THE MUSEUM REPORT VOLUME 21 WINTER 1987/88 Contnbullng Members Michel Doreau John V Levy Thomas S Roy II Board ol Directors Operating Joseph L. Levy Grcmts Donor-$500 or more li'~J~ Drapes John D.C. Little ~~n~~n ~ PodusIta, Sr. Esthe r ~n Reed Little Howard~en Andover Pub~c Llbrary Joseph . Eachus MichaelSarnek Stellar Co~ Inc Anonymous Richard J. Eckhouse and ~rgel2e= Michael Sand ~F . ~p RollandAmdt Ruth M auIucci Arthur Luehrmann Robert Santy Executiv e Duector Burlingjon Public Library William T. Elliott Edwin Mallack ~=~~~Jr . ~~ter Museum $10,000 David Cutler P.J. Evans Julius M arcus SustaIMr~r James B Deaderick NeilFaiman Benneh Schwartz Founding President NlCkDe WolI Andrew Farber ~Mf~~n Andrew Scott [)jgital ~~men t Corp. ~Co=ter M useum Hewlett- ard I«ly Duncan ~g~tleldman and Richard O. M ason Curtis A. Scott IBM Branko Gerovac Sib~1 Masquelier Ronald F. Shea National Science Tom and Rosemarie Hall Harold J. evadsOn Massey Philip Shearer Foundation M assachusetts Councll Fifc~ for the Arts and Martin K1rkpatnck Robert France & Ruth Peter M asters Aaron Seidman Lynda Schubert Bodrncm Alex Koller Doan Robert Mayer. Jr R. &. M . Shamel Schubert Associates Humanilles Sequent Computer Corp Raymond Kurzweil J. Thomas Franklin W . Lee Shevel Davtd L Cbapmcm Andrew Levien Clark Frazier Wg~~t~~iY Dan Siewiorek Culhnet Software. Inc Sun Micros~tems Thomas Marill Darnel Freedman F. Warren M cFarlan DIane J Skiba Symbo~cs . c . DavId Donakbon Mllton Public Library Alan E. Frisbie Douglas M cKenna Charles SkoUield ~J~ay Chnstofher M organ Bruce Gee William M cLean Benefactor-$IO,OOO Llnda . Phillips Bruce Gilchrist Todd Medlock ~~I~~~:,eBer Manufacturers Paul R PIerce Roger Glovsky James Meehan Gerald Steinback Hanover Trust Aetna Lite & Casualty Audrey ReIth Steven Gold R.W . M eister Max J. Steinmann =YFernbach Ann Roe-Haler Edward Gordon Barry Merrill Jack Stevens mputer Consultant ~~~iFc Systems O. &K Selfrid~ Roger H. Goun Jeanette Middour Bruce G. Stewart WUllarn Foster Sharon Public . rary Kenneth Grammann Charles Minter Hugh W . Stewart Stratus Computer ~i&u~aIlon Thomas F. Stephenson W1Iliam Graustein MOCO. lnc. Rol5ert and Diane Stewart Tbomas GerrIty Seth Stem Paul C. Guglietta Allen Moulton J. Michael Storie Index Systems. Inc. Raytheon com~y WilliamSteul Rayman M ustafa Charles A. Stott Gardnei Hendrie Tandy,lRadio Sack Corp. Xerox Corporallon ~~~~a.?addad Isaac R Nassi Paul Sullivan = g1es Philip Fox Curtis Larock Brendan Reilly ~~ l.~~O!ella Henry Fuchs Ro~&Gray Tsvi Levi Steven Reilly ~y%~ The National M useum Kevin and Judith Galvin Grace Nicholas Reinhardt Hermann Zapf il'JlS~avelers Companies Walter Gamble M argaretLeahle L. iby C .M . Riggle ~iru~~~ I~~'tu'bon Zenith Data Corporallon John Gilmore John R. Levine Laura Barter Morse Roberto Guatelli Russell Reynolds M Ernest Huber Associates Conlrlbutor-$ 1,000 J. Milton Hutson DavId Nelson W . RIchard Johnson Apollo Computer. Inc. Russell NoftSker Ada~e . lnc . Ade eCorp. ~~I~~ ~!Jcs . lnc . Paul Leach cholas PettInella Analog Devices. Inc. Intermetrics. Inc. AnaloglC Corporation ~~Waghover Jonathan Rotenberg Arthur Andersen. Inc Andrew H. Mason The Boston Computer Arthur D wttle. Inc. Bank of Boston Tron McConnell Sccie't Joseph M . Newcomer Capital Campaign Jean . Sammet ~ of New England IBM =~N. ~~,?er 64Kor more 8K or more Edward A. Schwartz PCK Technology Dlvision DigltaI Eqwpment Corp. t;K=ek & Newman AFIPS Boston Consulting Group James N . Porter Apollo Computer. Inc. Naomi seligrncm Linda & David Rodgers C. Gordon Bell Harlan E. & Lois Anderson ~g,J~l~~~ The Research Board Boston Safe DePOSIt Erich & Renee Bloch Cincom Systems Michael J Samek Control Data Corporation Kramer Paul severino John J. Shlelds III Cullinet Software. Inc Winston R. Hindle. Jr. John W . and Edna W WelUIeet Communi- c::ogrullon. Inc. Theodore & Ruth Johnson Daile. Faib. Stone & Co. John V Terrey Data General LaceJ,. caIlons. Inc Warren G Tisi:lale Gardner Hendrie John Allen Jones Libe Mutual Insurance Hal Shear Data Architects. Inc. Michael Tomasic Mitchell Kapor StanOI.sen Comgcg;Y Pell Rudman & Co . Inc Data Translation Russell Planitzer Deloitte Haskms & Sells G. Michael Uhler Carver Mead Ralp and Linda Lin- Irwin J. Slttln Christian Walker KennethOI.sen Doug Ross salata Aelna Lite & Casualty Dragon i,Xstems Grant & Dolfit Saviers Eastech anagement Allan L. Wallack John William Poduska. SI. RObertLuc~ Ron Smart S.W . Welch Wang Laboratories Edward Schwartz John Norris =e ment E.!. DuPont de Software Results Corp. Diffilal iT.'ft Corp Nemours Co. Andrew Wllson Richard D. M ery W

