to a high-speed
-punch/reader. Manual input and output is performed by a so-called
-"Flexowriter" made by Friden. This device is basically an electric
-typewriter with a paper tape attachment.
-
-
-
-
- LGP-30 vacuum tube based computer - prior to restauration
-
-
-
Unfortunately, our machine is missing the special interconnect cables
-for the high-speed paper tape system and the Flexowriter. Therefore we
-are looking desperately for the required special connectors .
-Apart from this, the machine is in rather good shape. First
-of all the side panels have to be repainted and all the mechanic parts
-have to be brought back to working condition. After that the electronics
-can be debugged - a true adventure, digging deep into vacuum tube based
-digital electronics.
The technical data is rather interesting: The magnetic drum rotates at
-3600 RPM, the distance between two adjacent tracks is 2mm, a single track
-has a width of 1mm and the spacing between read/write heads and the
-drum surface is 25 um! The memory capacity is pretty large for its time
-at 4,096 words of 32 bits each. The basic clock frequency is 120 kHz and
-the access time is between 2 ms and 15 ms. A single addition takes
-0.23 ms while a multiplication requires 15 ms (without the necessary
-access times to the drum).
-All in all, there are 113 long-life vacuum tubes and 1450 Germanium
-diodes packaged in 34 modules (12 different module types).
-Peripherals:
-The paper tape reads is capable of reading 200 characters/s, the high-speed
-punch can punch at 50 characters/s while the Flexowriter is capable of
-printing 10 characters/s.
-
-The processing unit (without peripherals) weights 350 kg.
-
-
-
Some historical data regarding our machine: Its whereabouts prior to 1962
-are unknown. It was then used from 1962 until 1980 at a land surveying
-office for various purposes including the generation of control paper
-tapes for a ZUSE Graphomat Z64 plotter, recalculation of historic
-triangulation nets, affine transformations, Helmert-transformations,
-basic tasks for land surveying etc.
-
-Those tasks were quite demanding and even a rather simple fit through
-three points determined by triangulation took about 3 to 4 minutes of
-computer time.
LGP-30 Magnetic Drum. The magnetic layer has some defects. The photo can be enlarge.
-
-
-
-
-
Now the restoration of this vaccum tube based computer started. The biggest
-problem is the magnetic drum memory. Currently four options are under
-consideration:
-
-1. Applying a new magnetic coating to the damaged drum. This approach would
-be ideal but also the most complex solution.
-
-2. Simulating the complete drum assembly by a modern microcontroller.
-Attaching this to the vacuum tube electronics would be feasible by means of
-level shifters (0V and -20V are required for operation).
-
-3. A discrete approach emplying RAMs, EPROMs, operational amplifiers and lots
-of glue logic. This does not have any advantages over approach 2.
-
-4. Replacing the rotating drum by a fixed assembly holding magnetic
-read/write heads, one for each head of the drum. This approach has been
-abandoned due to its complexity.
-
-Compared with the complexity of emulating the drum assembly, the missing
-cables are only a minor problem. Fortunately four experts will support the
-restoration effort. We would especially like to thank Mr. Klemens Krause
-Computermuseum-Stuttgart.
-
-
Index: /en/computer/old/early-computers.oldversion.shtm
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@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+
+
+
Technikum29 -
+
+
+ " />
+ " />
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Early computers are really worth seeing because of their enormousness and the very nice transparent accessory devices.
+ There is a very important computer family that lead to the todays (home) computers: The development of the "Mini"-computers (mini compared to the common big mainframe computers at that time) from Digital Equipment Coroperation (DEC), series PDP 8. The museum has a complete production run from that devices: From the PDP 8 (also called Classic-8), year of manufacture 1965 to the PDP 8a (1975). The PDP 8a is less important so it is located in the archive.
+
+
+
+
+
+ The PDP 8 complete apparature One of the museal highlights
+
+
+
+
+: The Classic PDP 8 from DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation, Massachusetts):
+ He is considered to be the world's first mass-produced "minicomputer" (1965). "Mini" is relative: Only too very
+ strong men can lift the computer. It is better to have four people to carry it!.
+ Without ICs or their ancestors the device is counted among the seccond-generation calculators.
+ You can also get a view from the "Flip-Chip"-card from the left flank (flank). The core memory is set above (storage capacity 4kB).
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
PDP 8L-installation with a lot of periphery. Year of manufacture 1968, partly with ICs of the TTL-series, partly plain transistor technology (Transistortechnik).
+ The computer is 2 meter high and constists of a DIN A2 drum plotter (Calcomp 563, on the top), two TU 55 drives for magnetic tapes, a fast optical paper tape reader, the CPU and two expanded memories.
+ On the left you see the famous TELETYPE ASR 33 as a printer (with mechanical paper tape reader/-puncher)
+
+
+
+
Furthermore the first system that looks like a today's computer is connected: WANG 2200, year of manufacture 1973. The computer with so much peripheral devices is propably unique in Germany. For example paper tape reader, Staplekartenleser, 8-zoll triple disc drive, disc system (Plattensystem) with 38cm big disks (the device has a weight of 100kg and costed 24.000,- DM whereas it only saved 5MB), special Basic-keybard, etc.
+ The first personal computer was also build by WANG: PCS II (1975). The first PC that was affordable for everyman came on the market in 1977: PET 2001 from Commodore. It was as cheap as a today's PC but saved 8kB and had decent applications. More Homepcomputer followed, the market got out of hand and therewith the collection of computers ends. See also details 2
Thanks to an cologne upper school this device has survived the last 25
+ years. At the end of the 70s, challenging computer science could be taught
+ with this computer. The time before it was used in a cologne industrial
+ factory.
+ Since September 2005 it is located in our museum. A regional German television
+ program reported on the transport of the UNIVAC 9400 (and 9300) which was
+ accomplished with two lorries due to the heavy weight. UNISYS covered the
+ expenses. The limited number of 9400 arrangements were build in
+ Frankfurt-Rödelheim, so this computer has almost reached his place of
+ origin.
+
+
Today there are only a few old mainframe computers which are still operable.
+ Due to the complexness reperations are very difficult and time-consuming.
+
+
For the chance of a successful reperation the utterly complete installation,
+ an operating system, test programs and all manuals (schematic diagrams, service
+ instructions, operating instructions) are neccessary. There should not be
+ too many errors at the same time, otherwise it will be an endless adventure.
+
+ We had luck in many respects. The UNIVAC 9400 which was left to us is
+ complete and very good documentated. Furthermore: Two pensioners who live
+ near to the museum and who know the computer very well. They make it
+ systematically work again with an huge amount of background knowledge and lot's of
+ still available special spare parts.
+
+ Presumably this UNIVAC 9400 will be the only one in europe (perhaps even
+ worldwide) which still works (if not, please notify!). It still has small
+ faults, but we are on the right track to success.
+
+
Due to lack of space we had to slim the system (redundant parts are banned
+ to the archive), thereby it is now a bit smaller, but the important components
+ are still in the museum.
+
+
In the first picture (at the top) you can see (from left to right)
There is another tape drive, three disc drives and other components in the archive.
+
+
The UNIVAC series 9000 was designed in the mid 60s. All computers are built with
+ "monolith circuits". That are ICs from the DTL series that were mass-produces about 1966.
+ DTL means Diode-Transistor Logic; the transistors were integrated with simple OR- and NOR-gates,
+ whereas the intrinsic logic was realized beyond the ICs with simple diods. Thus all computers
+ needed only four different IC types. Strictly speaking these are still computers from the
+ second generation, the scale integration was really small. For example, all flip-flops
+ had to be realized with the help of NOR-gates.
+
+
The UNIVAC 9200 was selled as a "powerful, card oriented electronical data processing installation"
+ with a memory capacity up to 16 kB. The shortly later offered successor UNIVAC 9300
+ (this device is stored in the archives) was already band and disc oriented with up to 32 kB
+ memory capacity.
+
+ After all 1969 the UNIVAC 9400 was selled as a "flexible band and disc orientated computer
+ system featuring multi programming, real-time capacity and versatile possibilities data
+ telecommunication". A picture on the left shows
+ an advertising brochure from 1969
+ which presents the UNIVAC 9400's features.
+
+
All computers from the series feature a magnetic wire memory. This memory, at that time a
+ revolutionary new development, should be very dependable.
+ Due to the consistency from the memory contents that weren't cleared like the contents from a
+ magnetic core memory when reading, the cyclic time was only 600 ns per 2 bytes. Regenerating the
+ memory contents wasn't neccessary.
+
+ However after a short period of time, frequent failures showed that he couldn't keep his
+ promise. Therefore the storage from our UNIVAC 9400 was changed over to one of INTEL's first
+ semiconductor memories. More than 1200 first generation ICs (made by INTEL) were neccessary to
+ realize the huge size of 256 kB. The magnetic wire memories would not be reparable any more.
+
+ The slow periphery (max. 85 kB/sec) like paper tape reader, punch card reader and
+ high-speed printer were connected with a multiplex channel. There were two selector channels for
+ periphery with fast data exchange (333 kB/sec) like tape drives and disc drives.
+
+
The UNIVAC 9400's software was offered with many routines and compilers, like e.g. assembler
+ and the higher programming languages COBOL and FORTRAN. An additional "report generating program"
+ made it possible to generate a "spreadsheet".
+
+
There was a basically difference between this computer and its successors: About 600 individual
+ bit-states could be displayed with glow lamps. Every register can be seen and changed, the state
+ of every single storage cell can be displayed and changed. This makes this computer to an ideal
+ "teaching computer". The aim was to find failures occured by defect components in 1969. The
+ maintenance staff could do this only with these "insights". This computer is really
+ extremely maintenance-friendly.
An often posed question is that of how to define the notion of a "personal
-computer". We would answer like this: "A personal computer is a single-user
-system with attached display (back then typically a CRT) and a suitable
-complement of peripherals to store and retrieve data and for input/output of
-data and programs. It is also easily transportable."
-
-One of the first personal computers, PC for short, is the WANG 2200 A/B dating
-back to 1973. Wang realized pretty early that a key component for such a device
-was an electronic display capable of displaying multiple lines at once.
-Comparable HP systems from that time only had a single line LED-display. A nice
-comparison between these two types of machines can be found here:
- HP competitive Analysis 9830 vs WANG 2200B (PDF).
-
-This is, in fact, a comparison performed by HP and was suited to aid the
-salesperson when he or she faced a situation where HP had to compete agains a
-Wang offer. HP and WANG were THE opponents in these days when it came to
-scientific calculators and early PCs.
- The system 2200 and its successors featured a plethora of peripheral devices as
-well as a vast library of programs for a variety of scientific and commercial
-problems. Though, there was no assembler or access to machine language at all.
-The system was programmed in a BASIC dialect.
-
- The system on display here is unique in Germany with its set of peripheral
-devices: Paper tape reader (2203), card reader (2234), marker card reader
-(2214), triple 8 inch diskette drive (2270-3) and a disk subsystem (2230-1)
-with 14 inch disks. The weight of the disk subsystem alone is about 100 kg, and
-it cost a whopping 24 000 DM back in its days. Its total capacity is 5 MB for
-programs and data.
-
-
WANG 2200S
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
This new acquisition (December 2017) is a smaller version of the WANG 2200B,
-built in 1974/75, the "S" probably denoting "small". The additional magnetic
-tape unit (2217) allows to store 1.7 kB of data on one meter of tape at a
-transfer rate of 326 characters/second. It is equipped with three independent
-motors and capable of reading/writing in both directions. The tape is always
-written/read in blocks of 256 bytes. As slow as it is, the low price of the
-storage media more than compensated for that.
