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ADEC
Aiken. Dahlgren Electronic Calculator
MANUFACTURER Harvard. University Cambridge, Massachusetts
OPERATING AGENCY U.S. Naval Proving Ground. Dahlgren, Virginia
GENERAL SYSTEM
Activity of Organization Naval Research,
Development and. Proofing.
Application General Scientific calculation
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Decimal
Decimal digits per word. 16 plus sign
Binary digits per instruction 36
Instructions per word. 1
Total no. of instructions decoded. 15
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
Instruction type Three-address
Number range 0 to 1016
Additional types of operations are accomplished
by modifying signs and by reading in and out of
special registers.
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time (including storage access)4400 microsec
Multiply time(" " ")13,200 microsec
Construction Vacuum-tubes and magnetic drum
Number of rapid access word registers $$0
Basic pulse repetition rate 64 kilocycles/sec
Arithmetic Mode Serial
Access times to storage overlap arithmetic operations.
STORAGE
Digits/ Microsec
Media Words word Access
Magnetic Drum 150 16 dec 4400 (constants)
Magnetic Drum 200 16 dec 4400 (variables)
Magnetic Drum 4000 16 dec 80000 (20 wds/access)
Magnetic Drum 4000 38 bin 4400 (instructions)
INPUT
Media Speed
Magnetic Tape 5 words/sec
OUTPUT
Magnetic Tape 5 words/sec
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 5000
Tube types 6
Crystal diodes 1500
CHECKING FEATURES
Fixed Input and output numbers duplicated, on tape.
Instruction words checked, by bit count.
Optional Identity check on operand, registers.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 40 K.W.
Space occupied. Computer 40 sq ft
Power consumption. Air Cond. 20 K.W.
Capacity, Air Cond. 30 tons
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced. 1
Number in current operation 1
Computer cannot be acquired through purchase
or rent on commercial market.
COST
Approximate cost of basic system $600,000
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
No. of Tech.
Daily Operation No. of Eng. or Operators
Three-8 hour shifts 1 15
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Operating ratio 0.57 Good. time 20 hours
Attempted, to run 35 hours
No. of different kinds of plug-in units 60
No. of separate cabinets (exclud.ing power
and. air cond. ) 3
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
Instructions and. numbers are kept entirely separate.
Instruction tape preparation machine
automatically inserts certain subroutines.
ALWAC-III
ALWAC-III
Axel-Wenner-Gren Automatic Computer III
MANUFACTURER
Logistics Research, Inc. Redondo Beach, California
OPERATING AGENCIES
David. Taylor Model Basin,
U.S. Navy, Carderock, Md.
U.S. Weather Bureau., Ashville, N.C.
ALWEG Corporation, Cologne, Germany
Institute of Gas Technology.
GENERAL SYSTEM
Applications Naval research and. test facilities,
Weather statistical and. research applications.
General scientific calculations, e.g. fluid.
dynamics, thermodynamics, gas mixtures, etc.
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Binary
Binary digits per word. 34 plus sign
Binary digits per instruction 8
Binary digits per instruction not deceoded. 8
Instructions per word. 2
Total no. of instructions decoded. 78
Total no. of instructions used. 78
Arithmetic system Fixed-polnt
and. Programmed floating-point
Instruction type 0ne-address code
Number range +- 4,294,967,295
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time (excluding storage access) 300 microsec
Multiply tlme( " " " ) 17,000 "
Divide time ( " " " ) 17,000 "
Construcrtion Vacuum tubes
Number of rapid access registers 4
Basic pulse repetition rate 64 kilocycles/sec
Arithmetic mode Serial
STORAGE
Microsec
Media Words Access
Main Drum 4096 85,000
Working Drum 128 4,000
Fast Access Drum 4 500
8192 words of drum storage is optional. Words
contain 54 binary digits plus sign.
The U.S. Weather Bureau has a 2048 word. magnetic drun.
INPUT
Media Speed
Paper Tape, Flexowriter 9 char/sec
Keyboard., Flexowiter Manual
Cards, IBM 100 card.s/mln
Cards contain alphanumeric information with
automatic conversion betireen decimal and binary.
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Printer, Flexowriter 9 char/sec
Tape, Flexo•wrlter 9 char/sec
Cards, IBM 100 cards/mib
Cards are alphanumeric with automatic
conversion between deciinal and binary.
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 280
Tube types 4
Crystal diodes 5,000
CHECKING FEATURES
Fixed. Automatic alarms.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 5 K.W.