e have signed a collabo­ is international, many national and rative agreement with the Smith­ specialized museums preserve many sonian Institution, National Museum significant machines from their of American History, which promises regions. For example, The Science to enhance the computing collections Museum, Kensington, has much of of both institutions. the known Babbage equipment and The Deutsches Museum, Munich, "This is the first such formal joint has a collection of the machines collecting agreement the Smith­ built by Konrad Zuse. The Computer sonian has made with a museum of Museum is proud to have the NEAC the stature of The Computer Mu­ 2201. one of the first transistorized seum: said Dr. Arthur Molella, in Japcm built by NEC, chairman of the Department of the components of EDSAC, Maurice History of Science and Technology, of Wilkes' Cambridge University the Smithsonian's National Museum computer that is the first fully of American History and a member operational stored program ma­ of The Computer Museum's Board of chine, and other non-U.S. comput­ Directors. He further explained, "The ers. One of the goals of The Com­ field is so large and there is so much puter Museum is to show that to do that it's necessary for us to computer innovations are not make agreements in important col­ unique to one country, to one com­ lecting fields with the leading special­ pany, or to anyone institution. ized museums." Saving the history does not just The joint arrangement with the mean collecting artifacts. For each Division of Computers, Information, artifact, a technical file is also and Society of the National Museum needed. Such material includes of American History is broad in scope, manuals, notebooks, photographs, affecting historical research, preser­ and other accounts of the develop­ vation and exhibitry. We will cooper­ ment and use of the machine. Cover: A random sampling from ate in creating a common catalog the Musewn5 conection of ephemera and database of our collections. This This report lists new acquisitions to provided from the desk drawels, is being carried out by a group the collections of the Museum. The lxIsements, and attics of R1chard Beers, composed of David Allison and Jon listing illustrates the diversity of the Gordon Ben, lkcvid Corbish./y, Phil Eklund from the National Museum of collection. We have chosen to rom, Edmonton, and John American History and Gwen Bell and feature some ephemera on the JacJc D. Lynn Hall from The Computer Mu­ cover, because this material is often Recob. Photo: Jeny RabinowItz seum. thrown out or thought to have little value. On the contrary, ephemera The common goal in our collecting are important because they can nle Collection ...... 2 agreement is to make sure that all quickly evoke the spirit of an era. the important artifacts are preserved. Don't throw out your memorabilia. Considering that computers are now Send it to us. Do it all at once, or nle Future of Personal entering their fifth generation and one at a time. Several times a year, Conlpu'tlng ...... 8 that the classes range from super­ we receive a small envelope from computers to personal computers, Phil Dorn - it always has a surprise Jean-Louis Gass6e the amount of material worth saving spec card from an early computer or is grOwing. Cooperative collecting is some other piece of ephemera. essential for preservation. When Lynn HalL the registrar and I open it. we generally smile the rest nle Early HIstory The Scientific Instrument Commission of the day. You too can make our ofLEO ...... 12 of the Union Internationale d 'Histoire days happy. John M.M. Pinlcerton et de Philosophie des Sciences is also cooperating in the effort to develop a complete listing of computer artifacts held around the world. While the Gwen Bell collection of The Computer Museum Founding President