-
-Also interesting is the golf-ball typewriter as output device. Thanks to the
-unique stepper motor driven mechanics, the system can also be used to plot
-graphs. The model 2202 is identical with the model 702 typically used in
-conjunction with a WANG 700 system.
-
-
We would like to express our thanks to the University of Muenster who donated this system.
-
-
-
WANG PCS II
-
- 1977 WANG introduced the new computer PCS-II, a much more compact system than
-the 2200-series. The central processor was still implemented with discrete TTL
-ICs and shared a common enclosure with all necessary interface connectors and
-the power supply. A dual 5.25" diskette drive was attached at the top, so the
-only other peripheral device was a printer. Memory could be expanded up to 32
-kB, as small as the memory featured by the much cheaper PET made by Commodore.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- The picture shows the implementation of the machine. All in all, four printed
-circuit boards (PCBs for short) crammed with ICs, were required. Repairing a
-machine like this can easily turn out to be a veritable nightmare.
-
- The machine was much too expensive for private citizens: In 1978, one would
-have had to pay 20 000 DM ($ 7500) for a machine like this. A reasonable car like a
-FORD Capri Sportcoupe would have cost only 12 000 DM in comparison!
-
-
-
This beautifully preserved machine is currently not functional. We would trade
-it for another, equally valuable system suitable for our museum. If you are
-interested, please do not hesitate to contact us.
-
-
-
-
Commodore (CBM) PET 2001, 8096-SK
-
- The Commodore computers are popular amongst the vintage computing community and thus not too interesting for our exhibition.
- Anyway, for completeness, we have some devices in our collection.
-
-
-
- In 1977, most pupils already heard about the new computer technology and wanted to gain experience.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- The PET 2001 is a 2000 DM (~1000 US $) device by Commodore and thus was also affordable by schools. Virtually overnight
- computer pool rooms were created where one had to sign up in a waiting list in order to get entry -- or to wait up to
- late in the evenings (after 6pm) to enter.
-
-
In the beginning, the PET offered 7kB RAM and the very slow "datasette". This long term storage medium was nothing
- more than a standard 1970s compact cassette recorder. The PET was programmed in BASIC.
- Soon it was obvious that this general purpose computer was also suitable for games. In our
- birthday workshops we observe that today's pupils are fascinated by these classical computer games
- with their high level of abstraction and apparently no attempt to recreate reality.
-
-
The successor model replaced the miniature keyboard (actually quite suitable for children) by a regular one.
- Given the money, it was possible to upgrade the machine with a 5,25" floppy disk drive which was as expensive as the
- computer itself. However, with the disk drive it was possible to solve real world problems which made the computer
- attractive for small buisnesses.
-
-
-
-
-
In the subsequent models, the design was revised. Personal computers shall look elegant and beautiful, as demonstrated
- by the 19080s model 8096-SK (also nicknamed "the egg"). 80 means 80 characters per row, 96 means 96 kB RAM and SK means
- seperate keyboard -- the keyboard is removable. The monitor can be leant and rotated and can display big and small letters.
- The workspace was completed with a dot matrix printer.
- Special software allowed to operate the computer without further knowledge.
- Some technical data:
-
- Central processor: MOS 6502
- Processor frequency: 1 MHz
- RAM: 96 kByte, ROM: 18 kByte
-
-
-
At this time, the mass production of personal computers started and our exhibition ends, since we concentrate on
- rarities and very early computing in the 20th century.
-
-
-
Index: computer/programmable.php
===================================================================
--- /en/computer/programmable.php (revision 1492)
+++ (revision )
@@ -1,121 +1,0 @@
-
-
Second-generation calculators did not have integrated circuits yet. This made it difficult to build
- efficient calculators, so programmable calculators of that species are technically
- especially interesting. Already in 1966, DIEHL put such a calculator on the market. The operating
- system is "booted" from a metallic paper tape and application programmes are stamped on paper
- tapes that can be read in again. Probably the Stone Age of programmable calculators!
- Such complete installations are very rare.
-
-
Diehl Combitron
-
- The Combitron is the first operating programmable desk calculator that was built and
- sold in Germany (1966-1968). The first Combitron's did not have an external interface, therefore it was not possible to save user-written programs on external storage. Programs could be printed as a Hex dump that could be used to reenter the program via the keyboard at a restart.
-
This kind of in and output was laborious even for the late 1960s. Diehl did recognize that and extended the computer in 1967 with an interface for a paper tape reader. They offered a paid conversion service: User-written programs could be sent in by post, a few days later one got a paper tape with the same information.
- Under the pressure from the users, Diehl built a tape puncher (Diehl ELS) for manual (offline) operation, to avoid the snake mail conversion progress.
-
-
Looking at the DIEHL ELS keyboard, one can imagine how commands and numbers were transfered to paper tape codes. Anyway, this was only a workaround for the messed computer setup: Olivetti, the concurrency, had much more progressive devices. To compete, eventually the DIEHL Combitron was shipped with the puncher ELS 830, primarily designed only for Diehl internal usage. This final combitron puncher synchronously punches paper tapes while typing on the keyboard.
-
-
-
-
-
DIEHL paper tape puncher ELS830, Combitron-S, Dilector
-
-
-
The Combitron S (1968-71) features additional 10 program memories, 10 memories for constants and two branch instructions opposite to the original version of the Combitron. The delay line memory serves as storage media (storage space: approx 1000 bits). The delay line memory is a volatile storage, i.e. after powering off the device the memory content is lost. With the paper tape reader "Dilector", programs could be read in when turing the device on again.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Olivetti Programma 101
-
-
-
The legendary PROGRAMMA 101 by Olivetti.
-
-
-
The Olivetty Programma 101 was introduced onto the market in 1966, the same year as the DIEHL Combitron above.
- For the first time in EDP history, engineering offices were able to buy a "small" calculator on which you could
- quickly save own programs on magnetic cards. This machine was equipped with many mechanical parts and became a big seller.
- The device was very expensive, but the price of 14800 DM + fees (ca. 8000 Euro) paid for itself in saved manual calculating time.
-
-
The P 101 could also be called as the world's first personal computer.
- In the center of the picture you can see the magnetic program card. Compared with the Combitron, storing programs is very comfortable with the P101.
- The device is equipped with a delay line memory which is organized in 10 registers, each having 24 storage cells with 8 bit each. Summing up, there memory could save 240 byte. For comparison, that would not even suffice to store this paragraph of plain text!
-
Today, the computer is famous for his award-winning futuristic design. Putting it into operation required some work, since the plastic coils for winding the magnetic program cards deformed and the small builtin printer is problematic. Anyway, our P 101 is fully operational.
-
-
-
-
WANG 320
-
The WANG 320 is an outstanding machine in the collection. It was built in 1967 and is extremely rare nowadays. The system can be programmed using punched cards and features multiple keyboards, a sensational feature in its time.
-
-
-
-
WANG 320 SE
-
-
-
In 1966/1967 the WANG 320 SE was a flagship calculator. Two of its features were truly sensational for its time: It could calculate logarithms and anti-logarithms quickly (in fact this took less time than the calcultion of a square root) and up to four keyboards could be connected to a single calculator unit; thus the machine was in fact a time sharing system. Further more the system could be programmed using punched cards – running programs were suspended for a short period of time to allow interactive users access to the machine. The 80 column punched cards could be prepared manually using a stencil. These features made the calculator a perfect match for schools and universities. While the slide rule was in use in most of these places, this machine allowed them to enter the field of computer science.
- Clicking on the picture will show a larger and more detailed version.
-
-
-
-
Hewlett Packard HP 9100
-
-
-
HP 9100
-
-
-
In 1968 the first desktop calculator made by HP hit the market and was a truly outstanding machine. All of its internal logic is implemented using discrete transistor logic without a single integrated circuit. The machine supports a wealth of mathematical and scientific functions and employs a magnetic core memory, so even after a power off the contents of memory (data and programs) are preserved. Magnetic cards serve as external storage media. The printer shown on top of the HP 9100 is an optional device. The heart of the display is a CRT on which the contents of three internal registers are displayed. The character generation is controlled by a wired ROM. This technological marvel indeed had its price – with a price of 23 000 DM for the basic version it was not affordable for individuals.
- Only two years later WANG brought the WANG 700 to the market in direct competition to the HP 9100.
-
Second-generation calculators did not have integrated circuits yet. This made it difficult to build
+ efficient calculators, so programmable calculators of that species are technically
+ especially interesting. Already 1966, DIEHL put such a calculator on the market. The operating
+ system is "booted" from a metallic paper tape and application programmes are stamped on paper
+ tapes that can be read in again. Probably the Stone Age of programmable calculators!
+ Such complete installations are very rare.
+
+
+
+
DIEHL Combitron. This is the first operative
+ programmable desk calculator that was built and selled in Germany. Right in the front you see the DIEHL
+ Dilector (paper tape reader) and right the DIEHL ELS 830 (paper tape puncher). The system is fully executable.
+ The delay line memory serves as storage media
+ (capacity ca. 1000 Bit).
+
+
+
In the same year the Olivetti Programma 101 came onto the market. For the first time in the
+ EDP history, engineering offices were able to buy a "small" calculator on which you could
+ quickly save own programmes on magnetic cards. This machine with many mechanics got a big seller.
+ However, the device was very expensive,
+ but the price of 14800,- DM + fees (ca. 8000 Euro) paid for itself because
+ of many saved manual calculating time.
+
+
+
+
The legendary PROGRAMMA 101 by Olivetti. In the middle you see the magnetic program card. The delay line memory was used as storage media.
+
+
+
+
The WANG 320 is an outstanding machine in the collection. It was built in 1967 and is extremely rare nowadays. The system can be programmed using punched cards and features multiple keyboards, a sensational feature in its time.
+
+
+
+
wang 320 SE.
+ In 1966/1967 the WANG 320 SE was a flag ship calculator. Two of its features were truly sensational for its time: It could calculate quickly logarithms and anti-logarithms (in fact this took less time than the calcultion of a square root) and up to four keyboards could be connected to a single calculator unit thus the machine was in fact a time sharing system. Further more the system could be programmed using punched cards – running programs were suspended for a short period of time to allow interactive users access to the machine. The 80 column punched cards could be prepared manually using a stencil. These features made the calcultar a perfect match for schools and universities. While the slide rule was in use in most of these places thismachine allowed them to enter the field of computer science.
+ Clicking on the picture will show a larger and more detailed version.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ HP 9100
+
In 1968 the first desktop calculator made by HP hit the market and was a truly outstanding machine. All of its internal logic is implemented using discrete transistor logic without a single integrated circuit. The machine supports a wealth of mathematical and scientific functions and employs a magnetic core memory, so even after a power off the contents of memory (data and programs) are preserved. Magnetic cards serve as external storage media. The printer shown on top of the HP 9100 is an optional device. The heart of the display is a CRT on which the contents of three internal registers are displayed. The character generation is controlled by a wired ROM. This technological marvel indeed had its price – with a price of 23 000 DM for the basic version it was not affordable for individuals.
+ Only two years later WANG brought the WANG 700 to the market in direct competition to the HP 9100.
+
Punch cards are used since the beginnings of the 20th century
- as storage media. They are handy, can be labeled automatically or by
- hand, and can be sorted quickly. Therefore they were used until
- the late 1980s. Indeed they were mainly used in the 1960s, when
- EDP conquered the world. Today's folk is astonished at the size,
- the clearness and functionality of these machines. At technikum29
- most of these archaic devices still work.