Space occupied, Computer 23 sq. ft
Total weight 2100 lbs
Three cabinets total 29 in. deep
by 125 in. wide by 67 in. high
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced 5
Number in current operation 5
Number on order 3
Delivery time 6 months
COST
Approximate cost of basic system $60,000
F.o.b., Redondo Beach, Calif.
Additional equipment IBM Converter, $24,000
Additional Flexowriters, $4,500
Rental rates of basic system Negotiated.
Rental rates for additional equipment Negotiated
The U.S. Weather Bureau basic system cost
approximately $85,000.00 and two IBM Type 525
punches are rented for $130.00 per month.
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
Daily operation No. of Eng. No. of Tech.
For one 8 hour shift 0 1
For two 8 hour shifts 0 2
For three 8 hour shifts 0 3
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Date first unit passed, acceptance test 8 June 1954
Average error free running period 80
Operating ratio 0.95 Good. time 570 hours
Attempted, to run 600 hours
No. of different kinds of plug-in units 12
No. of separate cabinets (excluding power and
air cond. ) 3
Above operating figures are representative
quarterly period 1 0ctotber 54 through 31l Jan 55
at David Taylor Model Basin, Transonic Wind Tunnel.
The U.S. Weather Bureau unit passed acceptance
test July 1, 1955.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
A plug-in -tester is supplied, with equipment.
Regular operating personnel may be capable of
maintaining machine.
Conversion binary to decimal and. decimal to
binary is automatic.
Suitable for data reduction, trajectories,
simultaneous equations, matrix algebra and. inversions,
Monte Carlo methods and partial differential equations.
BAEQS
BAEQS
Bid-Asked. Electronic Quotation System
MANUFACTURER
The Teleregister Corporation Stamford, Connecticut
OPERATING AGENCY
Toronto Stock Exchange
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application Special purpose Inventory storage
associated, with receipt, storage and dissemination
of stock quotations.
The following information was furnished, toy the
teleregister Corporation.
The electronic equipment at the Toronto Stock Exchange,
now in service for more than two years, represents the
first use of electronic digital computer techniques for
the storage and dissemination of stock quotations.
In 1957 The Teleregister Corporation installed for
the Toronto Exchange an automatic, electromechanical
system for displaying, storing and. disseminating
bid-asked. prices on the more actively traded, stocks.
Bid-asked prices, generated at the trading posts on the
floor of the Exchange from orders placed on the outside,
were transmitted toy reporters over an interphone system
to keyset operators in the toasement of the Exchange building.
These keyset operators entered the toid-asked prices
into the automatic system. The prices were displayed on
electromechanical indicator units located at the posts on
the floor for the information of the traders at that location.
Simultaneously, the same prices were posted, on indicators
in a "check-board." located In front of the keyset operators.
The system also included a Canadian National Telegraphs
network from the common equipment at the Exchange to
brokers' offices in the Toronto area, who were provided,
with dial-ticker units. A broker desiring the current
bid-asked prices for a particular stock, looked up the
three digit code number for the stock in a code-assignment
register. When he was ready to dial, he pressed a request
button on his dial set.
The operation of this button connected his dialing
circuit and ticker line, through the line connecting
equipment, to one of 24 transmitters which may be idle
at the time. When the connection to the transmitter
was completed, a ready lamp lighted on the broker's dail [sp]
set, telling him that the equipment was ready to receive
his dialing. The operation thus far is similar to that
of a telephone exchange when the subscriber picks up the
hand set and receives a dial tone. The dialed code
numbers were stored in the transmitter, which was
conditioned to extract the requested bid-asked price
from the system's memory.
Up until two years ago the display indicators
in the check board served, a dual purpose in that
they were also used as storage devices or memory units.
These indicators were pulse actuated mechanisms
which display the digits 1 through 0 and blank,
on a ll-positlon rotatable drum. An indicator
was set to display the desired digit by transmitting
counted pulses to its winding after it has first
been pulsed to its blank display position. In order
to respond to a broker's dialed request, the
indicators displaying the selected stock prices
were actuated by exactly 11 pulses. This would
leave the indicators in the same display position
as before, but since it was possible to determine
the number of pulses required to move each unit from
its display position to Its blank position,
a coded read-out of the stored prices was accomplished.
These prices were then automatically sent by one of the
24 transmitters to a ticker at the calling broker's office.