The Computer Museum Report Winter 1987/ 88 Page 1 The Collection

New acquisitions from September 1985 tluough September 1987. Personal comput­ ers acquired be­ tween September 1985 and August Intel Corporation. 1986 are listed in Subassemblies Memories Honeywell. Inc.. Intemational Business MCS-4 System (X651.86) and Components Datamatic 1000 Magnetic Machines Corporation. Volume 17. Prior Gift of Joshua Horwitz Digital Equipment Corp.. Tape (X660.86) IBM 1360 Photodigital acquisitions are PDP-8 Core Memory Gift of Honeywell Storage System (X789.86) Intel Corporation. Atmi. Inc. Information Systems Gift of Lawrence Berkeley listed in Volumes PONG Game Board (X793.86) Intellec 800 Microcom­ Gift of Stanley Reich Laboratory 1, 5 and 10. puter Development (X833.87) Intemational Business Gift of Alan Rifkin System (X624.85) Electromagnetic Machines Corporation. Gift of Intel Corporation Disc Drive (X758.86) Data General Corpora­ Memories. Inc .. Computers Core Memory Unit Gift of Thomas Zucker­ Interact Electronics. tion. Scharff MicroNOVA CPU Unit (X652.86) 16K Microcomputer Gift of Ralph Graves Applicon Graphics (X778.86) (X634.85) Systems. Gift of Russell 0. Wheeler Gift of Data General Model701 (X785.86) Corporation Gift of AT& T Jupiter Cabtab Ltd.. Network Systems Ace Computer (X773.86) Digital Equipment Corpo­ Gift of Donald A. Gaubatz ration. Atmi. lnc.. Pre-PDP-I Circuit Boards 2600 Original Develop­ Melard Technologies. (X76O.86 A-N) ment System (X725.86) Access Portable Gift of David Spicer Gift of Ronald E. Milner Computer (X777.86) Gift of Melard Digital Equipment Corpo­ BMClntemationai. Technologies. Inc. ration. if800 Model 20/ 20H VAX 785 Processor Board (X807.87) MIT Artificial Intelligence (X75986) Gift of Roy Gibbon Laboratory . Gift of Digital Equipment CADR (X842.87) Corporation Control Data Corporation. Gift of MIT Artificial Intelli­ COC 1604 (X859.87) gence Laboratory General Electric Gift of Jim Payne Company. MIT LIncoln Laboratory. GE-235 Bay and Console Convergent Technologies. LlNC (X834.87). (X835.87) (X798.86) WorkSlate (X839.87) Gift of Michigan State Uni­ Gift of Harry David Gift of Allen Michels veISity Intemational Business Data General Corpora­ Multitech Industrial Machines Corporation. tion. Corporation. IBM 7094 Console MPT 87 Computer Model MPF-II Micro­ (X837.87) (X633.85) Professer Home Computer Gift of Gecrge Sadowsky Gift of Data General (X626.85) Corporation Gift of Clive Bolton Lewyt. Printed Circuit Boards Electronic Memories. Inc .. CDC 1604, 1960. The Computer Museum Electronics Associates. National Cash Register. (CM-IOO and CM-559) Core Stack Module The 1604 was CDC's first acquired a complete Inc .. NCR 299 (X781.86) (X825.87) (X647.85) malnfrcnne computer. 1604 that had been In EAl 16-3JR (X806.87) Gift of Glier's Meats Inc. Gift of Meshna Electronics Gift of Boudreau DesIgned by a team led service at the University Gift of Tom Alexander Computer Services by Seymour Cray, It had of illinois. When It was NEC Corporation. MIT Artificial Intelligence a 48·btt word cmd the shut down, Jim Payne, Electronics Associates. NEAC 2203 (X800.86) Laboratory . Fabri-Tek. Inc .. purchase price wtth 32K one of Its operators, Inc .. Gift of NEC Corporation CONS Machine Wire­ Core Memory Module of core memory was saved the machine In EAl 580 Analog/ Hybrid Wrapped Backplane (X646.85) $990,000. It used paper working order. He put It Computing System Prime Computer. Inc .. (X841. 87) Gift of Boudreau tape Input cmd output In his parents home cmd (X66 I. 86) Model 300 (X840.87) Gift of MIT Artificial Intelli­ Computer Services that operated at 350 dreamed of brtnglng the Gift of Foxboro Company Gift of Prime Computer gence Laboratory characters per second. 1604 back to We as his Corporation Fabri-Tek. Inc .. In addlUon, four retirement project. When Electronics Associates. . Fabri-Tek Core Memory magneUc tape subsys.­ this beccnne unfeasible, Inc .. Research Machines. Ltd.. UNNAC I Boards Stack (X632.85) tems were available for Jim called us to come to EAl 'ffi-20 (X790.86) 380Z (X81O.87) (X828.87) Gift of Systems Concepts. $145,000 each. By 1961, his r&s<."'Ue cmd save the Gift of S. J. Levanti Gift of Research Machines Gift of John D. Recob Inc. CDC produced one 1604 last known 1604. About Ltd. each month. the same Urne we heard Heath Company. Remington Rand. Ferroxcube Corporation of of a museum project Heathkit EC-I Analog Scientific Data Systems. UNNAC 1200 Series America. The Urst system was Wlderway at Cray Educational Computer SDS 940 Computer Modules (X797.86) DDP 116 Core Memory Installed at The Naval Research In ChIppewa (X735.86) (X630.85) Gift of Joel M. Goldberg Stack (X645.85) Postgraduate School, Falls, Wisconsin. We Gift of David J. Pedersen Gift of Systems Concepts. Gift of Boudreau Monterey, cawomla. accepted the computer Inc. Sylvania Electric Computer Services It was used for weather cmd Irnrnedlately locmed Heathkit. Products. Inc .. predlcUon, simulation, It to Cray Research. 11 H-I Educational Synertek Systems Semiconductor Diode Ferroxcube Corporation of data processing, cmd plcms move along a Computer (X799.86) Corporation. (X812.87) America. games (for business, complete, operable CDC Gift of John Fitzpatrick SYM-I (X804.87) Core Memory Stack Industry, cmd the 1604 wtll be on exhibit In Gift of Robert Perlstein Power Transistor (X813.87) (X63 I. 85) rnllltary). ChIppewa Falls. Intemational Business Gift of Frank flynn Gift of Systems Concepts. Machines Corporation. Xerox Corporation. Inc. 6/ 442 Ottice System Alto II (X749.86) (X670.86) Gift of Xerox Corporation Gift of Matrix Corporation