-
-
Card puncher devices
-
-
-
-
For punching cards only occasionally, the small bottom device
- was quite sufficient, e.g. for small companies. The device in
- the middle of the picture is a puncher from BULL and the topmost
- device is a so-called "magnetic puncher" that is equipped with
- solenoids that punch the holes. For even higher amounts of
- punching requirements, there were quite more expensive
- "motor-driven punchers".
-
-
-
-
-
A typical machinery consists of a card puncher which punches the
- information and data on the cards, a card collator which sorts
- the cards from different stacks (for instance adresses
- and bills), a sorter which sorts with specified loads
- and possibly a punch card interpreter that writes the punched
- information on a prescribed position on the punch card.
-
-
-
-
IMB 026 Printing-Card-Punch
- Beginning in 1949 IBM built two versions of this card punch: The IBM 024
-which could just punch cards and the IBM 026 which could additionally print
-the data being punched on the top of the card in human-readable form, so the
-IBM 026 was actually a printing card punch. The printer is of ingenious
-design: A very compact wire printer only a couple of cubic inches in size,
-which is driven by the punch mechanism.
-This is a typical example for the art of engineering that was common at IBM
-at that time: Developing simple, yet powerful solutions. Due to this
-approach, IBM filed (and still does) a vast amount of patent applications.
-The control system of the card punch only contains 10 relays featuring a lot
-of contact sets and 9 vacuum tubes.
-This card punch was so successful that it was built unmodified for 20 years
-and was sold world wide - an exceptional record in an area like electronic
-data processing.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
IBM 029 and JUKI card puncher.
-
-
-
On the left hand in the picture there is the legendary
- IBM 029 (build since 1964), on the right hand the JUKI puncher
- (made in Japan). The JUKI puncher is not accidentally looking
- like the IBM: The type 129 card punch was introduced by IBM in 1971. It is capable of storing
-the contents of a whole card prior to punching it, thus making corrections
-possible. Therefore IBM selled the license of the 029 to reproduce the machine. In
- 1971, the IBM 029 costed about 15.500 DM.
-
-
-
-
-
IBM 129 Card Data Recorder.
-
-
- IBM's answer to the electronic card punch UNIVAC 1710 was its most
-sophisticated and last member of its venerable family of card punched, the
-model 129. Every usable modern technology was incorporated in this device: Data
-and punch programs were stored in a FET-based memory, early seven-segment LED
-displays were used to diplay the current column, the card transport employed a
-stepper motor. A very complex SLT-based control logic implements a wide
-variety of features: Verification of punched cards, printing the data stored on
-a card on its edge, storing up to six customized card formats etc.
-
-The IBM 129 is a rather rare find since the market for card punches was already
-saturated in the early 1970s. In addition to this the decline of punch card
-equipment was already forseeable.
-
-Our machine has a serial line interface as an add-on which we are currently
-repairing.
-
-
-
-
-
-
UNIVAC 1710 Verifying Interpreting Punch (VIP)
-
-
-
- The Univac 1710 VIP was released at
- the same time like the UNIVAC 9400 mainframe
- in the year 1969. This device is very fast and versatile and works mostly
- electronically. Most likely, Univac wanted to trump IBM with this
- trendsetting device. The device's internals are very elaborate, but offer
- many advantages, compared to usual apperatures at that time:
- It featured a core memory with 16 x 80 x 2 cells for both data and programs. It could
- handle two programs and one data storage. Programming
- was performed automatically once program cards have been inserted, and
- programs could be changed at the touch of a key. The device furthermore
- featured program-controlled printing during punching.
- Keypunching errors were electronically corrected, since cards were punched
- only after all entries were in storage. Verifying and correction comprised
- a one-pass operation. Verified cards were uniquely notched while error
- cards were automatically ejected to a separate stacker.
- The device also features a large illuminated digital display that
- indicates which program is in control, furthermore the device could be
- used for subsequent card labeling. However, the device had always
- mechanical problems: The type wheel print was of bad quality and the
- card feeding could easily stop working when the adjustment wasn't
- perfectly fitting.
-
-
-
Reproducing Punch
-
-
-
-
- IBM 514
-
-
New in December 2013: Huge and incredibly heavy - an IBM card doubler from the
-1950s. This grand machine's purpose was just to copy punched cards or to
-'double' them. Due to the stress of handling, punched cards had to be copied
-regularly.
- Of course, there are some additional functions implemented, although
-there is no function to print plaintext on the card, which would have been a
-nice feature, but this is where the IBM 548 translator comes into play.
-A more detailed description will follow soon.
- IBM 083 sorter
- Compared to the IBM 082 the sorting mechanics were greatly improved. The machine can sort 1000 cards
- per minute. Much more than 16 cards per second are not possible, due to the mechanic's inertia. This
- type was built since 1958.
- The function of the punch card sorter
-
-
-
-
-
Collators
-
-
-
-
IBM punch card collator 077
-
- The picture above shows the back of a collator, year of manufacture 1959.
- The collector reads 480 cards per minute. It is capable of changing the
- order of the cards, looking for copies (and seperating them out) or
- comparing two stacks and finding out the differences. Compared to
- today's database storages this card collator is a kind of mechanical
- database query language interpreter.
-
- The electronics comprises of relays and camshafts which control
- switches. Early engineers had to use oilcans for the bearing's
- maintenance as often as a checking device.
- The programs could be changed by replacing the programing field.
- The function of the punch card collator
-
-
-
-
-
-
Bull punch card collator 56.00.
-
- This very big device features very much chrome and almost 1000 relays,
- assembled to allow developers to implement varoius mixing algorithms
- with wired panels. Thus collating and sorting could be performed in only
- one working cycle. Depending on the task, the device could process about
- 250 - 500 cards per minute.
-
-
-
-
Alphabetic Interpreter
-
-
-
-
IBM 548
-
- A huge punch card interpreter made by IBM. This machine can label 60 cards
- per minute in 60 cols and two rows, according to the settings which you can set.
-
-
-
-
ANELEX high speed printer
-
-
-
-
ANELEX high speed printer, series 5,
- with lifted cover.
-
Just standing in front of this behemoth is an impressive experience. The
-overall weight of this mechanical wonder amounts to 635 kg and is sturdy
-enough to print a next to uncountable number of pages without any major
-defects. The series 5 printer was developed in the USA in 1963/64 and was
-used by many computer manufacturers (as a matter of fact, even ZUSE used this
-printer for the Z-23 - other examples include the Electrologica X8 from the
-Netherlands etc.). Being able to print 1250 lines per minute it was the
-fastest printer until 1965.
-Our ANELEX printer has been repaired and can now be controlled by a
-microcontroller which in turn can be connected to a Laptop or the like. This
-is a nice example of a symbiosis of old and modern computing technology.
-
Punch cards are used since the beginnings of the 20th century as storage media. They are handy, can be labeled automatically or by hand, and sorted quickly. Therefore they were used until the late 1980s. Indeed they were mainly used in the 1960s, when EDP conquered the world. Today's folk is astonished at the size, the clearness and functionality of these machines. At technikum29 most of these archaic devices still work.
+
+
+
+
+ BULL card puncher
+
Bull's punch card code was not compatible to the IBM code, so we have to punch the cards for the tabulating machine manually with this handy electronical puncher.
+
+
+
+
+
A typical machinery consists of a card puncher which punches the information and data on the cards, a card collator which sorts cards from different stacks (for instance adresses and bills), a sorter which sorts with specified loads and possibly a punch card interpreter that writes the punched information on a prescribed position on the punch card.
+
+
+
+
+ IBM 029 and JUKI card puncher.
+ On the right is the legendary IBM 029 (build since 1964), on the left the JUKI puncher (made in Japan).
+ The JUKI puncher is not accidentally looking like the IBM: In 1971 IBM brought the puncher 129 on the market
+ which saves the content of the whole punchcard while reading. Therefore IBM selled the license to
+ reproduce the machine. In 1971, the IBM 029 costed about 15.500 DM
+ IBM 083 sorter
+ Compared to the IBM 082 the sorting mechanics were greatly improved. The machine can sort 1000 cards
+ per minute. Much more than 16 cards per second are not possible, due to the mechanic's inertia. This
+ type was built since 1958.
+ The function of the punch card sorter
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ IBM 548. A huge punch card interpreter made by IBM. This machine can label 60 cards
+ per minute in 60 cols and two rows, according to the settings which you can set.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ The picture above show the heart of an IBM punch card collator 77, year of manufacture 1959. The collector reads 480 cards per minute. It is capable of changing the order of the cards, looking for copies (and seperating them out) or comparing two stacks and finding out the differences. Compared to today's database storages this card collator is a kind of mechanical database query language interpreter.
+
+ The electronics comprises of relays and camshafts which control
+ switches. Early engineers had to use oilcans for the bearing's
+ maintenance as often as a checking device.
+ The programs could be changed by replacing the programing field.
+ The function of the punch card collator
+
- In the following some types of memory are described which are found in the computers on display at the technikum29. These devices may be classified as either RAM (random access memory) or ROM (read only memory). Due to their respective size these are very demonstrative examples.
- The problem of storing information is of central importance for digital computers and was a difficult area during the early days of computing. In these times building a fast processor was considerably more easy than building an equally fast and large memory system for this processor. This led to some rather arcane solutions which are completely extinct today.
-
-
- Nowadays as well as 50 years ago, these characteristical attributes are important:
-
-
-
-
cycle time
-
packing density
-
costs / bit
-
(thermal) power loss
-
-
Storages are classified geometrically:
-
-
one-dimensional alignment (e.g. the delay line memory)
-
two-dimensional alignment (e.g. drom storage, disk storage)
-
three-dimensional alignment (e.g. core memory, the number of layers is the word length)
-
-
These physical principles has been used: electrostatic charge (storage tube),
- propagation of acoustic waves (delay line memories), ferromagnetism (core memory,
- plated wire memory, drum/disk memory), holography (optical memories). The most important
- and most spread memories are the ferromagnetic memories.
-
-
Delay line memory from the BULL GAMMA 3 tube calculator
-
- Incredibly big, next to no capacity from today's point of view and at 8.3 kg
-extremely heavy - that is the historic memory from our vacuum tube based BULL
-GAMMA 3 computer (vintage 1952-1959). See this marvelous device here:
-
-
-
-
Figure 1: Delay-Line
-
-The next picture shows the back of this memory (M1). The bottle of wine
-serves as a comparison. The delay lines consist of 120 LC combinations which
-serve as low-pass filters yielding, each yielding a short delay.
-
-
-
-
Figure 2 (on the left): Delay line memory opened
-
-
-
-
Figure 3: Cutout. The LC elements can be clearly seen
-
-
-After having passed through 12 such delaying low-pass filters, the signals
-are extremely attenuated and must be regenerated. This is done by 10 tube
-based amplifiers. At the end of such a chain of low-pass filters and
-amplifiers, the signals are amplified again and fed to the input of the delay
-chain. This causes a bit pattern to circulate in the memory, thus effectively
-creating a memory.
-
-
-
-
Figure 4: Part of a delay line - three of 120 LC combinations are visible
-
-
-The memory module shown here can store a single (!) twelve digit decimal
-number which corresponds to about 6 byte! Not 6 MB, not 6 kB, no, six single
-bytes! Back in the days of this computer memory was en extremely scarce
-resource. Programmers were hard pressed to use as few memory locations as
-possible.
