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EDVAC
EDVAC
Electronic Discrete Variable
Automatic Computer
MANUFACTURER
Moore School of
Electrical Engineering
Univ. of Pennsylvania
OPERATING AGENCY
U.S. Arry Ordnance Corps
Ballistic Research Lab, APG
GENERAL SYSTEM
Applications Solution of ballistic equations,
bombing and firing tables, fire control,
data reductions, related scientific problems.
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential
A general purpose computer which may be used
for solving many varieties of mathematical
problems.
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Binary
Binary digits per word 44
Binary digits per instruction 4 bits/command,
10 bits each address
Instruction per word 1
Total no. of instructions decoded 16
Total no. of instructions used 12
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
Instruction type Four-address code
Number range -(l-2-43) <= x <= (l-2-43)
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time(including storage access) 864 microsec
(mib 192 max 1536)
Multiply time(includ.ing storage access)2880 "
(min 2208 max 5552)
Divide time(inclu~.ing storage access )2930 "
(min 2256 max 3600)
Construction Vacuum-tubes and Diode-gates
Number of rapid access word registers 4
Basic pulse repetition rate 1.0 megacycle/sec
Arithmetic mode Serial
STORAGE Micros sec
Media Words Access
Mercury Acoustic Delay Line 1024 48-584
Magnetic Drum 4608 17,000
Includes relay hunting and closure.
The information transfer to and from the
drum is at one megacycle per second. The
block length is optional from 1 to 584 words
per transfer instruction.
INPUT
Media Speed
Photoelectric Tape Reader 942 sexadec char/sec
78 words/sec
Card Reader (IBM) 15 rows/sec
100 cards/ndn
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Paper Tape Perf. 6 sexadecimal char/sec
30 words /min
Teletypewriter 6 sexadecimal char/sec
30 words/min
Card Punch (IBM) 100 cards/min
800 words/min
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 3563
Tube types 19
Crystal diodes 8000
magnetic elements 1325 (relays, coils and trans)
Capacitors approx. 5500
Resistors approx. 12000
Neons approx. 320
CHECKING FEATURES
Fixed Comparison - Two arithmetic units
perform computation simultaneously.
Discrepancies halt machine.
Paper tape reader error detection.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 50 K.W.
Space occupied, Computer 490 sq ft
Total weight, Computer 17,300 lbs
Power consumption, Air Cond. 25 K.W.
Space occupied, Air Cond. 6 sq ft
Total weight, Air Cond. 4345 lbs.
Capacity, Air Cond. 20 tons
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced 1
Number in current operation 1
COST
Rental rates for additional equipment
I.B.M. card reader $82.50 per month
I.B.M. card punch $77.00 per month
Approximate cost of basic system $467,000
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
Daily Operation No. of Tech.
5-8hour shifts 8
7 days/week
No engineers are assigned to operation of the
computer, but are used for design and development
of improvements for the computer. The technicians
consult with engineers when a total break-down
occurs.
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Average error free running period 8 hours
Operating ratio O.7'9 Good time 130.5 hrs.
(Figures for `55) Attempted to run 166 hrs./wk
No. of different kinds of plug-in units 3
No. of separate cabinets(excluding
power and air cond.) 12
Operating ratio figures for 1954:
Operating ratio 0.79 Good time 129 brs.
Attempted to run 163 hrs./wk
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
Oscilloscope and neon indicator for viewing
contents of any storage location at any tine.
Exceed capacity options: halt, ignore, transfer
control, or go to selected location.
Unused instruction (command) balt
Storage of previously executed instruction and
which storage location it came from, for
viewing during code checking.
Storage of current instruction and storage
location from which it originated.
Address halt when prescribed address appears
in any of 4 addresses of instruction to be
executed by computer.
Tape reader error detection.
ELECOM-50
ELECOM-50
Electronic Computer 50
MANUFACTURER
Underwood Corporation
Electronic Computer Division
Long Island City 6, N.Y.
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application Commercial
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential
NUMERCIAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Decimal
Decimal digits per word 10 plus sign
Total no. of instructions used 42 plus combinations
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
Number range .000001 to 99999999
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time(excluding storage access) 650 microsec
Multiply time( " " " ) 39,000 microsec
Construction Vacuum-tubes
Number of rapid access word registers 3
Basic pulse repetition rate 67 kilocycles/sec
Arithmetic mode Serial
650 microsec is one minor cycle.