After careful engineering analysis of tlie problem,
it was decided. to use electronic techniques and
a non-volatile magnetic drum storage to process
the 50,000 dally requests which, were being received
from brokers' offices. Since the existing
display posting system represented a major capital investment,
it was necessary to integrate much of the old
electro-mechanical system with the new electronic
data processing equipment. This integration presented
the major engineering problem, since the electronic
component had already been developed and proven
in service in an American Airlines reservations system,
(see Magnetronic Reservisor) which processes an inventory
of airlines seats in place of stock bid-asked prices.
It was also decided to use the old price storage circuitry
as a fall-back, so that a manual switch-over system
had to be provided.
The magnetic drum storage equipment is time shared
betveen the 24 transmitters and the 6 operators
positions by the seeker equipment. The purpose of
the operators' positions is to keep the prices
displayed at the Exchange and stored on the
magnetic drum up to date with the trading.
The seeker is a relay switching device which
connects the next transmitter or operator's position
awaiting access to the drum storage, which is time-shared
to all positions. When a transmitter gets access to
the storage, the 5-digit code number, dialed by a
subscriber and stored in the transmitter is translated
by the selector into the energization of one of
600 single-wire selection leads which were previously
used to connect the transmitters to a specific section
of the check-board display when that unit was used as
the system's memory. In the new system these 600 leads
are coded by use of a diode matrix with the position code
of the same Information on the magnetic drum storage.
The output of the diode matrix is connected through
drum selection coding relays to the drum connecting relays
which, in turn, select one of 40 channels on the drum.
If one of the six operators' positions has been given
access to the storage drum, the electronic equipment
is used to write the new price information stored on
the operators' keyset in the section of the drum selected
by one of 100 keys on the operators' keyset.
The magnetic storage unit consists of a solid. aluminum
billet, eight inches in diameter and. fifteen inches high,
coated, with an iron oxide film about 0.005 inches thick.
The drum has capacity for storing approximately two thousand
sets of prices, six hundred, being the initial usage.
Prices are stored in permutation code on. the drum coating
as positively or negatively magnetized spots,
the coding being changed as the prices alter.
The drum is divided into circumferential tracks,
or channels, each channel providing price storage
for twenty-five stocks. The packing factor for this
application is approximately 4O bits (or code elements)
per inch along the track. A read-record, head is mounted
over each channel with a clearance of .001 inch from
the drum surface. In recording, these heads polarize
the magnetic coating as the drum rotates at a speed,
of 1450 RPM beneath them, under control of electronic
writing and. gating circuits which are triggered off
as the operators send in new prices. In a reading
operation resulting from a broker's dialed request,
the selected magnetized spots passing under the
read-record head induce positive and negative pulses
which are amplified and shared into usable dynamic pulses.
The electronic equipment is under control of a
program unit which is basically divided. into
seven circuits; starting, function determination,
counting, 1 of 25 stock selection, 1 of 6 stock digit
selection, read gating and write gating. Counting is
in binary code and under control of three permanently
magnetized tracks on the drum which are called
synchronizing or "clock" tracks. These tracks deliver
1,256 and 600 pulses, respectively, for each revolution
of the drum. The clock pulses to the electronic counters
of the program unit open electronic gates at the precise
instant that the desired storage area on the drum is
passing beneath the selected readrecord head. There is
a reference pulse from the drum which assures that the
electronic counting will al-ways start in synchronism
with the drum rotation. There are pulses which are used
to select one or a combination of the six digits
representing a bid-asked price. Since each price digit
has a 4 element permutation code, there are 25 x 6 x 4,
or a total of 600 storage bits in use on each drum track.
The function of the shift registers is to read the
amplified serial bid-asked price pulses from the drum
and send the price in parallel to the transmitters,
24 elements at a time. In the case of a write operation,
the shift registers control serial writing into the drum
from parallel price code inputs from the operators' keysets.
The electronic equipment contains approximately 400 tube
envelopes, of which about half are Western Electric 396-A
twin triodes and the remainder Western Electric 4l5-A
pentodes. A few 6Y6 tubes are used in the drum record
circuits. All electronic components are mounted on
functional plug-in sub-assemblies, using printed wiring
techniques. An open construction is employed for better
heat dissipation and lower operating temperature.
A diode matrix array is used. to integrate the drum
selection coding with the output circuits from the
previously installed operators' tables and stock selector.