-
-This kind of memory is extremely rare and predates the widespread use of
-core-memory. It was called a "delay-line memory". The BULL GAMMA 3 uses seven
-of these delay-line memories, corresponding to 58 kg of electronics yielding
-a total of 42 bytes of main memory.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Magnetostrictive memory
-
-
-
-
-
-
1 kB magnetostrictive delay line memory
-
-
-
Another kind of "delay line" memory is the so called magnetostrictive memory. This technique is based on the idea of the propagation of ultrasonic waves through a thin wire. The information to be stored is fed into a long wire by the effect of magnetostricion (the wire contracts when exposed to a strong magnetic field – this in turn yields an acoustic wave traveling across the wire). A bit pattern created by this effect travels along the wire to its end where the information is picked up by a piezo electric element. The output of this pickup will be amplified and fed back into the beginning of the wire loop.
-
This basically yields a sequential storage circuit - an impulse pattern will run in an endless loop through the wire. To insert information into the loop some (simple) additional circuitry is necessary. To delete bits, the feedback loop will be opened while setting bits requires an OR gate at the input of the wire loop.
-
This type of memory is volatile and has a rather long access time – on the other hand, its capacity depends mainly on the length of the wire and the basic clock of the surrounding circuitry so it may easily expanded. In addition to this it is relatively inexpensive and rugged making it suitable for applications like desktop calculators and the like.
Core memory demonstration model, Transfluxor (you can enlarge the picture!)
-
-
-This giant core memory has been used for teaching purposes in a university in
-the late 1950s and early 1960s. It is a fully functional model of a special
-type of core memory. Its size can be estimated by means of the wine bottle
-visible in the background.
-In contrast to the more common "core memory" store used in most computers until
-the advent of semiconductor memory, this device uses so-called Transfluxor
-cores with a diameter of 8.5mm. These have a very peculiar shape - not the
-simple donut structure of a traditional core. This results in a separation of
-magnetic flux domains which allows a non-destructive read out - a definitive
-advantage over traditional core-memories. Alas, this comes at a cost: The
-control of such a memory system is more complicated compared with a traditional
-core memory. Nevertheless it was used in telecommunications equipment like
-telephone exchanges.
-The creation of this demonstration device must have required an awful amount of
-time. Having a look at this detailed view of the memory gives an impression of its complexity. Each Transfluxor has two holes through which thin wires are threaded.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Triumph core memory
-
-
The company "Triumph" created a very demonstrative core memory
- about 1961). The circuit card, measuring 16 cm by 20 cm, can
- store 144 bit which equals 12 machine words of 12 bits
- each (which was a common word length in this time). Thus a single
- bit occupies an area of about 2.2 square centimeters.
-
-
-
- The Triump core memory was still threaded manually, in contrast
- to the memory shown below.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Another core memory made in 1969 is shown here. It is used
- in the high
- speed printer of the UNIVAC mainframe
- and stores a single line of text to be printed (132 characters). The
- individual cores can still be seen by the naked eye.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Storage layer with a capacity of 16.000 bit
-
-
-
During the years the capacity of core memory devices was increased more and more while the dimensions were shrinked accordingly. This picture shows a core memory plane made in the time frame 1975 - 1978. The area shown equals
- that of the 144 bit memory by Triumph shown earlier. Now there are more than 16000 cores on the same area. The individual cores can only be seen with the aid of a magnifying glass. The whole core memory block contains 16 planes like this containing more than 256000 single cores (this is equivalent to 32 kB of data) occupying a volume of about 2.5 cubic decimeters. This device marks the end of the era of core memory.
-
-
The smaller the individual cores the faster the access time – this device features an access time of only 200 ns. One drawback of core memory is that reading the information stored in a row of cores destroys the information. So every read access has to be followed by a write access to retain the information (reading from a core memory takes more time than writing to the memory which is a rather unique "feature" of this technology).
-
-
A major advantage of core memory is its non-volatility. The information stored in a core memory will be retained even when power is lost. It is possible to turn on a machine switched off in 1975 and continue operation at the very same step where it ended in 1975. Even today main memory is sometimes called "core" which is a reminiscence of the early days of computing when memory was in fact core memory. A memory dump as a result of a program crash is still called "core dump" in the UNIX operating systems family, for example.
-
-
-
Threaded ROM
-
-
-
Nixdorf threaded ROM
-
-
-
All of the memory devices shown before were capable of read and write operations. Sometimes a read only memory (ROM for short) is needed. The picture shows such a ROM made in the mid 1960s which is closely related to a core memory.
- The device shown is from a NIXDORF-WANDERER Logatronic system (made in 1966 approximately) which is a predecessor of the well known NIXDORF 820 system (see below). This ROM can store 2048 words of 18 bits each. The implementation is a true masterpiece of its time.
-
-
You can get further explanations and a more detailed version by clicking on the picture.
-
-
-
Magnetic stick memory
-
-
-
Nixdorf magnetic stick memory
-
-
-
NIXDORF decided to implement a read only memory which could be easily modified by customers and did not require a service technician to modify its contents.The whole operating system of the NIXDORF 820 was stored in ROMs like this (all in all 3 modules – type 177 – were necessary for this). Even empty ROMs were manufactured which were sold to customers who liked to modify their 820 system. Each of these modules could hold 4096 word of 18 bits each. One of these ROMs weighs 2.4 kg.
The plated wire storage was intended for replacing the core memory. Our
- UNIVAC 9300 is equipped
- with this type of memory that was initially announced by UNIVAC for the new
- UNIVAC 9000 series as a "technical revolution" in their magazine "The punch card"
- in 1967.
-
While research and development in the Goddard Space Flight Center of the US space
- program, NASA, the american government closed a deal with UNIVAC to develop a
- storage medium with a total input power less than 1 Watt, non-destructive readout
- (that is, no more neccessarity to write the informations after reading them),
- high capacity, low cycle time and functionality in a temperature range from
- -20° C to +50°C (-4°F to 122°F).
- In this way the plated wire storage was developed, based on a couple of
- ingenious ideas. Unfortunately, nowadays it is very error-prone.
- As already described before (section programmable 2nd generation desktop calculators), the DIEHL Combitron calculator used a time delay memory (like the magnetostrictive memory described elsewhere). Since this type of memory is volatile, DIEHL needed a non-volatile memory for the overall control of the machine. This had been implemented using a two channel punched tape. The first channel serves as a clock channel while the second channel contains the actual control data.
- During the startup of the calculator, the contents of this punched tape were copied to the time delay memory which then took over control of the machine.
-
+ In the following some types of memory are described which are found in the computers on display at the technikum29. These devices may be classified as either RAM (random access memory) or ROM (read only memory). Due to their respective size these are very demonstrative examples.
+ The problem of storing information is of central importance for digital computers and was a difficult area during the early days of computing. In these times building a fast processor was considerably more easy than building an equally fast and large memory system for this processor. This led to some rather arcane solutions which are completely extinct today.
+
+
+
+
Delay line memory from the BULL GAMMA 3 tube calculator
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ One of these solutions is the so called delay line memory.
+ It consists of several chained LC-oscillators that are set
+ up as low-pass filters. In this circuit the pulses are carried slower compared
+ to ohmic conductors. Due to the high damping the pulses must be amplified again.
+ Therefore the memory is equipped with 12 tube amplifiers. After amplification
+ at the end of the LC chain, the information is read in at the beginning of the
+ chain again. In this way it runs permanentely throught the delay line memory.
+ The pictures show a memory unit which is capable of storing onley one decimal
+ integer with 12 digits. Obviously storage was very expensive in the early
+ times of computing.
+
+ Another kind of "delay line" memory is the so called magnetostrictive memory. This technique is based on the idea of the propagation of ultrasonic waves through a thin wire. The information to be stored is fed into a long wire by the effect of magnetostricion (the wire contracts when exposed to a strong magnetic field – this in turn yields an acoustic wave traveling across the wire). A bit pattern created by this effect travels along the wire to its end where the information is picked up by a piezo electric element. The output of this pickup will be amplified and fed back into the beginning of the wire loop.
+
This basically yields a sequential storage circuit - an impulse pattern will run in an endless loop through the wire. To insert information into the loop some (simple) additional circuitry is necessary. To delete bits, the feedback loop will be opened while setting bits requires an OR gate at the input of the wire loop.
+
This type of memory is volatile and has a rather long access time – on the other hand, its capacity depends mainly on the length of the wire and the basic clock of the surrounding circuitry so it may easily expanded. In addition to this it is relatively inexpensive and rugged making it suitable for applications like desktop calculators and the like.
The picture shows a core memory made by Triumpf (about 1961). The circuit card, measuring 16 cm by 20 cm, can store 144 bit which equals 12 machine words of 12 bits each (which was a common word length in this time). Thus a single bit occupies an area of about 2.2 square centimeters.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Another core memory made in 1969 is shown here. It is used in the high speed printer of the UNIVAC mainframe and stores a single line of text to be printed (132 characters). The individual cores can still be seen by the naked eye.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
During the years the capacity of core memory devices was increased more and more while the dimensions were shrinked accordingly. This picture shows a core memory plane made in the time frame 1975 - 1978. The area shown equals
+that of the 144 bit memory by Triumph shown earlier. Now there are more then 16000 cores on the same area. The individual cores can only be seen with the aid of a magnifying glass. The whole core memory block contains 16 planes like this containing more then 256000 single cores (this is equivalent to 32 kB of data) occupying a volume of about 2.5 cubic decimeters. This device marks the end of the era of core memory.
+
+
The smaller the individual cores the faster the access time – this device features an access time of only 200 ns. One drawback of core memory is that reading the information stored in a row of cores destroys the information. So every read access has to be followed by a write access to retain the information (reading from a core memory takes more time than writing to the memory which is a rather unique "feature" of this technology).
+
+
A major advantage of core memory is its non-volatility. The information stored in a core memory will be retained even when power is lost. It is possible to turn on a machine switched off in 1975 and continue operation at the very same step where it ended in 1975. Even today main memory is sometimes called "core" which is a reminiscence of the early days of computing when memory was in fact core memory. A memory dump as a result of a program crash is still called "core dump" in the UNIX operating systems family, for example.
All of the memory devices shown before were capable of read and write operations. Sometimes a read only memory (ROM for short) is needed. The picture shows such a ROM made in the mid 1960s which is closely related to a core memory.
+ The device shown is from a NIXDORF-WANDERER Logatronic system (made in 1966 approximately) which is a predecessor of the well known NIXDORF 820 system (see below). This ROM can store 2048 words of 18 bits each. The implementation is a true masterpiece of its time.
+
+
You can get further explanations and a more detailed version by clicking on the picture.
NIXDORF decided to implement a read only memory which could be easily modified by customers and did not require a service technician to modify its contents.The whole operating system of the NIXDORF 820 was stored in ROMs like this (all in all 3 modules – type 177 – were necessary for this). Even empty ROMs were manufactured which were sold to customers who liked to modify their 820 system. Each of these modules could hold 4096 word of 18 bits each. One of these ROMs weighs 2.4 kg.
The plated wire storage was intended for replacing the core memory. Our
+ UNIVAC 9300 is equipped
+ with this type of memory. Unfortunately it is very error-prone.
+ As already described before (section programmable 2nd generation desktop calculators), the DIEHL Combitron calculator used a time delay memory (like the magnetostrictive memory described elsewhere). Since this type of memory is volatily, DIEHL needed a non-volatile memory for the overall control of the machine. This had been implemented using a two channel punched tape. The first channel serves as a clock channel while the second channel contains the actual control data.