Multiply requires 60 mmnor cycles.
STORAGE Micro sec
Media Words Digits Access
Main Drum 100 1000 33,000
Working Registers (Drum) 3 30 325
INPUT
Media Speed
Keyboard Manual
Paper Tape 20 dec dig/sec
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Gang Printer (2) 10 char/sec
Paper Tape 2 dec dig/sec
Printers operate in parallel.
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 160
Tube types 5
Crystal diodes 2000
29
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 2 K.W.
Space occupied, Computer 50 cu ft 20 sq ft
Total weight, Computer 750 lbs.
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced 2
Number in current operation 2
Number on order 16
Delivery tine 14 months
COST
Approximate cost of basic system $17,000 with one
carriage.
Additional equipment Continuous-form Carriage $1,000
Rental rates of basic system $55O/month
Rental rates for additional equipment $100/month
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
One operator required for each shift of
operation.
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Average error free running period 6 hours
No. of different kinds of plug-in units 42
No. of separate cabinets (excluding
power and air cond.) 3
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
Simple operation
Programing by manufacturer
10-key input
2400 Step program tape
Interchangeable Program tapes.
ELECOM-100
ELECOM-100
Electronic Computer 100
MANUFACTURER
Underwood Corporation
Electronic Computer Division
OPERATING AGENCIES
Reeves Instrument Corporation
New York 28, N.Y.
Fire Control Division
Development and Proof Services
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application Guided missiles, aircraft
Systems accuracy, Expansion of firing tables.
Timing Synchronous, magnetic drum,
Asynchronous, Magnetic Tape.
Operation Sequential
The computer at Reeves is owned by the Navy
Bureau of Aeronautics and is operated by Reeves
Instrument Company under Project Cyclone.
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Binary
Binary digits per word 50
Binary digits per instruction 50
Instructions per word 1
Total no. of instructions used 8
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
Instruction type Three-address code
Number range ~(4-2-27) to (4~2-27) )
The eight instructions includes an "external
operation," which, in turn, includes six
different operations. Octal number system.
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Construction Vacuum- tubes
Number of rapid access word registers 0
Basic pulse repetition rate 100 kilocycles/sec
Arithmetic Mode Serial
25-50 operations per second may be performed,
including drum memory access.
STORAGE Microsec
Media Words Access
Magnetic Drum 512 20,000 max
Magnetic Tape 60,000
One block of tape is equivalent to one
channel on the drum (64 words), transfer or
movement of one block takes approximately
2 seconds.
INPUT
Media Speed
Typewriter (Flexo writer) Manual keyboard
Paper Tape (Flexowriter) 7 1/2 octal dig/sec
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Typewriter (Flexowriter) 7 1/2 char/sec
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 223 to 240
Tube types 6
Crystal diodes Approx. 2200
The Aberdeen machine has 42 relays.
CHECKING FEATURES
Fixed Overflow indication (and halt)
Out-of- syncbronism for tape (and halt)
Engineering diagnostic tests
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 3.5 K.W.
Space occupied, Computer 120 ft2
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced 3
Number in current operation 3
The Elecom 100 at Aberdeen is the first one
built by the Electronic Computer Division of
Underwood.
COST
Approximate cost of basic system $60,000 +
$2,000 installation.
These figures are for the computing system
at the Aberdeen Proving Ground.
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
Daily operation No. of Eng. No. of Tech.
1-8 hour shift 1 1
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Date first unit passed acceptance test 9 Dec 1952
No. of different kinds of plug-in units 5
No. of separate cabinets(excluding power and
air cond.) 2
APG Computer has had 1471 hours of good time out
of a corresponding total of 2225 hours attempted
to run time.
The Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, N.J.
has an Elecom 100.
ELECOM-12OA
ELECOM-12OA
Electronic Computer 120A
MANUFACTURER
Electronic Computer Division
Underwood Corporation
Long Island City 6, N.Y.