These diode matrices provide translation equivalent to
that of 562 relays at less initial cost and maintenance
expense. The choice of diodes was based on the relay
currents involved, the operating voltage, and the ratio
of forward to backward resistance of the diodes to
give safe operation. For this application, commercial
selenium rectifiers were used, mounted on 24 unit assemblies.
The electronic system has been designed to incorporate
many input and output error detection circuits which
check for impossible coding, absence of input selection
codes, and the like. After each write operation into
the drum, an automatic read-out of the just-written data
is performed and automatic error detection circuits are
used to check the accuracy of the data stored on the
drum against the original input data. Marginal checking
operations which are made after the market is closed
bring to light most of the incipient tube failures long
before the tube causes trouble during actual service.
After more than two years' service, most of the original
tubes are still in use. The system is currently handling
about 60,000 calls per day.
There were but three instances during the first year
of operation where it was necessary to switch to fall-back
service and use the check-board indicators as the system
memory. Since the first year, there have been no major
service interruptions. It is interesting to note that
the three fallurea during the first year were actually
not caused by electronic components, but rather were
due to input relay troubles. The system is currently
operated for 8 hours per day for 6 days per week.
BAR - COL
DEC DIG
Barber-Colman
Decimal Digital Computer
MANUFACTURER
Barber-Colman Company Rockford, Illinois
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application General purpose
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Binary-coded.
Decimal Decimal digits per word 20
Instruction External program - plug bard
Arithmetic system fixed-point
Instruction type Three-address code
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add. time(excluding storage access) 6000 microsec
Multiply time( " " " )2x105 microsec avg
Divide time ( " " " )2xl05 microsec avg Construction Vacuum-tubes
Number of rapid access -word registers 5
Basic pulse repetition rate 50 kilocycles/sec
Arithmetic mode Serial
STORAGE
Microsec
Media Words Access
Magnetic Drum 16 51,000 maximum
20 decimal digits per word
INPUT
Media
10-key Manual Keyboard.
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Typewiter 10 char/sec
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 400
Tube types 7
Crystal diodes 1200
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption. Computer 2 K.W.
Space occupied.. Computer 5x5x2.5 ft3
MANUFACTURING RECORD
This computer has not been completed..
BENDIX-D12
BENDIX-D12
Digital Differential Analyzer
MANUFACTURER
Computer Division Bendix Aviation Corporation
OPERATING AGENCY
Computer Facilities Section Rome Air Development Center
Griffiss Air Force Base, Rome, New York
GENERAL SYSTEM
Activity of organization Air development facility,USAF
Application Solution of differential equations
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Decimal
Decimal digits per word 8
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
No instructions per se are employed as
this is a semi-fixed program computer.
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time( excluding storage access) 45 microsec
Construction Vacuum-tubes
Basic pulse repetition rate 200 kilocycles/sec
Arithinetic Mode Serial
Decimal digits are treated serially whereas
their binary codes are held in parallel.
STORAGE
Media Words
Magnetic Drum 650 Total of 22000 bits capacity
Access time is not relevant because of the fixed
program. Storage is used during computation and words
are in continual recirculation in and out.
INPUT
Media Speed.
Paper Tape (Teletype) 10 char/sec
Keyboard Manual Fill
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Punched Paper Tape 10 char/sec (Teletype)
Typewriter (Electric) 10 char/see modified. IBM
Graph Plotter 30 increments/see
The graph plotter operates at 100 steps/inch
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 700
Tube types 6
Crystal diodes 2200
CHECKING FEATURES
Fixed Overflow in addition. Proscribed code
as a result of addition, unallowed number
code indicators.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption. Computer 7.5 K.W.
Space occupied. Computer 105 cu ft 25 sq. ft
Total weight. Computer 2000 lbs
A desk is provided in addition to the computer
console proper.
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced 2
Number in current operation 2
Number in order 9
Delivery time 4 months
COST
Approximate cost of basic system $55,000
Additional equipment Unit for interconnection
of two computers $8,035
Basic price includes one graph plotter unit.
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Date first unit passed, acceptance test 1 Aug 1954
Operating ratio 0.83 Good. time 500 hours
Attempted, to run 600 hours
No. of different kinds of plug-in units 12
No. of separate cabinets (excluding power and
air cond.. ) 2
The average error-free running period, for
the U5AF computer was 2 hours. Griffiss AFB
also reports that they have obtained 3OO hours
of good operating time out of 1200 hours of
attempted-to-run time.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
Fixed, program machine.