Page 2 Winter 1987/ 88 The Computer Museum Report International Business Curta, Pickett & Eckel. Inc., Cornputone Systems, Inc .. Kleinschmidt Division of Machines Corporation, Curta Calculator Model N4T Vector Type Keypact Micro-VIP Smith Corona Marchant. 2135 Disc Ccntridge (X816.87) LOG LOG Dual-Base (X780.86) Teletypewriter TT 227/ FG (X761.86) Gilt ot David Thomdike Speed Rule (X659.86) Gilt ot Leonard M. Coris Reperforator / Transrnitter­ Gilt ot Northgate Gilt ot Rich Simon Distributor (X656.86) Construction Company, Friden Corporation, Control Data Corporation, Gilt of Michael S. Drooker Inc. Model 130 Calculator Selectronics, Inc .. Programmed Film System (X732.86) PD-IO Personal Directory (X664.86) Motorola, Inc., Lytton Industries, Model 132 Calculator (X756.86) Gilt of J, Stanley Hill MDR Optical Card Reader Core Stack (X644.85) (X733.86) Ultradial 120 (X757.86) (X737.86) Gilt ot &Judreau Gilt ot James Patton Gilt of Selectronics, Inc. Digital Equipment Corpo­ Gilt of George p, Leyland Computer Services ration, Hewlett-Packard Sharp, PDP-9 Scope (X783.86) National Multiplex Corp.. National Bureau of Company, Elsi M ate EL-8130 Gilt of Donald Tufts Digital Data Recorder Car­ Standards, HP-12C (X768.86), HP-41C (X766.86) tridge Drives (X738.86) SWAC Williams Tube (X769.86), HP-7IB Gilt of Gregory Welch Friden, Gilt of George P. Leyland (X625.85) (X770.86), Justowriter (X81 1.87) Gilt ot Jerry Mendelson HP-35 (X771 .86), HP-28C Sinclair Radionics, Ltd., Gilt of Wayne Thomsen Owens Glass, (X805.87) Scientific Calculator Kit University of Illinois Plato Raytheon Company, Gilt ot Hewlett Packard (X824.87) Hazeltine Corporation, IV Terminal Plasma Biax Nanolok Core Gilt of Jim Kistler 2000 Terminal (X668.86) Display Memory (X635.85) Hewlett-Packard Gilt ot Carroll School For Panel (X67686) Gilt ot James Sutherland Company, Sinclair Radionics, Ltd., The Blind Gilt of Joseph Cychosz HP-65 (X752.86) Sovereign Calculator Remington Rand, Gilt ot Darwin Smith (X654.86) International Business Rand Corporation, UNNAC Core Memory Gilt ot Brian Randell Machines Corporation, Prototype Videographics &Jard (X826.87) Hewlett-Packard Pcrt-A-Punch (X620.85) Terminal (X653.86) Gilt ot Meshna Electronics Company, Sony Corporation, Gilt of Kirtland Olsen Gilt ot Rand Corporation HP-25 (X736.86) SOBAX-2700 (X745.86) Remington Rand, Gilt ot William Herman Gilt of M a=bees Mutual International Communi­ Raytheon Company, UNIVAC Magnetic Tapes Life Insurance Company cations Corporation, DlDS-400 (X657.86) (X831.87) Intemational Business 40 + 10 Printer (X636.85) Gilt ot David Ah1 Gilt ot John D. Recob Machines Corporation, Texas Instruments, Gilt of Geottrey B. Larkin HexadeclInal Adder 11 Programmable 57 Patent drawing Remington Rand, (X803.87) (X76786) for Prototype Nixie Tube, UNNAC 9300 Plated WlIe Gilt ot C F S Inc. Gilt ot Gregory Welch A T 8< T BeU Laboratortes. Memory (X784.86) The prototype Nixie Tube Gilt ot Vanguard London Computator Cor­ The Lovelace Biomedical and the patent material Recording Society, Inc. poration, Ltd.. and Environmental were Pl'esented to the Model LC/509/ S/ 1598 Research Institute, Inc .. Museum by Its Inventor, Vermont Research, Computator (X650.86) Nuclear Bomb EfJects DavId Hagelbarger, ThIs Drum Unit (X786.86) Gilt of Gordon and Gwen Computer (X856.87) Is a glow discharge tube Gilt ot Carl Mikkelsen Bell Gilt ot Steve Golson for displaying numbers. The tube contains an Vermont Research, Marchant Calculating Triumphator-Werk, anode and ten cathodes Model I04S Drum Unit Machine Company, Inc., Triumphator (X776.86) shaped \ll

The Computer Museum Report Winter 1987/88 Page 3 The TurIng machine's "tape.• Patch panels represenUng up to eighteen slates.