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application Engineering, scientific
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Decimal
Decimal digits per word 10 plus sign
Decimal digits per instruction 10
Instructions per word 1
Total no. of instructions decoded 53
Total no. of instructions used 33
Arithmetic system Fixed.point
Instruction type Two-address code 10
Number range -(1-10-10 <= n <= 1-10-10
Figures are for basic model
Floating -point optional
Floating point coefficient range
-(1-10-8 <= n 1-10-8
Floating-point exponent range
-50 <= e <= 49
Floating-point operation, when supplied, is in
addition o[sp] normal fixed-point operation.
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time(excluding storage access) 330 microsec
Multiply time ( " " ) 18,300 microsec
Divide time ( " " " ) 18,700 microsec
Construction Vacuum-tubes
Number of rapid access word registers 5
Basic pulse repetition rate 132 kilocycles/sec
Arithmetic mode Serial
Above operation times are for average 10 digit
multiplier, dividend and divisor respectively.
STORAGE Microsec
Media Words Access
Magnetic Drum 1000-10,000 8300 avg.
Magnetic Drum 10-100 1670 avg.
Main storage on single head per channel basis.
Fast access storage are recirculating channels.
GAFB has 250,000 word tape unit, 8 dec dig words
for the Elecom 120.
INPUT
Media Speed
Typewriter 8 char/sec
Paper Tape 8 to 400 char/sec
Magnetic Tape 400 char/sec
Typewriter is standard equipment.
High speed paper tape reader is optional.
One magnetic tape unit supplied as standard
equipment.
Standard model includes controls for additional
tape units.
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Typewriter 8 char/sec
Paper tape Punch 8 or 60 char/sec
Magnetic Tape 400 char/sec
Typewriter is standard equipment.
High speed punch is optional.
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 400
Crystal diodes 4500
These figures include some optional equipment.
5% of tubes are of 2 basic types.
CHECKING FEATURES
Fixed Internal check for forbidden pulse combina-
tions and check of drum writing operations. Parity
check on tapes, with automatic re-read.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 5 to 7 K.W.
Space occupied, Computer 200 cu ft
Total weight, Computer 3500 lbs
These figures are for computer complete with
control desk and one tape unit.
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced 5
Number in current operation 5
Number on order 2
Delivery time 6 to 9 months.
Figures are for type 120 which is the same as
the 120A except for word length.
COST
Approximate cost of basic system $97,000.
Rental rates of basic system Approx. $3,500.
Rental rate is for complete system and
includes maintenance.
GAFB This Elecom 120 instaLlation cost $85,000
for basic system and $15,000 for 2 magnetic tape
units and 1 Ferranti High Speed tape unit.
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
Daily Operation
Underwood: Engr. Oper. or Tech.
One 8-hour shift 1 1
Two 8-hour shifts 2 2
Three 8-hour shifts 3 3
GAYB One engineer, 3 programers, additional
personnel are required.
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Date first unit passed acceptance test March 1954
No. of separate cabinets(excluding power and air
cond.) 2
Underwood
Average good time being reported is 90-95%.
Grifiss AFB Rome, N.Y.
The Elecom 120 system passed acceptance test on
1 March 55. The average error free running period
was 10 hours. Of 40 hours attempted to run time
17.6 hours were good time. These figures are based
on a two month period following installation.
No other figures were available, but since then the
record has improved.
Other users include:
Westinghouse Aviation Gas Turbine Div.
Kansas City, Mo.
Shell Development Laboratories
Houston, Texas
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
The Elecom 120 has a word length of 8 decimal digits
plus sign, basic pulse repetition rate of 105
kilocycles and an average tine for internal operations
of 35 milliseconds.
ELECOM-125
ELECOM-125
Electronic Computer 125
MANUFACTURER
Electronic Computer Division
Underwood Corporation
Long Island City 6, N.Y.
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application Comercial, engineering, scientific
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Decimal
Decimal digits per word 10 and sign
Decimal digits per instruction 10
Instructions per word 1
Total no. of instructions decoded 36
Total no. of instructions used 36
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
Instruction type Two-address code
Number range -(1-10-10 <= n <= 1-10-10
2 dec dig per alphabetic char
Floating point optional 8
Floating point coeff range -(1-10-8 <= n 1-10-8)
Floating point expon range -50 <= e <= 49
Floating point operation, when supplied, is in
addition to normal fixed point operation.