BENDIX-G15
General Purpose Contputer
MANUFACTURER
Bendix Computer Division Bendix Aviation Corporation
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application Scientific calculation
Timing Synchronoua
Operation Sequential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Binary
Binary digits per word. 28 + 1 for sign
Binary digits per instruction 29
Instructions per word 1
Total no. of instructions not used 7
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
Instruction type Two-address code(modified)
Number range -(1-2-28) to (1-2-28) [??]
Sexadecimal input-output is used.
60 basic operations are possible.
The modified type of two-address code is
unusual and difficult to classify.
Double precision is possible: (1-2--57) to (1-2--57) number range
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time (excludlng storage access) 275 microsec
55O double-precision
Multiply time (excluding storage access ) l600 "
3200 double-precision
Divide time (excluding storage access) 1600 "
3200 double-precision
Construction Vacuum-tubes
Number of rapid access word registers 16
Basic pulee repetition rate 90 kilocycles/sec
Arithmetic mode Serial
STORAGE Microsec
Media Words Access
Magnetic Drum 2160 1450 Avg. long lines
Magnetic Drum 16 550 Avg. short lines
Four magnetic tape units are possible;
60 sexadecimal digits per inch;
2400 ft reels;
reading rate 450 characters/see
INPUT
Media Speed.
Type-writer 10 char/sec
Paper Tape Photoreader 500 char/sec Asynchronous
Matmetic Tape 450 char/sec
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Typewriter 7 char/sec
Paper tape Punch 11 char/sec
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 450
Tube types 3
Crystal diodes 3,000
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Computer Power consumption 3 K.W.
Space occupied. 30 cu f-t 6 sq. f-t
Total weight 1500
Air cond. Internal blower air cooled.
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced 1
Number on order 3
Delivery time 6 months
COST
Approximate cost of basic system $45,000
Additional equipment Magnetic tape unit $4.750 each
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
No. of different kinds of plug-in units 10
No. of separate cabinets (excluding power
and air cond.) 1 plus typewriter
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
Unique addressing scheme affects speed for drum
type computers.
Computation can proceed during input and output.
Multiple additions and subtractions permissable
with one command.
Floating-point sub-routines are possible through
use of the normalize instruction which automatically
shifts a number in one of the arithmetic registers
until its absolute value lies between 0.5 and 1.0.
As this shifting takes place, the number of binary
places shifted Is automatically tallied in another
register. The G-15D computer incorporates both a
general purpose computer and a modern digital
differential analyzer, having 54 integrators
and 54 constant multipliers.
BUR-E101
BUR-E101
Burroughs Desk Size Electronic Computer E101
MANUFACTURER
Burroughs Corporation
6071 Second Avenue Detroit, Michigan
OPERATING AGENCY
Burroughs Corporation
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application intermediate-sized. computation
problems in science, business, and. industry.
Designed for problems which are too big for a
battery of rotary desk calculators,
but are too costly on a largescale computer.
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential
Picture furnished by Burroughs Corporation.
NUMERICAL SYSTEM Internal number system Decimal
Decimal digits per word 12 plus sign.
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
Instruction type One address code
Number range
-9.99999999999 to +9.99999999999
Program is externally stored on pinboards
containing 128 instructions and requiring
from 1 to 3 pins per instruction. If stored
internally instructions would require 3 dec digits
or four instructions/word of storage.
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add tme (including storage access) 50,000 microsec
Multiply time ( " " " ) 250,000 microsec
Divide time ( " " " ) 250,000 microsec
Construction Vacuum-tubes and. diodes
Aritlimetic mode Serial.
The arithmetic unit consists of two special drum
registers with zero access time and five decade
counters plus two flip-flops for sign storage and comparison.
STORAGE Microsec
Media Words Digits Access
Magnetic Drum 100 1200 8,500 avg.
Drum rotates at 5600 BPM.
Expandable to 220 words (each with sign) as an
optional feature; split register use of any storage
location can be programmed..
INPUT
Media Speed.
11-column. Full Keyboard. Operator
Paper Tape Reader 20 Char/sec
Reader is optional equipment. It reads data
and. instructions from 5, 6, 7 or 8 channel tape.
The basic input-output is a modified Burroughs
bookkeeping machine with the following features:
11 column full keyboard
12 digit semi-gang printer, 2 numbers/sec
Tabulating Carriage with flexible control unit
allows any columnar arrangement.
Motor bars provide format control action at any
print position.