+ During the startup of the calculator, the contents of this punched tape were copied to the time delay memory which then took over control of the machine.
+
Tabulating machines were widely used when electronic data processing
- began in the 1950s. These big machines were called "technical marvels":
- At a glance at the inner life you can see what special art of
- engeneering was performed at that time. This kind of technology appears
- odd for today's folks.
-
-
The tabulating machine BULL BS-PR was constructed in October 1956, thus it
- is the oldest piece of EDP in the museum. At these days you could buy it
- for about 260,000 German marks (about 62,000 US$).
- Nevertheless even medium-sized businesses (especially banks) had to buy
- these punch card machines to work economically.
-
-
-
Tabulating Machine Bull BS-PR
-
-
On high quality tabulating machines the patch panel could be replaced to
- perform very different tasks. By plugging the cables on the programming field
- cleverly, even some scientifical caluclations could be solved.
- For every new program the software engineer had to plug a new
- programming field. The only data input medium are punch cards. Therefore
- we own other machines that are also operational to perform card driven EDP,
- that is, devices for creation, sorting, mixing, etc. the cards.
-
-
-
-
-
-
We have digged out programs in order to enable our tabulating machine to calculate
- bank statements as well as multiplying and dividing. However, advanced
- arithmetic operations are not implemented in the computer. Anyway it is possible
- to implement a good deal of operations with lengthy algorithms borrowed from
- computer science.
-
-
And so it came to pass that some BULL engineer asked himself why there was not yet a
- way to compute square roots on the tabulating machine back then in 1959.
- Since he was bored, he started to bet against his friends whether he is able to
- implement the Toepler algorithm on this machine. It turned out it was
- possible and he won the bet. We came across that program and restored it back
- to operation. We happily relieved the historical moment having the world's only tabulating
- machine that can calculate square roots. The algorithm works without any memory.
- There is a program guide (PDF)
- in German and French.
-
-
-
- The control and memory of the machine is comprised of about 1500 relays.
- 10 ALUs work in parallel and are driven and synchronized by the large main motor.
- Every revolution engages about 300 sliding contacts. In the upper part of the picture
- you can see three ALUs. Only one of the ALUs is broken (that can be easily bypassed by
- customizing the programs), that is quite astonishing in view of the old age.
-
-
-
-
Arithmetic-logic unit
-
-
-
-
-
-
- With closed walls it looks like a strange chunk made of metal, but it
- comprises impressive electromechanical technology. In the front there
- are two demountable program boards that are mounted at the left side
- of the device (not visible in the picture). The board on the left contains
- a program for compiling and printing bank statements, the board on the
- right contains a simple program for multiplying. Multiplying and dividing
- mechanically needs lots of time. To shorten this amount of time, the
- "electronical calculator" BULL GAMMA 3
- could be attached. That auxiliary tube calculator was only used for this
- purpose.
-
-
-
We exposed one of the 10 ALUs for an one-of-a-kind photo. The principle of sprocket wheel
- machines is visible to the naked eye. All calculation work is performed only by mechanical
- components and read in electronically by touch-sensitive contacts. You can even read out
- the current arithmetic register contents: They hold both 144. Carries are also
- performed purley mechanically. It's hardly imaginable that these machines worked more than
- 12 hours every day without any serious problems.
-
-
-
-
-
- Printing unit of the tabulating machine
-
-
-
-
- This picture partly shows the complicated printing unit – in
- every step a complete line is printed (like later line printers did).
- In the foreground you can see the punchcard feeder. Every punchcard is
- read in two times. At the first scan the machine detects wheter the card is
- a controller card or a data card whereas at the second scan the machine reads
- the content from the card.
- Additionally, the machine is capable of comparing the content of two
- consecutive cards.
-
Tabulating machines were widely used when electronic data processing
+ began in the 1950s. These big machines were called "technical marvels":
+ At a glance at the inner life you can see what special art of
+ ingeneering was performed at that time. This kind of technology appears
+ odd for today's folks.
+
+
The tabulating machine BULL BS-PR was constructed in October 1956, thus it
+ is the oldest pice of EDP in the museum. At these days you could buy it
+ for about 260.000 German marks (about 62.000 US$).
+ Nevertheless even medium-sized businesses had to buy these punch card machines to
+ work economically.
+
+
On high quality tabulating machines the patch panel could be replaced to
+ perform very different tasks. By plugging the cables on the programming field
+ cleverly, even some scientifical caluclations could be solved.
+
+
Of course this device uses punch cards. Therefore we own other operational machines
+ to perform card driven EDP.
+
+
+
+
+
The Tabulating Machine Bull BS-pr: With closed walls it
+ looks like a strange chunk made of metal, but it comprises impressive
+ electromechanical technology.
+ Multiplying and dividing mechanically needs lots of time. To shorten
+ this amount of time, you could attach the "electronical calculator" BULL
+ GAMMA 3. The auxiliary tube calculator was only used for this purpose.
+ Unfortunately it is no more available.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ The control and memory of the machine is comprised of about 1500 relays.
+ 10 ALUs work in parallel and are driven and synchronized by the large main motor.
+ Every revolution engages about 300 sliding contacts. In the upper part of the picture
+ you can see three ALUs. Only one of the ALUs is broken, that is quite astonishing in
+ view of the old age.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ The picture on the left shows part of the complicated printing unit – in
+ every step a complete line is printed (like later line printers did).
+ In the foreground you can see the punchcard feeder. Every punchcard is
+ read in two times. At the first scan the machine detects wheter the card is
+ a controller card or a data card whereas at the second scan the machine reads
+ the content from the card.
+ Additionally, the machine is capable of comparing the content of two
+ consecutive cards.
+
+ The BULL GAMMA 3 was build since 1952. It could be connected to several
+ punchcard devices, for example to the Tabulating Machine BS, to the
+ card copier PRD and to the ULP puncher.
+ Our GAMMA 3 installation is fully developed and features seven
+ delay line memory units each with a capacity of 12 decimal digits. To
+ extend the built-in memory, there were special so-called "storage cabinets"
+ that contained additional 24 storage units, each with a capacity
+ of 12 decimal numbers.
+ Summing up, the calculator features almost 400 electron tubes.
+ Thyratrons were used to connect this fast calculator to the slow
+ punchcard auxillary devices. A thyratron tube is capable of saving
+ temporary digital states.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ The modules could be folded out, hence the calculator is quite
+ service friendly. Two big fans circulate fresh air thorught the
+ case. On the left you can see a part of the big power supply –
+ 39 fuses keep the electric circuits seperated for additional security.
+
+ When this calculator is connected to our BULL Tabulating Machine,
+ all the information from the papertape reader brushes are directly
+ transfered to the GAMMA 3. Thus programs and data can be manipulated
+ directly by the GAMMA 3. The output is transfered back to the
+ printing unit from the Tabulating Machine.
+
+ In 1962 BULL General Electric presented the BULL GAMMA 10
+ which was intended for commercial purpose and puchcard
+ computing. The standard equipment contains a CPU with
+ panel, a punchcard reader/puncher unit and a barrel printer.
+ The RAM consists of a 1kb core memory which could be
+ extended up to 4kb capacity. There are 59 different
+ opcodes to program the CPU.
+ The cycle time from the core memory is 7 micro
+ seconds. The calculator is capable of reading and
+ punching 300 cards per minute. Five punchcards per
+ second, that is an amazing speed –
+ therefore the punching unit is generously built. The
+ printer can only print up to 300 lines per minute. Compared
+ to our Univac 9400 this
+ is quite slow – the Univac 9400 is capable of
+ printing more than 1000 lines per minute.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ The chassis is metallic blank. It is looking very nice and clean.
+
- After the ANITA tube calculator,
- the development of transistorised second-generation calculators began. Due to the
- increasing number of users, the development was very lucrative, even considering the
- enormous costs.
- Every company that released a device designed a completely new architecture.
- Many different concepts emerged. The following devices are a
- selection of very early devices (year of manufacture 1964-1965).
-
-
-
IME 84: The world's first transistorized desk calculator (1964)
-
-
-
- IME 84 (Industria Macchine Elettroniche) was the world's first
- desk calculator using transistors. This represented enormous progress, compared to the ANITA.
- Using core memory, there was
- much more memory, allowing many more application fields.
- This calculator is at least able to exponentiate a number, but it cannot yet extract
- a root.
- The design of this device is quite appealing. In comparison, the German device made
- by Olympia looks ungraceful.
-
-
-
-
-
- The device has a strange interface on the left side to connect the ROBOX 103
- (see picture on the left). Using this small device, one could enter numbers much faster.
- Turning the switch to "Addition" enables auto-adding the number just entered after a short
- timeout. This yields a great disadvantage: If the operator was too slow (or made some
- short break), only parts were taken in the memory, without any feedback. Thus the complete
- calculation was error-prone. The successor "IME 86" therefore didn't feature an ROBOX
- interface any more.
-
-
-
-
Canon Canola 130
-
-
-
-
- In 1964, Canon built the first Japanese electronic desk calculator, using germanium transistors
- and flip-flop memories. Visually it looks like a prototype.
- The whole back of the device consists of very big boards. They are not plugged in, but soldered, at the
- cost of ease of service. This was typical for the year 1964, when companies tried to get their device
- onto the global market.
- The display is remarkable. Instead of using Nixie tubes, the device features 143 lamps and a lot of
- light conductors to create digits and the decimal point. The only advantage of this technology over
- Nixie tubes is the appealing luminescent paint.
-
-
-
-
Olympia RAE 4/30-3 und Wanderer Conti
-
-
-
Olympia RAE 4/30-3 (left) and Wanderer Conti (right)
-
-
-
- The Olympia-Werke AG (Germany) invented the "Elektronischen Vierspezies-Rechenautomat" (electronic
- calculator for adding, substracting, multiplying and dividing). The distinctive feature was floating point
- arithmetic, 3 ALUs, 1 storage unit and 3 "memory units" (3 random use registers).
- The device contains a 384 bit manually threaded core memory, germanium transistors and Nixie tubes, but no
- external interface. Therefore users could not store or load programs. Olympia missed this important step,
- so the calculator became obsolete soon. The design was also quite outdated, and the device turns yellow
- quickly in the sun.
- The same device was resold in the USA by Monroe with the model number 770.
-
-
- The legendary WANDERER-WERKE AG were a typical company specialized on office machines and launched
- the WANDERER CONTI in 1965. You can read the original prospectus of the "first printing electonic universal automaton". This leading role
- did only lasted for a few weeks, since Olivetti and Diehl followed close behind.
-
-
-
-
-
-
FRIDEN 130 (132)
-
-
-
FRIEDEN 130
-
-
- The American Friden Calculating Machine Company was already a pioneer in desk
- calculator technology: in the mid-50s they built the first mechanical calculator in series
- that was able to extract a root.
-
-
-
-
- The FRIDEN 130 was announced in 1964. It was the first desktop calculator featuring a
- CRT display, using an oscillocope tube to display the contents of four internal registers of the machine.
- The memory is based on a magnetostrictive line.
- The overall design of the calculator is quite futuristic - the machine might well be found in
- a space travel movie of that time. The smallest model featuring only the four basic arithmetic
- operations was sold for about 5000 DM while the larger model, the FRIDEN 132, which included a
- square root function, was priced at 6700 DM.
Due to the accelerated progress of calculators featuring all tube technology, the development of transistorised second-generation calculators began.