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time(excluding storage access) 330 microsec
Multiply time(" " ") 18,300 microsec
Divide time ( " " ") 18,700 microsec
Construction Vacuum-tubes
Number of rapid access word registers 3
Basic pulse repetition rate 132 kilocycles/sec
Arithmetic mode Serial
Above operation time is based on average 10 dec
digit multiplier, dividend and divisor.
STORAGE Microsec
Media Words Access
Magnetic Drum 1000 to 10,000 8300 avg.
Magnetic Drum 10 to 100 1670 avg.
Main storage is on a single head per channel.
Fast access storage is a recirculation channel.
INPUT
Media Speed
Typewriter 8 char/sec (Manual)
Paper Tape 8 to 400 char/sec
Magnetic Tape 2000 char/sec
Typewriter is standard equipment
High Speed reader is optional
Punched card is optional, utilizing IBM 528
or similar unit.
Magnetic tape synchronizing circuits
are included as standard equipment.
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Typewriter 8 char/sec
Paper Tape 8 or 60 char/sec
Magnetic Tape 2000 char/sec
Typewriter is standard equipment.
High speed paper tape punch optional.
Card punch (IBM 523) or Tabulator (IBM 407)
optional.
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 450
Crystal diodes 5000
95% of tubes are of 2 basic types.
CHECKING FEATURES
Fixed Internal check for "forbidden" pulse
combinations.
Check of drum writing circuits.
Parity check on tape, with automatic re-read.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 5 to 7 K.W.
Space occupied, Computer 200 cu ft
Total weight. Computer 5500 lbs.
Capacity, Air Cond. 5 tons
Space and weight figures are for computer
(complete) with control desk and one tape unit.
Room air conditioning is reconmiended. No
built in equipment is supplied with system.
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number on order 4
Delivery time 6 to 9 months
Much of the internal circuitry is substantially
the same as that of the ELECOM 120, of which 5 have
been built.
COST
The price of a complete ELECOM 125 Electronic
Business System including a complete assortment of
input and output units, is usually of the order of
$250,000.
The monthly rental rate is approximately $7,500/mo,
which applies to the entire system including the
File Processor, Computer, Tape units and some
optional equipment. This is based on a purchase
price of approximately $250,000. The rental figure
includes full time maintenance.
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
Daily Operation Engr Oper or Tech.
One 8-hour shift 1 1
Two 8-hour shifts 2 2
Three 8-hour shifts 3 3
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
No. of separate cabinets(excluding power and air
cond.) 2
ELECOM-125FP
38
ELECOM-125FP
Electronic Computer 125
File Processor
MANUFACTURER
Electronic Computer Division
Underwood Corporation
Long Island City, 6, N.Y.
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application Commercial
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Decimal
Decimal digits per word 10 plus sign
2 dec dig/alphabetic char.
Operates on "items" containing any integral
number of words. Fixed program, switch selected:
sequence, collate, select, select and collate
separate.
ARITHMETIC UNIT
No arithmetic unit in the usual sense.
STORAGE
Media Words
Acoustic Delay Line 100
Storage is five 20-word channels.
INPUT
Media Speed
Magnetic Tape 6000 dig/sec
Typewriter 8 char/sec
Paper Tape 8 char/sec
Typewriter and paper tape is used for checking and
control.
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Magnetic Tape 6000 dig/sec
Typewriter 8 char/sec
Paper Tape 8 char/sec
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 290
Crystal diodes 5500
Over 85% of tubes are type 6AN5.
CHECKING FEATURES
Fixed Parity check on all data.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 7 K.W.
Space occupied, Computer 150 cu ft
Capacity, Air Cond. 5 tons
Space figure is for processor, control desk and
4 tape units.
Room air conditioning is recommended. No built-in
equipment is supplied with system.
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number on order 2
Delivery time 6 to 9 months
COST
Approximate price of basic system $60,000 (FP only)
Additional equipment Tape d.rives $10,000 each.