TurIng Machine, by app1lcatlon to the cmother slate to decide whether a slates are represented by the rtght side 01 the Wesley Clark and Robert EntscheldW>gSprOblem." - move a slep left, rtght or mathematical assertion the squares on patch state's squme. Arnzen,1971 Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. slay In the same position was true or false. The panel boards; two (2), 42 (1937). A TurIng on the tape. TurIng machine showed boards oller up to 18 Students were set ThIs TurIng machine was machine can be In one 01 thai the answer was 'no.' dlsIIncI slates. The three problems such as a contrtbutlon to a work- a finite number 01 TurIng showed thai such In addition, TurIng outputs 01 the slate constructing a program shop on educatlonalldts cIl1ferent slates. The a machine, U provided showed how such a (depending on whether thai counts In binary sponsored by the IEEE. It machine Is equipped wtth an approprtate set 01 mochlne was universal; It the current tape value Is using only two slates. It was Intended as an wtth an arbltrartly long slates, could compute could, U provided wtth I , 0, or blank) are on the takes lust a few moments Introducl1on to aIgortlhms tape containing symbols any number thai can be the approprtate table of left. At each slep, the to Implement a program at the high school level. which the machine can arrtved at by a definite, slates, simulate any other machine transfers to the using the pluggable Professor Carver Mead read and alter one at a finite process. But he also mochlne. slate connected to the wires and program slep subsequently used the lime. Each slep taken by demonstrated thai there a::I1vated output. keys. To help wtth machine to help teach an the machine Is deter- were numbers thai his In this reall%allon, the immediately to the rtght debugging, the machine undergraduate computer mined entirely by the machine could never tape consists 01 59 sliders 01 each output Is the can single slep through a science course at the machine's current slate compute, even alter an each element 01 which corresponding program program. In run mode It CaIIIornia institute 01 and the symbol lust read. infinite amount 01 lime. can be In one 01 three slep for thai slate. ThIs Is executes at a rate 01 Teclmology. The options at each slep ThIs was an example 01 positions: one, zero, or Implemented by plastic about one slate a second. me: an undecidable problem blanlt. The machine plugs 01 two types: The machine endows Its The TurIng machine Is an In the sense raised by the reads the tape by means arrows to move lell or programs wtth a tangible abstract machine In- - change the symbol at mathematician HIlbert. 01 a pair 01 Ught beams rtght on the tape and reality; lights come on as vented by Alan TurIng In the current tape position Hllberl's renowned and pholode1ectors and crossed arrows thai flip each slate Is entered, 1935 and described In his or leave It unchanged 'Entscheldungsproblem' wrttes by moving the the current tape value and a loud click Is heard paper 'On Computable - remain In the same had asked whether, In sliders wtth an electro- before moving. The whenever the tape Is Numbers wtth slate or change to principle, It was possible magnet. The machine's Inputs to the slate are on altered.