+
+
+
+
IME 84, the world's first desk calculator using transistors. Among others, it features an appealing design (1964!). Compared to the IME 84, the german device made by Olympia looks ungracefully.
+ This calculator is at least able to exponentiate a number and uses a core memory.
+
+
+
The first digital transistorised calculator was produced in Italy (IME 84, 1964). In 1965, OLYMPIA built a calculator which was capable of handling floating-point numbers and at the same time, the company WANDERER released the "first printing electonic universal automate".
+
+
+
+
+
In 1966 the FRIDEN 130 was announced. It was the first desktop calculator featuring a CRT display using an oscillocope tube to display the contents of four internal registers of the machine. The memory is based on a magnetostrictive line.
+ The overall design of the calculator is quite futuristic - the machine might well be found in a space travel movie of that time. The smallest model featuring only the four basic arithmetic operations was sold for about 5000 DM while the larger model, the FRIDEN 132, which included a square root function was priced at 6700 DM.
+
+
+
Most of these calculators like many other brands were only capable of performing the four basic arithmetic operations although some machines had extra provisions for calculating square roots. In most cases a small core memory was employed for internal storage.
The Univac 9200 (Univac 9300) is a punch card computing data center from 1966. It is
- uncommon that such old devices are completely preserved, even all the
- manuals are available. This system was stored for over four years in the museum
- archives until we moved it with a freight company into the museum, next
- to the UNIVAC 9400.
-
-
After moving the devices with a trucking company to the museum building,
- the restoration started with cleaning all the devices, initially removing the typical
- old, rotten noise-absorbing mats at the very first. They have been replaced by
- brand new cellular rubber.
-
-
We expect most of the problems to be with the mechanical parts in the cabinets.
- Already we have removed the transportation locks and replaced some bearings,
- drive rollers and belts. The card puncher features 15 timing belts, for instance.
- The card reader (500 cards/minute) works again and the puncher mechanics are
- now executable, too. The processor link to these auxillary devices is another
- issue and will be checked in the near future.
-
-
-
-
- UNIVAC 9200 electronic data processing system, with its components (left
- to right): bar printer, cpu, "electronic cabinet" (power supply and plated wire
- memory), card reader, card puncher.
-
-
-
-
For aesthetic reasons, we also repainted the cabinets.
-
We will address the bar printer at a later time. In contrast to the already
- mentioned devices, the printer cannot be controlled manually, so we will
- have to start up the processor, too. This will be a buggy job.
- But all the work is not for nothing,
- since the system is really unique, featuring punch card assembler programming.
-
-
We will continously update this page about the progress of the reparation
- until the device is fully functional again.
-
-
-
-
UNIVAC 9200 electronic data processing system, uncovered while being restored
-
-
-
- UNIVAC 9200/9300 Software
-
Often it is sheer luck that helps saving unique artifacts from scrap. In this
-case a curious student at the Goethe University discovered strange objects in a
-building and informed us. It turned out that these devices were a UNIVAC 1710
-
-card puncher and a cabinet full of punched cards containings programs for our
-UNIVAC 9200. The punch cards, about 65000 pieces, contain programs which were
-developed between 1967 and 1975 at the institute of mathematics and applied
-computer science. We will surely revive some of these old programs on our
-UNIVAC system.
- The rescue action was actively supported by the University of Frankfurt and
-the "FITG" (Frankfurt) whon we would like to thank for their efforts.
-
-
-
24 boxes containing more than 65000 punch cards extend our software library
-
-
NB: One punch card can hold up to 80 characters - that makes about 80 bytes
-per card. Thus 65000 cards correspond to about 5 MB which is roughly the same
-amount of data that a modern digital camera produces for a single picture.
-Stored on punch cards 5 MB weigh about 160 kg while the cabinet housing the
-cards has a volume of about 0.5 cubic meters (about 500 liters of volume).
-
-
-
UNIVAC 9200 - the second
-
-
-
-
The new Univac 9200
-
-
-
It is nearly unbelievable: Since September 2015 we have a second UNIVAC 9200
-in the museum! It is sheer luck when such a precious old machine survives so
-many years (1967 to 2015) without any major damage at all. This particular
-machine was stored under near ideal conditions in the cellar of a
-municipality before it found its way to our museum where it will be restored
-to running condition again. Fortunately, the machine was professionally
-decommissioned so all necessary cables are still there and intact - this is
-true luck since often cables just get cut during decommissioning of large
-computers.
-
-The machine is different in some respects to our other machine of the same
-type: The bar-printer is slower (we expect a higher quality of print outs due
-to that fact), the memory is expanded to 16 kB as compared to 8 kB of
-the other machine, and the punch unit is a rare "Read-Punch". This device is
-capable of reading pre-punched cards and punching results onto the very same
-cards.
-
-By the experience repairing the first U9200, the repair of the second UNIVAC 9200 took only a few weeks: It is fully operational since January 2016."
-
-
We would like to thank the municipality of Rheine and in particular Mr. M.
-Lange, who donated the machine to the museum.
-
-
-
Restoration Blog (the first UNIVAC 9200)
-
17.01.2010: There were some mice in the power supply and printer; they
- bit thorugh some small cables.
-
16.02.2010: After locating two defective resistors the power supply is
- running again. Now we can use punch card devices from the CPU. Actually
- we cannot read nor punch data.
- Now there is another malfunctioning device: The
- plated wire storage does not work. We are trying to get it working at least partially,
- replacing it with a new self-made solid state memory. As you can read on our
- detailed description of the
- plated wire storage, this type of memory has always been very error-prone.
-
-
-
UNIVAC 9200 front panel: 160
- states of processor and periphery can be indicated with light bulbs and
- selected via switches.
-
-
15.04.2010: The boot process of the device is still crashing. There is
- an error message from the printer without any reason. We are trying to
- locate this error.
-
02.05.2010: A broken thyristor (hammer driver) raised the
- "printer error" message. Data integrity was the most important consideration at the
- time. If only one of the 140 printer columns is not working correctly, the whole
- printer goes offline to avoid any wrong output.
-
10.05.2010: We managed to get the plated wire storage online. We
- can even start some small test programs via the input switches, but there are
- bugs while running. This is perhaps the only device that still uses the old
- plated wire storage. Anyway, we are planing a replacement.
-
12.06.2010: After calibrating the optical card reader, we could read in
- and execute small programs in the data memory. We will report about the high
- security level of the card reading process later. Surprisingly the plated wire
- storage still works.
-
16.06.2010: The card puncher doesn't work any more. 30 years of inactivity
- are a long time for computers, too.
- On the other side, we could execute a printer loop program. The huge printer
- starts up, but doesn't print yet. After two minutes, a thermal fuse triggers.
-
-
25.06.2010: The fuse is triggerd by a broken centrifugal switch from the
- printer engine start-up windings. Therefore the winding was always on and
- constantly dissipated current. Now the engine is running, but print commands
- are not yet executed.
- We also found a bug in the memory. Now all 8kB seem to run completely
- error-free.
-
30.06.2010: We located another bug in the printer logic (faulty
- transistor). For the first time in 30 years, the bar printer works and is capable of
- printing files from various punch cards. The type face looks good.
- Now we turn to the damaged printer.
-
-
-
Backside of the UNIVAC 9200: With a storage oscilloscope and a logic analyzer logic states are measured
-
-
05.08.2010: After replacing a broken transistor and injecting some oil,
- the puncher is up and running! Now we are able to dublicate punch cards.
- Unfortunately we had to disable the error checking functions since the device
- detected a non-existing error when punching. Locating this error is the next
- problem.
-
-
26.08.2010: Locating the bug in the device's internal error checking
- of punched data was hard work. The computer compares the data which should be
- punched with the position of the hammers in the punch station in a very
- complex way. One of the 24 inductive sensing elements was broken,
- furthermore a transistor which amplifies the particular induced voltage was
- out of order and there was a cold solder joint. Finally the complete sensing
- station had to be recalibrated to deliver all information simultaneously to
- the comparing element. The adjustment has only a margin of 5 microseconds.
- After this repair, all duplicated punch cards are checked too. If there
- is a wrong punch hole, the computer stops immediately (an event that occurs
- extremely rarely now).
-
-
19.10.2010: After all test programs were run successfully, we can now declare
-the machine as being fully operational. The next step will be constructing a
-new memory system which is necessary since the original plated wire memory is
-fragile and it is doubtful that it would survive the years to come without
-errors.
-
-
Feb. 2012: Redesigning the memory using modern semiconductor circuits is more complicated
-than expected initially. Despite a lot of effort concerning the timing of
-all signals involved in the RAM's logic the new RAM card is still not working.
-Further tests and modifications will be necessary. Fortunately the original
-wire memory is still working perfectly.
-
-
This blog will be irregulary continued.
-
-
-
We would like to thank Dr. Frank Berger and Dr. Juergen Steen (both from the
-"Historischen Museum Frankfurt) for their suuport and many spare parts they
-donated for this machine.
-
Index: computer/univac9400.php
===================================================================
--- /en/computer/univac9400.php (revision 1492)
+++ (revision )
@@ -1,193 +1,0 @@
-
-
-
UNIVAC 9400 mainframe computer, data center
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
The picture on top shows from right to left:
-
-
-
the main processor cabinet
-
the system's console
-
the Tape Control Unit
-
UNISERVO 12
-
UNISERVO 16
-
UNISERVO 12
-
the Disk Control Unit
-
-
the high speed printer of type 768
-
three disk drives of type 8425
-
a punch card reader
-
-
-
-
This truly one-of-a-kind machine, a UNIVAC 9400 mainframe, is the heart of
- one of the most impressive exhibitions of the museum. In the 1960s it was used
- in the computer center of an industrial complex located in Cologne. Following
- its replacement by new hardware, the system was given to a school in Cologne
- where it served for many years helping the computer science teachers.
-
-
In September 2005 it found its final place in our museum. A regional German
- television program made a feature about the difficult transport of the machine
- from Cologne to the museum. This transport involved two trucks due to the sheer
- amount of equipment (a UNIVAC 9300 system was part of the transport as well)
- and its weight. We would like to thank UNISYS Germany for taking over the cost
- of this transport.
-
-
Our UNIVAC 9400 is something special since it is operational (again) -
- only very few mainframes from this era are still in an operational condition
- due to the complexity and difficulties of maintainance and operation. This
- restoration was facilitated by the facts that our machine was in near mint
- condition when we got hold of it and it came with full documentation. Currently
- there are some minor hardware bugs which will be fixed in the near future.
- The system on display is a stripped down version of the original setup
- due to space constraints in the museum. As a positive side effect this leaves many
- peripherals as spare parts ensuring the possibility to keep this machine up and
- running in the future.
-
-
-
-
-
The UNIVAC 9000 series dates back to the mid 1960s. All machines
- from this series were implemented using small scale integrated
- circuit (DTL technology, a predecessor of the well known TTL
- chip family). All DTL chips used only contain a few simple gates -
- mostly OR and NOR circuits. Much of the logic has been implemented
- using silicon diodes which allowed the construction of large arrays
- of AND gates.
-
-
This makes our UNIVAC 9400 a member of the so called
- "third generation" (first generation being tube based, second
- generation using discrete transistors).
-
- The members of the UNIVAC 9000 family were:
-
-
-
-
The UNIVAC 9200, a "powerful, card oriented electronic data
- processing installation" with a memory capacity of up to 16 kB.
-
The UNIVAC 9300 featured tape and disk drives and could be
- equipped with up to 32 kB of main memory (the museum has one of
- this systems in storage).