Rental rates of basic system $7,500/month
Rental rate applies to entire system, including File
Processor, Computer and Tape Units with some optional
equipment, based on a system having a purchase price
of $250,000, approx. Rental figure includes full time
maintenance.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
An important partner in the ELECOM 125 Electronic
Business System is the ELECOM 125 File Processor.
This is an entirely separate piece of equipment,
designed and engineered to handle the sequencing,
collating, extracting and similar operations necessary
in day-to-day business applications.
The ELECOM File Processor extracts from the
voluminous tLibrary Tapest, the particular items
upon which processing is to be done. It is the job of
the ELECOM File Processor to pick the pertinent
items out of the magnetic tape file, so that the
Computer wastes no time in searchingt through un-
wanted items. Once the items have been processed
by the ELECOM 125 Computer, the ELECOM File
Processor puts them back into their proper place
(in sequence) in the main file.
ENIAC
ENIAC
Electronic Numerical
Integrator and Computer
MANUFACTURER
Moore School of
Electrical Engineering
Univ. of Pennsylvania
OPERATING AGENCY
U.S. Army Ordnance Corps
Ballistic Research Lab, APG
GENERAL SYSTEM
Applications Solution of ballistic equations,
fire control problems, data reductions, and
related scientific problems.
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal Decimal in basic computer, binary
coded decimal in magnetic storage
Decimal digits per word 10 plus sign
Decimal digits per instruction 2
Instructions per word 5 or 6
Total no. of instructions decoded 100
Total no. of instructions used 97
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
Instruction type One-Address Code
Number range 10-10-1 to 1-10-10
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time(excluding storage access) 200 microsec
Multiply time(" " ") 2,800 microsec
Divide time ( " " ") 24,OOO microsec
Construction Vacuum-tubes
Number of rapid access word registers 120
Basic pulse repetition rate 60-125 kilocycles/sec
variable.
Arithmetic Mode Parallel
Information is transferred in parallel as a
serial train of pulses.
STORAGE Micros sec
Media Words Access
Vacuum-tubes 20 200
Magnetic core 100 200
Function table 304 lines of 12 dec
digits + sign on each constant set-switch
Plug board 96 lines of 12 dec
digits + sign each (IBM)
Relays 8 buffer capable
of storing contents of one card
INPUT
Media Speed
IBM Cards 125 cards/min
Each card has 8 ten decimal digit
words plus signs
OUTPUT
Media Speed
IBM Cards 100 cards/mm
200 millisec of card cycle are available
for other computer operations. At 50
cards/mm rate, 800 millisec are avail-
able for computer operations per card cycle.
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 17,468
Tube types 16
Crystal diodes 7,200
Magnetic elements 4,l00
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 174 K.W.
Space occupied, Computer 1800 sq ft
Air conditioning, Forced outside air.
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced 1
Number in current operation 1
COST
Additional equipment Magnetic storage
$29,706.50
Rental rates for additional equipment:
I.B.M. card reader $82.50 per month
I.B.M. card punch $77.00 per month
Approximate cost of basic system $750,000
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
Daily operation No. of Tech.
3 - 8 hour shifts 6
7 days/week
A minimum requirement for operation and
servicing on a 24-hour-day, 7-day-week
basis. No engineers are assigned to operation
of the machine, but they are used for design,
development of improvements and consultation
when total breakdowns occur.
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Date unit passed acceptance test 1946
Average error free running period 5.6 hours
Operating ratio 0.69 Good time ll3 hrs.
(Figures for 1955) Attempted to run 164 hrs/wk
No. of different kinds of plug- in units 44
No. of separate cabinets (excluding
power and air cond.) 42
Operating ratio figures for 1954:
Operating ratio 0.70 Good time 116 hrs.
Attempted to run 166 hrs./wk
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
There are four modes of operation:
Continuous, Pulse time, Add time, or
Instruction time.
A manual pre-set stop box is available.
Count instructions and transfer instructions
are used.
FERRANTI
MARK-I
FERRANTI
MARK-I
Ferranti, Ltd
Ferranti Electric
Mark I Computer
MANUFACTURER
Ferranti, Ltd
Ferranti Electric, Inc.
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York 20, New York
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application Scientific calculation
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential and Concurrent
The input/output only may be either
sequential or concurrent.