Carriage opens for insertion of individual sheets
Zero suppression switch
Print control allows cipher splits
Red ribbon for negative amounts
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Semi-gang Printer 12 digit number/sec
Prints on rolls, single sheets, or duplicating
masters up to 18 inches wide; flexible format control.
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 165
Tube types 8
Crystal diodes 1260
CHECKING FEATURES
Fixed Program checks which give alarm if data
entry or scaling errors are made.
Machine check on print-out.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption. Computer 2.5 K.W.
Space occupied.. Computer 42 cu f-t 17 sq. ft.
Total weight 1400 lbs
Single, clesk sized. caTainet is caster mounted
and. can be rolled, from one location to another.
Computer is fan cooled, internally. Operated.
in air conditioned, room.
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced. 2 Prototypes
Number in current operation 2 Prototypes
Number on order 20
Delivery time 8-12 months
COST
Approximate price of basic system $32,500.
Additional equipment Paper Tape Reader $3,500.
Rental rates of basic system $850/month.
Rental rates for additional equipment
Tape input $95/month.
Price Includes one year's service and parts warranty.
Rental rate is with purchase option
(one-half of rental up to one-half machine price).
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
Daily Operation Oper or Tech.
One 8-hour shift 1
Two 8-hour shifts 2
Three 8-hour shifts 3
System requires a single operator for keyboard
entry, tape handling, changing problems, etc.
The programming effort depends on the size and
variety of problems being run. Simple program
permits users to do own programming.
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
No. of different kinds of plug-in units 26
No. of separate cabinets (excluding power
and air cond. ) 1
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
Program language consists of 28 single-address
instructions. Including unconditional transfer,
conditional transfer upon sign of accumulator,
and conditional transfer upon comparison between
either (or both) of two B-boxes and their
programmed limit settings. Programs can be
permanently stored on marked paper templates,
which fit over the pinboard and indicate which
holes need pins for that problem. The program
language uses only obvious symbols. (P for print,
W for write in storage, etc.) Programmirig can be
learned in a day. System can normally be operated
by a full keyboard calculating or bookkeeping
machine operator.
CALDIC
California Digital Computer
MANUFACTURER
Univ. of California
assisted by
Office of Naval Research
OPERATING AGENCY
Univ. of California
Department of Engineering
Berkeley 4, California
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application General purpose computing
Timing Asynchronous
Operation Sequential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Decimal
Decimal digits per word. 10 plus sign.
Decimal digits per instruction 10 plus sign.
Decimal digits per Instruction not decoded 4 + sign.
Instructions per word 1
Total no. of instructions decoded. 1
Total no. of instructions used. 6 (9 to be added)
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
Instruction type One-address code
Number range 0 to 1-10-10
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time(excluding storage access) 160 microsec
(2 vord-times)
Multiply time (excluding storage access )17,000 "
(180 word-times)
Divide time (excluding storage access ) 17,000 "
(180 word-times)
Construction Vacuum-tutes
Number of rapid access word registers 3
Basic pulse repetition rate 144 kilocycles/see
Arithmetic mode Serial
4 channel, serial in decimal digits
STORAGE Microsec
Media Words Access
Magnetic Drum 10,000 17,000
Total decimal digits stored, is 100,000
Drum revolves at 3600 rpm
INPUT
Media Speed.
Punched Tape (photo-electric reader) 600 digits/sec
OUTPUT Media Speed.
Punched. Tape perferator) 10 digits/see
Punched. Cards 10 digits/sec
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 1300
Tube types 4
Crystal diodes 1000
Magnetic elements 200 recording heads
There are 12 relays in the power supply.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power compsution. Computer 10 K.W.
Space occupied. Computer 210 cu ft 100 sq ft
Total weight. Computer 2000 lbs
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced. 1
Number in current operation 1 (Partially operative)
Plans and. drawings are available.
COST
Approximate cost of basic system $150,000
Developmental cost to July 1955
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
Financial suport of research and. development
personnel from the office of Naval Research.
CIRCLE
MANUFACTURER
Hogan Laboratories, Inc.
155 Perry Street Hew York, N.Y.
OPERATING AGENCIES
Westinghouse Electric Co.
Atomic Products Division
The Johns-Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland.
GENERAL SYSTEM
Activitles of organizations Research, development
maufacturing and. education.
Application General purpose, scientific computation
Timing Synchronous
Operation Seguential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Binary
Binary digits per word. 40-44 plus 2 sign digits.