-
Finally, the UNIVAC 9400 was sold in 1969 as a "flexible
- tape and disk oriented computer system featuring multi
- programming, real time capabilities and versatile possibilities
- for data telecommunication". (The picture on the left shows an
- "advertising brochure" for this system dating back to 1969.)
-
-
-
As an interesting note all systems of this series used a magnetic
- thin film memory, a then revolutionary development which,
- unfortunately turned out to be the most error prone part of
- these computers. One of the main advantages over
- then conventional core memory was the non-destructive read
- out which allowed for shorter memory read cycle times.
-
-
Due to the insufficient reliability of this memory system the
- complete subsystem was eventually replaced by an even more modern
- semiconductor memory system using some of the first memory chips
- made by INTEL. More than 1200 of these chips were necessary to
- implement the 256 kB of our machine.
-
-
Like many other mainframe systems the UNIVAC 9400 features a
- channel system for the connection of peripheral equipment. Slow
- peripheral devices (like the punch card reader, printer, etc.)
- are connected using multiplex channels while high speed devices
- (like disks and tapes) are connected using selector channels.
- These selector channels allow for transfer rates of up to
- 333 kB/s - a remarkably transfer rate for this time.
-
-
The standard software for the UNIVAC 9400 included many
- libraries, an assembler and compilers for the languages FORTRAN
- and COBOL. In addition to that a report generator
- (comparable to IBM's RPG-II and RPG-III implementations) was
- available to facilitate commercial data processing.
-
-
One of the most impressive parts of a UNIVAC 9400 is the system
- console featuring literally hundreds of incandescent lights.
- This makes it possible to monitor about 600 internal register
- bits while operating and maintaining the machine. After working
- with such a system for some time, the operating personnel got a
- feeling for usual and unusual light patterns which helped a
- great deal to track down bugs.
-
-
-
By now many programs started running again. For example you can
- make this mainframe create you an up-to-date chart for your
- personal bio-rhythm of the next four weeks. This time-consuming
- task is perfomed by a program written in COBOL.
We would like to thank to the UNISYS
- Corporation for funding all trucking of the big machines.
- We would also like to thank Dr. Jürgen Steen from the
- Historical
- Museum Frankfurt for lending several UNIVAC boards. Reparations
- are quite difficult without comparative boards.
-
-
-
-
-
Young visitors are impressed by the speed of the punch card reader.
-
This truly one-of-a-kind machine, a UNIVAC 9400 mainframe, is the heart of
+ one of the most impressive exhibitions of the museum. In the 1960s it was used
+ in the computer center of an industrial complex located in Cologne. Following
+ its replacement by new hardware, the system was given to a school in Cologne
+ where it served for many years helping the computer science teachers.
+
+
In September 2005 it found its final place in our museum. A regional German
+ television program made a feature about the difficult transport of the machine
+ from Cologne to the museum. This transport involved two trucks due to the sheer
+ amount of equipment (a UNIVAC 9300 system was part of the transport as well)
+ and its weight. We would like to thank UNISYS Germany for taking over the cost
+ of this transport.
+
+
Our UNIVAC 9400 is something special since it is operational (again) -
+ only very few mainframes from this era are still in an operational condition
+ due to the complexity and difficulties of maintainance and operation. This
+ restoration was facilitated by the facts that our machine was in near mint
+ condition when we got hold of it and it came with full documentation. Currently
+ there are some minor hardware bugs which will be fixed in the near future.
+ The system on display is a stripped down version of the original setup
+ due to space constraints in the museum. As a positive side effect this leaves many
+ peripherals as spare parts ensuring the possibility to keep this machine up and
+ running in the future.
+
+
+
+
+
The UNIVAC 9000 series dates back to the mid 1960s. All machines
+ from this series were implemented using small scale integrated
+ circuit (DTL technology, a predecessor of the well known TTL
+ chip family). All DTL chips used only contain a few simple gates -
+ mostly OR and NOR circuits. Much of the logic has been implemented
+ using silicon diodes which allowed the construction of large arrays
+ of AND gates.
+
+
This makes our UNIVAC 9400 a member of the so called
+ "third generation" (first generation being tube based, second
+ generation using discrete transistors).
+
+ The members of the UNIVAC 9000 family were:
+
+
+
+
The UNIVAC 9200, a "powerful, card oriented electronic data
+ processing installation" with a memory capacity of up to 16 kB.
+
The UNIVAC 9300 faetured tape and disk drives and could be
+ equipped with up to 32 kB of main memory (the museum has one of
+ this systems in storage).
+
Finally, the UNIVAC 9400 was sold in 1969 as a "flexible
+ tape and disk oriented computer system featuring multi
+ programming, real time capabilities and versatile possibilities
+ for data telecommunication". (The picture on the left shows an
+ "advertising brochure" for this system dating back to 1969.)
+
+
+
As in interesting note all systems of this series used a magnetic
+ thin film memory, a then revolutionary development which,
+ unfortunately turned out to be the most error prone part of
+ these computers. One of the main advantages over
+ then conventional core memory was the non-destructive read
+ out which allowed for shorter memory read cycle times.
+
+
Due to the insufficient reliability of this memory system the
+ complete subsystem was eventually replaced by a even more modern
+ semiconductor memory system using some of the first memory chips
+ made by INTEL. More than 1200 of these chips were necessary to
+ implement the 256 kB of our machine.
+
+
Like many other mainframe systems the UNIVAC 9400 features a
+ channel system for the connection of peripheral equipment. Slow
+ peripheral devices (like the punch card reader, printer, etc.)
+ are connected using multiplex channels while high speed devices
+ (like disks and tapes) are connected using selector channels.
+ These selector channels allow for transfer rates of up to
+ 333 kB/s - a remarkably transfer rate for this time.
+
+
The standard software for the UNIVAC 9400 included many
+ libraries, an assembler and compilers for the languages FORTRAN
+ and COBOL. In addition to that a report generator
+ (comparable to IBM's RPG-II and RPG-III implementations) was
+ available to facilitate commercial data processing.
+
+
One of the most impressive parts of a UNIVAC 9400 is the system
+ console featuring literally hundreds of incandescent lights.
+ This makes it possible to monitor about 600 internal register
+ bits while operating and maintaining the machine. After working
+ with such a system for some time, the operating personnel got a
+ feeling for usual and unusual light patterns which helped a
+ great deal to track down bugs.
+
+
+
By now many programs started running again. For example you can
+ make this mainframe create you an up-to-date chart for your
+ personal bio-rhythm of the next four weeks. This time-consuming
+ task is perfomed by an program written in COBOL.
Since the sudden pass away of Heribert Müller in April
- 2018, the provisional lead of the museum is up to the community of heirs as well as
- friends and volunteers of the museum. We are reachable via:
-
-
Image use policy and information about reusing technikum29 website contents
-
Since we received a great number of image usage requests, the following information
- may give you an overview how you can resue the contents, especially the pictures,
- of the museum website.
-
Basically, everything on this website is protected by international copyright
- law. On the other hand, there are useful limitations and exceptions to copyright
- law. To create clarification, please distinguish:
-
-
-
If you want to use one or multiple pictures in the private domain, e.g. for
- presentations, you can take any pictures without request.
-
-
If you want to publish our pictures within your document, but without any
- view to profit (e.g. on private websites, company-internal publications,
- anything in the educational and scientifical domain like lectures, papers,
- books, presentations, etc.), we can grant you free authorization on request
- if it is clearly evident that your work is for non-profit.
-
-
If you want to publish our pictures within your document and you want
- to make profit with that document (e.g. commercial magazines, books, web
- sites, stock image usage, etc.) you must make a request. We usually grant
- permissions for royalty. Prices vary heavily depending on the intended
- usage, picture size, print run, etc.
-
-
-
We can send you partially high resolution pictures. If the situations #2 or #3
- apply in your case, please get in touch with us.
The world's first electronic desk calculator. First generation,
- tube technology (especially thyratrons). Nixie-display
-
-
-
IME 84[1964]
-
core memory
-
-
-
The worlds's first transistorised desk calculator.
- Nixie-display
-
-
-
Canola 130[1965]
-
flip-flop
-
-
-
first calculator with "floodlight display",
- transistor technology
-
-
-
WANDERER Conti[1965]
-
core memory
-
-
-
The world's first printing electonical desktop calculator.
- It uses threaded ROM for very simple and solid programs.
-
-
-
FRIDEN 130, FRIDEN 132[1965]
-
delay line memory
-
-
-
The world's first desk calculator with display on
- cathode ray tube; 4 registers are displayed
- (with germanium transistors). Type 132 is featured with
- automatic square root calculation.
-
-
-
Olivetti Programma 101[1965]
-
delay line memory
-
integrated reader for magnetic cards
-
First desk calculator that saves programs on magnetic cards
- (stores up to 120 instructions). The delay line memory has a
- capacity of 240 Byte. Pure transistor technology
-
-
-
IME 86[1966]
-
core memory
-
remote control
-
Nixie-display. Lovely designed remote control
-
-
-
DIEHL Combitron[1966]
-
delay line memory
-
punchcard reader and puncher
-
Germany's first freely programmable desk calculator.
- The complete version is extremely rare. The device's
- calculator features only 130 transistors. The operating system
- is internally booted from metallic punchcards. Rarity!
-
-
-
WANG 320 S[1966/67]
-
core memory
-
punchcard reader, manual punchcard reader
-
One of the world's first scientific programmable desktop
- calculators. Extremely rare. 2 of 4 pluggable keyboards.
- Pure transistor technology. Very fast computation of
- exponents and logarithms.
-
-
-
HP 9100 A bzw. 9100 B[1968]
-
core memory
-
incl. attached printer
-
First desktop calculator by HP. Totally scientific, threaded ROM.
- Recording programs on magnetical cards. CRT display. Transitor
- technology
-
-
-
WANG 700[1969/70]
-
2KB core memory
-
Complex printer (standalone device) that can plot, too. Mark
- Sense Card Reader, punchcard reader, DIN A0 flatbed plotter,
- additionally alphanumerical keyboard, Microface, double cassette
- drive with formated bands.
-
Milestone of computer engineering! First IC-technology (DTL, TTL).
- Very intricately threaded ROM. Many years the world's fastest
- desk calculator. Big doublespaced display featuring nixie tubes
- (x-, y- Register), program storage on cassetts. Extremely expensive
- device (28.000 DM + many more than 50.000 DM for
- periphery). Very rare.
-
-
-
WANG 550[1971]
-
semiconductor memory
-
-
-
trimmed-down version of the WANG 700 - single-line nixie tubes
- display, thermal printer, cassette drive.
-
-
-
HP 9810[1971]
-
semiconductor memory
-
Plotter, paper tape reader, external cassette drive
-
Has the same logic like the HP 9100, but was built with
- TTL-technology. First device with LED-display (3 lines).
- Magnetic card reader, thermal printer
-
-
-
WANG 600[1972]
-
semiconductor memory
-
printer/plotter, Mark Sense Card Reader
-
Perfomance-related viewn it is set between the WANG 700 and the WANG 500.
- Still with threaded ROM. Programs on cassettes.
World's first desk calculator with algebraical language and
- alphanumerical display on a 5x7 dots LED-matrix, Magnetic card
- reader, thermal printer
-
-
-
HP 9830[1972]
-
semiconductor memory
-
Thermal printer, plotter, high speed paper tape puncher,
- paper tape reader
-
The world's first BASIC-programmable desktop calculator.