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal Number System Binary
Binary digits per word 40
Digits per instruction 20
Instructions per word 2
Total no. of instructions decoded 32
Total no. of instructions used 30 -32
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
Instruction type One-address code
Number range -2 <= x < 2
Shift and standardize instructions
provided which facilitate floating-point
arithmetic.
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time(excluding storage access) 1200 microsec
Multiply time(excluding storage access) 2160 microsec
Construction Vacuum-tubes
Basic pulse repetition rate 100 kilocycles/sec
Arithmetic Mode serial
There is a built in multiplier but no built in
divider.
The macbine normally operates on long (40 bit)
words, but short (20 bit) words form instructions
and B- lines. A manual facility switches in either
40 or 20 bit accumulator operation.
STORAGE Microsec
Media Words Access
Electrostatic tubes 768
Magnetic Drum 32,768 31,200
The drum has 256 tracks and revolves at 1924 RPM.
The CRT stores 15,360 bits.
The drum stores 155,360 bits.
INPUT
Media Speed
Paper Tape (5-hole) 200 char/sec
One character is 5 bits.
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Teleprinter 7 char/sec
Tape Punch 15 char/sec
Parallel Printer 150 lines/mm
A 25 char/sec punch is being developed. The
Parallel-Printer line consists of 64 alpha-numeric
characters, with 92 printing positions on each
line. The remaining positions print spaces and
the locations of these in the line are pre-set
by a plugboard.
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 3300
Crystal diodes 1000
6AL5 (Double Diodes) 1500
EF5O, 5591 (Pentodes) 1500
12AT7 (Double Triodes) 220
Sundries 80
CHECKING FEATURES
Optional Check facilities for transfers between
drum and CET. storage and vice-versa.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 26 K.W.
Space occupied, Computer 4000 cu ft 600 sq ft
Total weight, Computer 10,000 lbs
Air conditioning is built in.
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced 7
Number in current operation 6
Number on order 2
Delivery tine 9 months
These figures include two machines of an
earlier Mark I design.
COST
Approximate cost of basic system $350,000 f.o.b.
factory.
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
Daily Operation No. of Eng.
One - 8 hour shift 2
Two - 8 hour shifts 3
Three - 8 hour shifts 4
The number of engineers specified above are
based on a 5-day working week and allow for
time off due to annual vacations, etc.
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Date first unit passed acceptance test 12 Jul 54
Average error free running period 2 hours
Operating ratio 0.90 Good time 974 hours
Attempted to run 1084 hours
No. of separate cabinets(excluding
power and air cond.) 2
The above figures are based on 41 weeks of
operation since 12 July 1954.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
Organizations operating this system include:
Royal Dutch Shell, Amsterdam, Holland
Armaments Research Establishment, Fort Halstead
Kent AWBE, Aldermaston, Berks.
Seven B-lines are provided to facilitate instruc-
tion, modification and counting operations. Each
B-line has a 20 bit capacity.
FERRANTI MARK-II
FERRANTI
MARK-II
Ferranti, Ltd
Ferranti Electric Mark II
MANUFACTURER
Ferranti, Ltd.
Ferranti Electric, Inc.
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York 20, New York
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application Scientific calculation
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Binary
Binary digits per word 10 or 40
Binary digits per instruction 20
Total no. of instructions used 64
Arithmetic system Floating-point and
Fixed-point.
Instruction type One-address code
Number range -1 x 2+511 <= x <= -1 x 2-512
+1 x 2-512 < x < +1 x 2+511
10 bits = 1 short word
2 short words = 1 instruction
4 short words = 1 long word
Any address part of instruction can be
modified by any of seven 10-bit registers.
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time(including storage access)
180 microsec 40 bit floating-point
60 microsec 10 bit fixed-point
Multiply time(excluding storage access)
300 microsec 40 bit floating-point
Construction Vacuum-tubes, Condenser-diodes,
Magnetic wheel, Magnetic cores
Basic pulse repetition rate 1 megacycle/sec
Arithmetic Mode Serial
Seven 10 bit modifying registers available
to modify address of any instruction.