Page 4 Winter 1987/ 88 The Computer Museum Report Rx Systems, Inc., Robotics Systems NCR, Radio Shack, Mcmuals, docu­ Rx Terminal (X662.86) International Ltd., PhotaChromic Micro­ Mathmile Computer mentation, periodi­ Gift of Herbert Teager The Spider, from the Image (X829.87) (X814.87) cals, references, movie, 'Runaway" Gift of John D. Recob Gift of G. Wil=x Science Accessories Cor­ (X845.87) proceedings, cmd poration, Gift of Robotics Systems Oliver Audio Engineering, Science Fair, InC., booJts have been Sonic Digitizer (X742.86) International Ltd. OP-80A Paper Tape Analog Computer received from the Gift of George P. Leylcmd Reader, Data-Link, InC., (X744.86) foDowing donoIS. Tomy Kyogo Company, Paper Tape Splicer, Time Gift of Steven A. Projects are under­ Tabulating Machine Omnibot 2000 (X846.87) Sharing Applications, Carpenter way to catalogue Company, Gift of Raymond InC., Paper Tape these items, Key Punch (X791 .86) Industries Rewinder (X74D.86 A-C) Scientific Development Verifier (X792.86) Gift of AJcm E. Frisbie Corporation, DavidH. Ahl Gift of Stanley H. Minivac 601 (X743.86) Richards, Jr. Oliver Gcn1ield Company, Gift of John Vcm ~"e~~ . ~cEew Antics Enterprises M1sceUcm80us ENIAC Electrtc Brain Devender Artronics, Inc. Xerox Corporation, ArtiIacts Construction Kit (X734.86) ASCII Col')JOration Dover Laser Printer Gift of Thaddeus M. Unisonic Products Donald S. Bermcm (X7SO.86) Hershey Corporation, Microsoft, Inc. AT & T Bell Laboratories, Bitstream, Inc. Gift of Xerox Corporation CARDIAC: A CARDboard Tournament T102 R T. Bradshaw illustrative Aid to Compu­ Oliver Gcn1ield Company, Sportsman (X746.86) Chris Bums tation, The in1ormation GENIAC (X836.87) Gift of Shirley M. Sinn =~6=£teof Machine (X674.86) Gift of Elliot Linzer Robots Gift of David HageJJ:x:rrger Wm. Schollhom ~hn&:~ Playskool, Inc., A Milton Company, ~~f.l~gen Carnegie Mellon Bally McmuJacturing Cor­ Bradley Company, Punch Card Hole Puncher University Robotics poration, Play & Learn Computer (X658.86) ~~'iir~eConlcm Institute, Computer System (aka (X741.86) Gift of Kevin Dearne Robert J. Cowen Crcmston/Csurt Direct Drive Arm I Bally Astrocade) Gift of Michael Seidenmcm Producfions, Inc. (X822,87) (X726.86) Frank Crow Gift of Carnegie Mellon Gift of Michael Walter Dahner-Hayes,Inc . University Bill Dobson Philip H. Dom Binary Arts Corporation, Peter B. Dunckel Carnegie Mellon Hexadecimal Puzzle RG. Dunn University Robotics (X618.85) Pat Edmunds Institute, David M . Elovilz Gift of Binary Arts Fabrice Florin Pluto, CMU Rover Corporation Boguslaw Frackiewicz (X823.87) Alcm L Friedmcm Gift of Carnegie Mellon CIte Sciences et Industrte, Dale Gagnon General Motors Corp, University Robotics Smart Securtty/ Credit General Systems Group institute Card (X617.85) Michael Gero Gift of Gerard Courtieux Ivcm A. Getting Denning Mobile Robotics, Gary Glazer Richard Gough InC., Wesley Clark cmd Robert Robert C. Gray Sentry (X819. 87) Arnzen, Paul Green Gift of Denning Mobile Electro-mechanical Turing Sarah Greilz Robotics, Inc, Machine (X641.85) GTE Data Services Inc. Gift of Carver Mead H~~;~ll in1ormation General Motors, $I.SO Inl1;';l~nal Computers Materials from Consight-I Donald Lancaster, dr. dobbs journal of Walter Johnson Project, including Robot Prototypes, Function Gen­ Neil Karl Arm,Conveyer Belt, cmd erator (X728.86), Christopher Kent Structured I.ight Assembly Electronic Stopwatch Ncmcy Kiltv (X820.87) (X729.86), DigitalVoltme­ George P. Kuzara Louise R Ledeen Gift of General Motors ter (X730.86), Pitch COMPUTER Paul D. Lehrmcm Research Laboratories Reterence (X73 1.86) Robert E. Machol Gift of Donald Lcmcaster MAGI International Roboma­ Nelson Max lion/ Intelligence, Edu-Cards Corporation, Calisthenics & Orthodontia ~'f-t~l1!r9'0Y IRI-MSO (X817.87) DIGI-COMP 1 (X638,85) Howard Mead Gift of Advanced Gift of Jules Com Running Light Without Overbyte ~~e~rfx,~citlon in Technology Systems November/ December. 1976 Box E. Menlo Park CA 94025 Volume 1, Number 10 memory ot David Magnavox, James Johns Hoplcins University, Odyssey (X808.87) A REFERENCE JOURNAL FOR USERS OF HONE COMPVT'ERS Adaptive Machines Gift of Tom Johnson --==--c ~~!r~~cm Group, Consumer Action ~~'K~=:e Beast (X821 ,87) Natural MicroSystems N~onal Decision Systems Gift of Johns Hopkins Uni­ Corporation, Product & Software Testing 10 Become Regular Feature in Dr, Dobb's JouTTlal P. D. Neuhauser cmd Jet versity WATSON, (648.85) Unresponsiveness from Advanced Micro-Electronics. Stunt Fallgatler &. DDJ 4 sccr Int~fau - A StatUS Repofl. Southern Calif. Computer Soc. Board of Directors 5 ~::&;'m~~;rt°ry Gift of Natural Thinking of Opening. Computer Store ~ Budget EuimtluS & a Map 10 Graphlcs, Inc, Naval Systems MicroSystems Corporation Jim McCord Reportl on the LSI . II , Jim McCord II Pacific Data Images International, a joint Tarbell Response, eomplumnlS &. ComplaInts 12 GeorgePeo venture ot Deep Sea NEe &. IMSAllncompatible with 8OSOA , utters from Glen Ttnney. lMSAl '* NEe 14 Product Review: Poly 88 -- AN EXCELLENT SYSTEM, Jef Raskin 16 ~'in=~Inc . Systems cmd Benthos Inc., David Price Sea Rover (X818.87) RNlizable FanttlSin Iony' Pritchett Gift of Naval Systems J

The Computer Museum Report Winter 1987/88 Page 5 ThIs Is em early photograph of the EDVAC, the physical manifestation of the computer oul1Ined In the "Draft Report" produced by John von Newncmn In 1945. The plans lor EDVAC were widely publicized cmd were the main topic 01 em lnI1uen­ tlal serles of lectures given at the Moore School In 1946. However, the orlglnal tearn of Prespert Eckert, John Mauchley, John von Newncmn, Hermem Goldstine cmd others broke up during the bulldlng 01 the EDVAC. ThIs picture dates from about 1949, when It was completed at the Moore School of Electrt=! EngIneertng. It was de­ livered to the BallIstIc Research Laboratory later that year. Alter lurther developments the EDVAC became operational In 1951 emd continued In use unW 1962.

Ephemera

Computer Buttons (X763.86) Gift of David Corbishley

ComputerWorld Button Collection (X858.87) Gift of Jack Edmonton

CCC tietack (X847.87). Photograph 01 the EDVAC, University of Pennsylvania, donated by Scun Barnum. DEP-316 Tile (X848.87). The Puise. Framed Copies (X850.87) Gift of Edward McManus