Binary digits per instruction 20
Binary digits per instruction not decoded. 3
Instructions per vord. 2
Total no. of instructions decoded. 64
Total no. of instructions used. 33
Aritimetic system Fixed-point
Instruction type One-address
Code number range -1 to +1 (1-2-44)
Shift, Print, Convert Binary to Decimal, and
feed Instructions make use of Address Digits to
determine number of shifts, digits, etc.
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time( excluding storage access) 300 microsec
Multiply time( " " ") 2,000 microsec
Divide time( " " ") 2,000 microsec
Ccnstruction Vacuum-tubes
Rapid, access word registers Operating Registers
Basic pulse repetition rate 82 Kilocycle/sec
Arithnetic Mode Serial
Converaion from decimal to binary requires 2000
microseconds and one instruction.
STORAGE Microsec
Media Words Access
Drum 1024-4096 8,000 (average)
42-46 digits per word
INPUT
Media Speed
Paper Tape (Flexowiter) 10 dig/sec
Keyboard (Flexovri-ber) manual
Paper Tape (Reader) 30 dig/see
The Paper tape reader is optional
OUTPUT Media Speed.
Hard Copy (Flexowriter) 10 dig/sec
Paper Tape (Flexo-writer) 10 dig/sec
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 800-1000
Tube types 3
There are no relays used in this system
CHECKING FEATURES
Optional Even-odd. check on Instructions
Programed check is normally used.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 3-3.5 K.W.
Space occupied., Computer 54-81 cu ft
Total weight. Computer 1600 lbs
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced. 2
Number in current operation 2
Delivery time 9 months
COST
Approximate cost of basic system
$80,000 with 4096 word. storage
$60,000 with 1024 word. storage
Optional features at extra cost are:
Twenty binary digit word operation
Special orders for unusual problems checking.
2048 word storage
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
Daily operation No. of Eng. No. of Tech.
One 8-hour shift 0.5 1
Two 8-hour shifts 0.5 2
Three 8-hour ehifts 0.5 3
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Date first unit passed acceptance test June 1954
Operating ratio 0.82 Good. time 813 hours
Attempted to run 996 hours
No. of different kinds of plug-in units 18
No. of separate cabinets (excluding power
and air cond.) 2
DATATRON
MANUFACTURER
Electrodata Corporation
Affiliate Consolidated
Engineering Corporation
Pasadena, California
OPERATING AGENCY
Jet Propulsion Laboratories
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena 3, California
Allstate Insurance Company
Skokie, Illinois
Purdue University
Statistical Latoratory
Lafayette, Indiana
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application Engineering, scientific, accounting and
statiatics, data reduction, numerical analysis and
computer research.
Timing Asynchronous
Operation Sequential
Pictures -were furnished by JPL and PUSL.
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Binary-coded Decimal
Decimal digits per word 10 + sign
Decimal digits per instruction 9
Instructions per word 1
Total no. of instructions decoded 57
Total no. of instructions used 57
Arithmetic system Floating-point or fixed-point
Instruction type One-address code
Number range +1 to -1 on fixed-point.
Operation code is 2 digits. Instruction address
is 4 digits. Three of the four remaining digits
are associated with the peripheral equipBent only,
otherwise not used. Floating point (Auto) optional,
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time(excluding storage access) 170 microsec
Multiply time( " " ")1376-l6,856
Divide time( " " ")l850-20,210
Construction Vacuum-tubes, Condenser-diodes, Magnetic
Number of rapid access word registers 6
Basic pulse repetition rate 142 kilocycles/sec
Arithmetic Mode Serial by digit. Parallel by bit.
Multiplication by zero to multiplication by
9999999999 (time above)
Division by zero to division by 9999999999 (time above)
Registers include B register for address modification.
STORAGE Microsec
Media Words Access
Magnetic Drum 4000 8500 (Average.)
Magnetic Drum 80 850 (Average.)
Magnetic Tapes 400,000 each
Random search is 4 minutes average.
80-word drum has 4 High Speed Loops.
Ten magnetic tapes usable. Rach stores 4,000,000
dec dig addressed in blocks of 20 words each.
Independent block search at 60 inches/sec on
a 2500 ft tape is available. Ten tapes store 40,000,000
dec digita.
INPUT Speed
Magnetic Tape 300 words/see
Punched. Cards 100- 200- 24O/mln
Photoreader 45 words/sec
Buffering on card input is available.