STORAGE Microsec
Media Words Access
Magnetic Cores 4096 - 10 bit 10
Magnetic Wheel 60,000 - 10 bit 8,000
Electromagnetic Delay Line 14-10 bit 10
Serial computing is performed at 1 megacycle/sec
Parallel Magnetic Core Storage at 1000 kilocycle/sec
10 channel.
INPUT
Media Speed
Paper Tape 1000 bits/sec
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Teleprinter 5 char/sec
Punch 50 char/sec
CHECKING FEATURES
Fixed Parity check on core and magnetic wheel
storage.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 30 K.W.
Space occupied, Computer 216 cu ft 36 sq ft
Total weight, Computer 2500 lbs
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 1500
Tube types 2
Crystal diodes 3000
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced 1
Number on order 3
Delivery time 12 months
Only a prototype of this machine is working.
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Computer not yet operating.
FLAC
FLAC
Florida Automatic Computer
MANUFACTURER
U.S. Air Force,
Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.
OPERATING AGENCY
Data Reduction Group, RCA
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application Missile Data Reduction
Timing Synchronous
Operation Sequential
Some of the USAF personnel involved in the
construction of FLAC are presently with Soroban
Engineering, Inc. Melbourne, Florida.
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Binary
Binary digits per word 44 plus sign
Binary digits per instruction 44 plus sign
Instructions per word 1
Total no. of instructions used 19
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
Instruction type Three-address code
Number range All numbers scaled to less than
1 in absolute value.
B-box included, address may be modified by
B-box or instruction counter.
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time(including storage access) 850 microsec
Multiply time ( " " " ) 3300 microsec
Divide time ( " " ) 3300 microsec
Construction Vacuum-tube and diode gating
Number of rapid access word registers 1
Basic pulse repetition rate 1 megacycle/sec
Arithmetic Mode Serial
Above times are average.
STORAGE Microsec
Media Words Access
Mercury Delay Line 512 182
Magnetic Tape 200,000
Magnetic tape speed is 250 words/sec;
45 digits/word.
A new 4096 core storage will be in operation
in 1956, with an access time of one word time.
INPUT
Media Speed
Paper Tape (Flexowriter) 1 word/sec
Magnetic Wire 40 words/sec
Magnetic Tape(Raytheon) 250 words/sec
Paper Tape 150 char/sec
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Paper Tape (Flexowriter) 1 word/sec
Magnetic Wire 20 words/sec
Paper Tape 180 char/sec
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 1050
Tube types 5
Crystal diodes 18,000
Computer proper uses only 420 6AN5 tubes
and 15,000 diodes.
CHECKING FEATURES
Fixed Odd-even check provided for storage and
Magnetic media
Optional Overflow on addition, subtraction and
division.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 7.5 K.W.
Space occupied, Computer 455 cu ft 65 sq ft
Power consumption, Air Cond. 7.5 K.W.
Space occupied, Air Cond. 52 cu ft 18 sq ft
Total weight 1000 lbs
Capacity 5 tons
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced 1
Number in current operation 1
Delivery tine is 12 months from receipt of
order at Soroban Engineering, Incorporated,
Melbourne, Florida
COST
Approximate cost of basic system $500,000
Cost is to USAF, PAFB, including development,
for placing in service in Sept. 1953.
Soroban quotes $388,000.00 for basic system
`with $6,500.00 for each Computeriter and $430
f or each input keyboard. Wire drives and con-
version equipments prices are dependent upon com-
plexity of requirements. Price includes delivery
installation, maintenance, supervision and instruc-
tion for one year at installation site.
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
The system is operated for two 8-hour shifts
and requires an engineer or technician and one
operator.
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPEPENCE
Date unit passed acceptance test Sept. 19513
Operating ratio 0.90
No. of different kinds of plug-in units 7
No. of separate cabinets(excluding power and
air cond.) 6
ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS
System makes use of two counters, to which addresses
may be relative, and has a built in automatic
decimal to binary and binary to decimal conversion.
Speed of conversion operation is 500 words/sec.
Computer resembles SEAC.
Soroban Engineering reports computer is assembled
from seven basic packages, containing 800 packages,
housed in relay racks, insertion of short words,
automatic truncation, automatic zero suppression,
automatic scaling, printed format control.