DEUCE Programmers Ref­ erence Card & 3 Punch Cards (X851.87) Gift of Peter Clout

Honeywell Animal Poster. "Forget-Me-Not Computer Brochure. and Honeywell Software Films Photographs Dl000 Computer Brochure (X852.87) Visi=!c Software and Computer Cowboy. MITRE MATHLAB (Carl Computer Surlace First GTE Computer Gift of Honeywell "Software Arts Auction- 85.36 Engelman). 86.42 Generation by Ford Printed Telephone Bill Information Systems. Inc. notice. 87 .67 Gift of Artronics. Inc. Gift of Judith Clapp Motors. Made on (photocopy). 87 .77 Gift of Robert C. Gray the IBM 704. 86.13 Gift of GTE Data Services. Honeywell Animals Cranston/ Csuri 1985 Mockingbird A Musidan's Giff of Walter Johnson Inc. Playing Cards in Binary RECOMP II Computer Demo Reel. 85.38 Amenuensis. 86.16 Notation (X853.8 7) Documentation and Gift of Cranstonl Csuri Gift of Xerox PARC EDSAC. 86.31 Mariner IV Data (color Gift of Roberto Canapa Punched Paper Tape Productions. Inc. Gift of Maurice Wilkes negative). 87 .69 Software. 86 .40 Omnibus Demo Reel. '85. Gift of P. D. Neuhauser John D. Recob Collection Gift of Alan 1. Friedman Hackers. 85 .41 85 .37 First Magi-Synthavision and Jet Propulsion Lab0- of Computer Ephemera Gift of FabIice Florin Gift of Omnibus Computer Demo Reel. Computer ratory (X832.87) Graphics. Inc. Generated 1968-1970. Gift of John D. Recob Videotapes Honeywell Spoot Com- Word Processing. 85.49 Marlin Newell's Teapot merdals. 85.42 POI Animation Gift of Phillip Mittelman lmages. 87 .61 ; OPM Bcokmmk (X854.87) ACM Conference on the Gift of Honeywell Assorlment. 85 .35 Gift of Frcmk Crow Gift of Philip H. Dom History of Personal Information Systems Gift of Pacific Data Flexipeed. 1967 . 85.26 Workstations. 87 .63 Images Gift of Ton y Pritchett EDVAC (3). 85.44 Temporary Pass for Ad­ Gift of Xerox PARCI CSL InerIiaJ Confinement Gift of Donald S. Berman mittance to SAGE North andACM Fusion. 85.27 Songs In the Lcmguage of Leo 1. The Automatic Bay Canada Installation Gift of Nelson Max information. Installation Office. 87 .62 National Computer Con­ (X855.87) Antics Computer of March 1985 Sarah Gift of International Com- ference 1985 photographs Gift of David Scully Graphics Demo '85. 85.43 Koruad Zuse Interview Greitz Exhibition at MIT. puters Limited from Pioneer Day Exhibit Gift of Antics Enterprises on NDR (German Televi- 85.25 (approx. 175 photos) Treni. Inc .. sion). 86.22 Gift of Sarah Greitz Project Mac. 87 .64 Gift of Margaret Butler TRENl III Mascot Computer and 'N<><>p Argonne National l.ab6 Gift of Paul Ceru2Zi Gift of Charles W. Therrien and University of lllInois The Mechani=! Universe. Software' Punch Card films of Pioneer's Day. MAGI Demo Reel 1985. 85.39 UNIVAC Sales Confetti (X623.85) 86 .43 85.34 Gift of California Institute Presentation. 86.11 Gift of Robert E. Gift of Margaret Butler Gift of MAGI of Technology Gift of PPG Industries Youngberg

Page 6 Winter 1987/ 88 The Computer Museum Report

q The Future 01 Personal Coznputers Jean-Louis Gassee

enri Bergson, in the early part 01 the twentieth century, stated.: "Intelligence, in what seems to be its original leature, is the laculty 01 manufacturing artificial objects, especially tools lor making tools. II This is a very nice representation 01 personal computers long belore they were created.. But it shows that the computer, as a tool, has been desired. lor a long time.

This is only the beginning 01 the beginning. For all in­ tents and purposes, what has happened. until now can be dismissed.. A couple 01 years ago, people questioned. whether there were lewer technical innovations and the personal computer industry was slowing down. I don't even see that we are at the shoulder 01 a curve that is Ilattening out; we are about to enter a very rapid era 01 evolution.

What are personal computers today?

Personal computers me tools that frustrated by this because it's will bring about a greater cul­ counter-intuitive and I have to tural change than Guttenberg, switch measures and units. I get 1V, or even air conditioning. The confused. That's why we lust for crux of the matter is that man­ computers. We feel that we kind has been in a long continu­ have brains that me not up to the ous developmental effort to make tasks we need to do. things that our brains don't do well. Our power of reasoning is Personal computers me intellec­ very effective but not very tual power tools. But what we efficient. We me great at seeing need to do is to make the symbio­ patterns - great at isomorphism sis between man and computer Mr. Gassee,Senior Vice President - finding knobs and twisting much better. Computers drill of Resecrrch and Development, them conceptually. But we can't intellectUal holes that we cannot Apple Computer, Inc., spoke at do sums; we're miserable at drill with our own minds. They the Museum in May 1987. This is mithmetic. While I'm a mathe­ me simulating engines and new an edited transcription of his talk. matician by trade, I have great media. The electronic spread­ The Computer Museum is respon­ difficulty in translating miles per sheet is a simulation of an exist­ sible for any inaccuracies it may gallon to liters per kilometer. I'm ing environment with lines and contain.

The Computer Museum Report Winter 1987/88 Page 7 columns; it is an enriched elec­ The short term will also see more be more compatible across tronic metaphor of an existing players. Several years ago, the vendor lines so that you won't situation. On the other hand, compression of the industry was have to worry about which each time the electronic meta­ predicted. But today, there are brand of computer you use to phor is impoverished it doesn't more serni-conductor companies, develop your spreadsheet and work, such as most applications more software companies, and which brand you use to create of "home computing" with the more vendors of all kinds. And, your graphiCS and printing. poor metaphor of the cookbook we haven't seen our friends from or checkbook. Japan in the marketplace yet. It is important to have standards The only conclusion is that there for the substrate of data and net­ Why is the personal computing will be more players and not less works so that user-interfaces and simulation engine a good tool? players. computers can be diverse. The The human being has a lot more big fuel for growth will be invis­ power to implement design ible, heterogeneous networking. decisions using a personal com­ puter, whether it is designing a memorandum on a good word processor, preparing slides with a great outliner or desk-top publish­ ing program, or designing me­ chanical or electrical objects.