80 column alphabetic or numeric available.
IBM types 514, 519, 525, 528, 089.
PUBL uses the Flexowriter tape reader at
a speed of 1 word/sec.
OUTPUT
Speed Magnetic Tape 500 words/sec
Punched Cards 100 cards/min
Line Printer 100-150 lines/min
Typewriter(Flexowriter) I word/sec
Paper Tape Perf 6 words/sec
Punched card buffering, and 80 or 120 alphabetic
or numeric is available. IBM 514, 519, 52~, and
528 are used.
Line printers IBM 402, 416, 407, and 419 are used.
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 1500
Tube types l4
Crystal diodes 3500
Magnetic elements 1 Drum 10 Tapes
CHECKING FEATURES
Fixed
Forbidden combination, word storage position check,
voltage limiting devices, tape parity, tape search
read- -write check, defective tape check.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Space occupied. Computer 4O ft by 20 ft room
Total weight. Computer 4009 lbs
Capacity 4-8 tons Above weight does not Include M-G, set.
The complete system of 10 Magnetic Tape units,
a Cardatron, Floating- point and necessary IBM
equipment for Input-Output should be housed in a
1.300 sq ft room.
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced. 16
Number in current operation 16
Delivery time 6 months
COST
Approximate cost of ·basic system $140,000.
Additional equipment Magnetic Tape (Basic) $32,635
Card Input-Output (Numeric) $18,$60.
Card Input-Output (Alpha-Numeric) $$1,600
Rental rates for Basic system $4,370 per month.
Rental rates for Additional Equipment Magnetic Tape $1030
Card Input-Output (Numeric) $567
Card Input-Output (Alphanumeric) $1290
The price and. rental rates of Card. Input-Output
(Alphanumeric) varies with the number of Input-Output
buffers (2 Input Buffers and. 4 Output Buffers are
possible.) If the option to purchase is exercised.
40% of rental paid. may he applied, toward, selling
price, up to a maxtinum of 60% of sale price.
Purdue University basic computer cost was $126,000,
plus $10,000 for spare parts and. $10,000 for 3
Flexowriters.
Allstate Insurance Company cost was $225,000
including spares, test equipment and. 2 flexowriters.
Allstate rents IBM 408 and. 528 at approximately $900
per month.
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
Daily Operation No. of Eng. No. of Tech.
One 8-hour shift 1 1 each shift
The engineer in charge is on call for other
shifts.
Purdue University reports that daily operation
varies from one to three 8 hour shifts on the
basis of load.. Monthly average is about 500 hrs.
Engineer and. technician help is all on part time
basis about equivalent to one full time man/shift.
This allows time for some modification and
construction of auxiliary equipment.
Allstate Insurance Company reports a staff of 1
Engineer (Degree in Physics); 5 full time programmers,
1 programmer training and. one operator, training.
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Date first unit passed, acceptance test August 1954
Operating ratio 0.91 Good. time 223 hours
Attempted, to run 246 hours
No. of different kinds of plug-in units 17
No. of separate cabinets (excluding power
and air cond..) 3 (Basic).
Purdue University reports unscheduled, maintenance
is one failure per week. Computer passed, acceptance
test on 22 Dee 54. Average error free running period
is over 100 hours on the Computer. Operating ratio
is 100% (not Including scheduled, engineering).
Scheduled engineering takes 18 hours/week.
Allstate Insurance Company system passed acceptance
test in March 1954. Unscheduled maintenance is
about 1.7% of 230 hours per month, usage; 7% of usage
time Is authorized, maintenance, 1.7% is unauthorized
maintenance. Allstate further reports that the accuracy
of the computer is superior to any other equipment
they own or rent. The programmer writes program,
dehugs and operates machine.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
1-4 Digit B-Box
4 Digit block addressable magnetic tape storage units.
Independent Magnetic Tape searching under control
of a tape control unit; coinputer computes simultaneously.
Independent buffered input-output punched card facility
allows multiple IBM reading punching and printing units
to operate simultaneously.
Purdue University reports system has one built-in
B-Register vhich allows significant simplification in
indexing, and in particular makes use of relative
addresses for sub-routines particularly easy to employ.
The four 20-word high speed drum loops (Average access
time 0.85 millisec) speed machine operation significantly.
An automatic coding technique is currently being developed.
The Socony Mobil Corporation of Paulsboro N.J. operates
a Datatron computing system.