HALLER RAYMOND AND BROWN
HALLER
RAYMOND
AND BROWN
AN/UJQ-2(xA-l)
MANUFACTURER
Haller, Raymond and Brown, Inc.
State College, Penna.
OPERATING AGENCY
Haller, Raymond and Brown
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application Simultaneous Linear Algebraic
Equations
Timing Asynchronous
Operation Sequential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Binary
Binary digits per word 20
Binary digits per instruction 4
Instructions per word 1
Total no. of instructions decoded 16
Total no. of instructions used 12
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
Instruction type One-address
Number range 219 to 2-19
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time(excludlng storage access) 200 microsec
Multiply time (" " ") 12,000 microsec
Divide time (" " ") 12,000 microsec
Construction Vacuum-tubes
Number of rapid access word register 3
Basic pulse repetition rate 3.5 Kilocycles/sec
for mult. and div. 125 Kilocycles/sec
for drum read and write.
Arithmetic mode Parallel.
STORAGE Microsec
Media Words Access
Magnetic Drum 1200 17,000
Twenty-five digits per drum word
INPUT
Media Speed
Magnetic Tape 20 words/sec
Each word consists of a coefficient, an order,
and a drum address.
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Berkeley Digital Printer 1 word/sec Max
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes Approximately 1600
Two major tube types
Four very minor tube types
CHECKING FEATURES
Fixed Computation performed twice, with compare.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 5.5 K,W.
Space occupied, Computer 120 cu ft 20 sq ft
Total weight, Computer Less than 1000 lbs.
MANUFACTURING RECORD
Number produced 1
Number in current operation 1
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
Daily Operation Engr. Oper. or Tech.
One 8-hour shift 1 1
HUGHES AAC MOD-III
HUGHES AAC
MOD-III
Advanced Airborne Computer
Mod III
MANUFACTURER
Hughes Aircraft Company
Culver City, California
OPERATING AGENCY
Hughes Aircraft Company
GENERAL SYSTEM
Application Control of airborne vehicle. In
the specific application for which the computer
was built, it performs navigation, flight
control, and weapons control, receiving target
and flight data as inputs and generating flight
and weapons control signals as outputs.
Timing Synchronous with magnetic drum
Operation Sequential
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
Internal number system Binary
Binary digits per word 17
Binary digits per instruction 17
Binary digits per instruction not decoded 2
Instructions per word 1
Arithmetic system Fixed-point
Instruction type Modified two-address
Number range 1-2-16 > n > -1+2-16
ARITHMETIC UNIT
Add time(excluding storage access) 200 microsec
Multiply time ( " " ") 1700 microsec
Divide time ( " " ") 1700 microsec
Construction Vacuum-tubes
Number of rapid access word registers 3
Basic pulse repetition rate 162 kilocycles/sec
Arithmetic Mode Serial
STORAGE Microsec
Media Words Access
Magnetic Drum 1984 3750 Average
Magnetic Drum 8 400 Average
Total capacity is 37,648 binary digits.
All programs are coded for minimal latency.
INPUT
Media Speed
Analog D.C. Voltage 200 microsec 0-lOOV D.C.
Other analog inputs are available. This is
used as a control computer with analog inputs
and outputs; however, paper tape is used as an
additional input medium.
OUTPUT
Media Speed
Analog D.C. Voltage 0-lOOV D.C.
Other analog outputs are available. Magnetic
tape ultimately feeding a Flexowriter is used
as an auxiliary output.
NUMBER OF CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Tubes 481
Crystal diodes 33614.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
Power consumption, Computer 1.5 K.W.
Space occupied, Computer 5 cu ft
The arithmetic and control unit of the
Computer occupies roughly 0.6 cubic feet
and weighs 20 lbs.
MANUFACTURING RECORD
The advanced general-purpose airborne
digital computer was developed for the Air
Force for automatic control use in high speed
aircraft.
RELIABILITY AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Ratio of good time to unscheduled down time
is approximately 9.
The computer is part of a complete control
system. The characteristics of the computer
is determined by the characteristics required
by the system in which it is to be used.
The flip-flops and diode matrices are mounted
on individual plug- in wafers and standardized
as much as possible so that the bulk of the
computer is a multiplicity of a few basic
components. Etched circuits and subminiature
tubes are used throughout.
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