- Alphanumerical display for 32 chars on a 5x7-dots LED-matrix.
- A calculator with so much periphery is very rare
-
-
-
Olivetti Programma 652**[1973]
-
semiconductor memory
-
typewriter for output, paper tape puncher, cassette
- drive, band drives, hard disc drive
-
complete installation in the "Bauhaus" style from the 70s.
- The bad documentation from Olivetti is remarkable. Hard disc
- drive with immotile multiple head
-
-
-
-
More desk calculators: Olympia RAE (different types, 1965): Calculator with core memory that is not programmable, germanium transistors and nixie tubes (floating point).
- Compucorp 322, 324 (1972): Scientific "pocket" calculator.
- Olivetti Programma 602 (1971): Same logic like Programma 101, but uses DTL, TTL IC-technology and semiconductor memory
- DIEHL Combitronic (1971): Same logic like Combitron, uses already MOS-technology (logic with only 6 ICs) but still delay line memory and booting from metallic punchcards.
- DIEHL Alphatronic, shift register as storage, with seperated punchcard puncher and punchcard reader (about 1973).**
- Canon 1614 P (1973): Programmable calculator with integrated punchcard reader and seperated printer (no manual). **
- TI 59 on PC 100 printer console (1977): programmable pocket calculator with recordings on magnetic cards.
- HP 9821 (1973, like 9820 but with cassette drive), HP 9815 (1976) ** and many more...
-
- **) For lack of space, these devices are stored in the archive
-
The world's first electronic desk calculator. First generation,
+ tube technology (especially thyratrons). Nixie-display
+
+
+
IME 84[1964]
+
core memory
+
-
+
The worlds's first transistorised desk calculator.
+ Nixie-display
+
+
+
Canola 130[1965]
+
flip-flop
+
-
+
first calculator with "floodlight display",
+ transistor technology
+
+
+
WANDERER Conti[1965]
+
core memory
+
-
+
The world's first printing electonical desktop calculator.
+ It uses threaded ROM for very simple and solid programs.
+
+
+
FRIDEN 130[1965]
+
delay line memory
+
-
+
The world's first desk calculator with display on
+ cathode ray tube; 4 registers are displayed
+ (with germanium transistors)
+
+
+
Olivetti Programma 101[1965]
+
delay line memory
+
integrated reader for magnetic cards
+
First desk calculator that saves programs on magnetic cards
+ (stores up to 120 instructions). The delay line memory has a
+ capacity of 240 Byte. Pure transistor technology
+
+
+
IME 86[1966]
+
core memory
+
remote control
+
Nixie-display. Lovely designed remote control
+
+
+
DIEHL Combitron[1966]
+
delay line memory
+
punchcard reader and puncher
+
Germany's first freely programmable desk calculator.
+ The complete version is extremely rare. The device's
+ calculator features only 130 transistors. The operating system
+ is internally booted from metallic punchcards. Rarity!
+
+
+
WANG 320 S[1966/67]
+
core memory
+
punchcard reader, manual punchcard reader
+
One of the world's first scientific programmable desktop
+ calculators. Extremely rare. 2 of 4 pluggable keyboards.
+ Pure transistor technology. Very fast computation of
+ exponents and logarithms.
+
+
+
HP 9100 A bzw. 9100 B[1968]
+
core memory
+
incl. attached printer
+
First desktop calculator by HP. Totally scientific, threaded ROM.
+ Recording programs on magnetical cards. CRT display. Transitor
+ technology
+
+
+
WANG 700[1969/70]
+
2KB core memory
+
Complex printer (standalone device) that can plot, too. Mark
+ Sense Card Reader, punchcard reader, DIN A0 flatbed plotter,
+ additionally alphanumerical keyboard, Microface, double cassette
+ drive with formated bands.
+
Milestone of computer engineering! First IC-technology (DTL, TTL).
+ Very intricately threaded ROM. Many years the world's fastest
+ desk calculator. Big doublespaced display featuring nixie tubes
+ (x-, y- Register), program storage on cassetts. Extremely expensive
+ device (28.000 DM + many more than 50.000 DM for
+ periphery). Very rare.
+
+
+
WANG 550[1971]
+
semiconductor memory
+
-
+
trimmed-down version of the WANG 700 - single-line nixie tubes
+ display, thermal printer, cassette drive.
+
+
+
HP 9810[1971]
+
semiconductor memory
+
Plotter, paper tape reader, external cassette drive
+
Has the same logic like the HP 9100, but was built with
+ TTL-technology. First device with LED-display (3 lines).
+ Magnetic card reader, thermal printer
+
+
+
WANG 600[1972]
+
semiconductor memory
+
printer/plotter, Mark Sense Card Reader
+
Perfomance-related viewn it is set between the WANG 700 and the WANG 500.
+ Still with threaded ROM. Programs on cassettes.
World's first desk calculator with algebraical language and
+ alphanumerical display on a 5x7 dots LED-matrix, Magnetic card
+ reader, thermal printer
+
+
+
HP 9830[1972]
+
semiconductor memory
+
Thermal printer, plotter, high speed paper tape puncher,
+ paper tape reader
+
The world's first BASIC-programmable desktop calculator.
+ Alphanumerical display for 32 chars on a 5x7-dots LED-matrix.
+ A calculator with so much periphery is very rare
+
+
+
Olivetti Programma 652**[1973]
+
semiconductor memory
+
typewriter for output, paper tape puncher, cassette
+ drive, band drives, hard disc drive
+
complete installation in the "Bauhaus" style from the 70s.
+ The bad documentation from Olivetti is remarkable. Hard disc
+ drive with immotile multiple head
+
+
+
+
More desk calculators: Olympia RAE (different types, 1965): Calculator with core memory that is not programmable, germanium transistors and nixie tubes (floating point).
+ Compucorp 322, 324 (1972): Scientific "pocket" calculator.
+ Olivetti Programma 602 (1971): Same logic like Programma 101, but uses DTL, TTL IC-technology and semiconductor memory
+ DIEHL Combitronic (1971): Same logic like Combitron, uses already MOS-technology (logic with only 6 ICs) but still delay line memory and booting from metallic punchcards.
+ DIEHL Alphatronic, shift register as storage, with seperated punchcard puncher and punchcard reader (about 1973).**
+ Canon 1614 P (1973): Programmable calculator with integrated punchcard reader and seperated printer (no manual). **
+ TI 59 on PC 100 printer console (1977): programmable pocket calculator with recordings on magnetic cards.
+ HP 9821 (1973, like 9820 but with cassette drive), HP 9815 (1976) ** and many more...
+
+ **) For lack of space, these devices are stored in the archive
+
Big tape deck "580"(**), hard disc DF 32**, 12 KB additional
- memory**, teletype
-
The world's first mass-produced "mini"computer with very low
- serial number. The classic 8 and the peripheral devices do
- not contain ICs. It is a seccond-generation computer.
teletype-printer, two additionall memories (now 12K), two DECTAPEs
- incl. controller (transistor technology), punchcard reader,
- analog-digital-transducer and many more
-
Early "Mini"-Computer with the size of a small cupboard
- (approx. 300kg). Typical old versatile industrial computer.
- Core memory. The complete system is functionally attached.
2 tape desks TU56, highspeed-punchcard reader and puncher,
- removable disk drive RK05, 8 inch floppy RX01, monitor VR12,
- AD-DA-converter, teletype
-
Laboratory Computer that weights half a ton
-
-
-
DEC PDP 11/20
-
1970
-
highspeed-punchcard reader and puncher, teletype
-
card M 729 is missing. First computer in DEC's PDP 11
- production run with core memory technology
-
-
-
WANG 2200 A/B
-
1973
-
8-inch triple floppy disk rive, 36-cm removable hard-disc, punch
- card reader, reader for stacked cards, special BASIC-keyboard,
- multiple printers, teletype
-
Perhaps the first device that looks a bit like today's computers.
- Pure BASIC-computer, CPU without microprocessor. CPU, power supply,
- keyboard and monitor are seperated. Built in tape drive: 1,7KB per
- meter. RAM: 8KB. disk drive: 5MB. This very early computer is
- probably the only one in germany (in it's stage of expansion).
- Total value at that time: More than 100.000,- DM
-
-
-
WANG PCS II
-
1976
-
Integrated, attached doublefloppy (5 ¼-inch)
-
The world's first personalcomputer (PC).
-
-
-
WANG 2200 VP**
-
1977
-
Peripheral compatible to 2200 A/B
-
VP: Very Powerful device with advanced Basic-2 by Wang
-
-
-
WANG 2200 MVP**
-
1979
-
type-wheel printer, additional periphery is compatible to the
- 2200 A/B
-
Computer for up to 4 work stations. 32K (64K) RAM. 80 MB hard disk
- system costed 80.000,- DM (that means 1000,-DM per MB) on its own
- and has to run in a climatized room.
-
-
-
**) For lack of space, these devices are stored in the archive
Big tape deck "580"(**), hard disc DF 32**, 12 KB additional
+ memory**, teletype
+
The world's first mass-produced "mini"computer with very low
+ serial number. The classic 8 and the peripheral devices do
+ not contain ICs. It is a seccond-generation computer.
+
+
+
DEC PDP 8 I
+
1967-69
+
Teletype
+
The 8I is DEC's first calculator with integrated circuits
+ after the "Classic-8". 8 KB core memory.
+
+
+
DEC PDP 8L
+
1968-70
+
teletype-printer, two additionall memories (now 12K), two DECTAPEs
+ incl. controller (transistor technology), punchcard reader,
+ analog-digital-transducer and many more
+
Early "Mini"-Computer with the size of a small cupboard
+ (approx. 300kg). Typical old versatile industrial computer.
+ Core memory. The complete system is functionally attached.
+
+
+
DEC LAB 8e
+
1971/72
+
2 tape desks TU56, highspeed-punchcard reader and puncher,
+ removable disk drive RK05, 8 inch floppy RX01, monitor VR12,
+ AD-DA-converter, teletype
+
Laboratory Computer that weights half a ton
+
+
+
DEC PDP 11/20
+
1970
+
highspeed-punchcard reader and puncher, teletype
+
card M 729 is missing. First computer in DEC's PDP 11
+ production run with core memory technology
+
+
+
WANG 2200 A/B
+
1973
+
8-inch triple floppy disk rive, 36-cm removable hard-disc, punch
+ card reader, reader for stacked cards, special BASIC-keyboard,
+ multiple printers, teletype
+
Perhaps the first device that looks a bit like today's computers.
+ Pure BASIC-computer, CPU without microprocessor. CPU, power supply,
+ keyboard and monitor are seperated. Built in tape drive: 1,7KB per
+ meter. RAM: 8KB. disk drive: 5MB. This very early computer is
+ probably the only one in germany (in it's stage of expansion).
+ Total value at that time: More than 100.000,- DM
+
+
+
WANG PCS II
+
1976
+
Integrated, attached doublefloppy (5 ¼-inch)
+
The world's first personalcomputer (PC).
+
+
+
WANG 2200 VP**
+
1977
+
Peripheral compatible to 2200 A/B
+
VP: Very Powerful device with advanced Basic-2 by Wang
+
+
+
WANG 2200 MVP**
+
1979
+
type-wheel printer, additional periphery is compatible to the
+ 2200 A/B
+
Computer for up to 4 work stations. 32K (64K) RAM. 80 MB hard disk
+ system costed 80.000,- DM (that means 1000,-DM per MB) on its own
+ and has to run in a climatized room.
+
+
+
**) For lack of space, these devices are stored in the archive