Personal computers are not large computers made smaller. For example, financial planning was done on mainframes long before the TRS-80 or VisiCalc. Informa­ tion was fed into the computer, it crunched away, and later excreted the results. The TRS-80, Commodore 64, the Apple II, and VisiCalc marked the birth of personal computers for real people, not just for hackers. The difference between financial cal­ culation on a mainframe and on VisiCalc is clear. On the personal computer everything happens right now. It is an interactive Jean-LouIs Gass8e simulation; not input, processing, and then output. The Intermediate Future Having a computer that has Quantity begets nature; by this I access to remote memory without The Short Term Future mean that when the population going through protocols will grows, the use changes. It is not make them more intelligent. This Contrary to some past predic­ just the number of MIPS that are phenomenon will not occur in tions, technology is accelerating. available, but how they are the short term because of the In the next five years, we will see managed for the user. We hope slow development of ISDN "Inte­ greater improvements in silicon, to see rapid evolution of user grated Services Digital Network." magnetics, printing, and network interfaces. devices (but not keyboards) than With networks you can have in the past five years. Since The intermediate term change such a new product as an inte­ 1978, personal computers have will be real networking. Today it grated network spreadsheet. For cost $5,000 and each generation is not affordable by most, and example, you can call in data to has brought much more power. when it is used the user is too your spreadsheet from other The next round will have much network conscious. The real computers on the system and better, deeper graphic capabili­ purpose of a network is to disap­ other spreadsheets can be up­ ties at this same cost. This phe­ pear. It is a means to an end for dated as information is changed. nomenon will continue into the shuttling data back and forth. Peer-to-peer communication will future. The real change is that data will create greater productivity.

Page 8 Winter 1987/ 88 The Computer Museum Report The More Distant Future Today there are 10,000 data and convert them into simple bases that are available. That is computer commands. Neuro­ Long term predictions also relate nice? Maybe? If I say "Honda physiologists have known that to interactive simulations. Imag­ Civic" to you, we share a com­ when we read we unconsciously ine that you can sit in front of mon enough data base that we send commands to the larynx. your computer and plan a trip to know what this means. We can We don't speak out loud because Italy. Today, you would have to have a meaningful dialogue we are told (after we learn to get into Dow Jones or Compu­ about it. But I have no cognitive read) that we have to shut up. Serve and then into the Official experience about what 10,000 So we shut up, but the brain Airline Guide and start muddling data bases mean. It is hard keeps sending the signals and in schedules. It's painstaking and enough to dial into Dialog. Most we learn to control the impulse to requires a lot of knowledge. data bases are unusable. They speak, almost. Most people still Normal people cannot do it. require navigation tools. We can do little jittery movements of the And in this industry, we have to only hope that ISDN will be larynx as they read. serve normal people, not people equalized networking technology with lots of money or who like to to the home and the office. We In the symbiosis between man "hack." Now let's imagine that need real door handles to make and computer, the impulses in you can invoke a map of Italy it useful for everyone. We still the nervous system can be and point where you want to go. don't have the VisiCalc of data decoded for direct manipulation The computer proposes sched­ bases. of the computer without having ules, shows you pictures of hotels, to grab the mouse with our hand. museums, restaurants, beaches, This is technologically not neces­ and other places of interest so sarily any more difficult than that you can simulate your trip. understanding speech, especially Try it conceptually and find out "Having in only controlling a small set of what it's going to cost. If it's too actions such as moving cursors much, then you can try some­ anew and clicking mice. This is fallout thing different. And then when from the work being done with satisfied, make the reservations. languageJ fighter pilOts for control in the It's not hard to imagine that you cockpit. My drearn is for gestural would like to do that. we will or neural input and graphic output. If you look at a neural Similarly, if you want to remodel have new physiological map of the neurons your house, it would be nice if thoughts. JJ in the cortex you will find that your computer knew a lot about the hand has the most territory. its structure, the building codes, the wiring, etc. Then you could McLuhan said, "Man forges tools go through an aided-simulation Another longterm goal is to and thereafter our tools shape of changing the family room so provide a symbiotic relationship us. " This new medium, the that you don't have to draw the between man and computer. computer, will create new plan. The computer does this People at MIT, Xerox PARC , and thoughts. That sounds bizarre. If and then follows through with then Apple promoted the mouse. we have computers that commu­ costing, scheduling, and the What is it? It is not meant to nicate with the nervous system other planning processes in replace the keyboard; when you we will think, learn, and play remodeling. want to type text you type text. differently . Having a new lan­ The mouse provides direct ma­ guage, we will have new Computers today, although we nipulation with the computer. thoughts. love them, are hopelessly under­ For instance, instead of typing powered. To do those kinds of delete "such and such file," you Computers today are exceed­ simulations, our computers are simply grab the mouse and ingly difficult to program. With several orders of magnitude throw the file in the trash can. new, more powerful machines, underpowered. We need new You do it directly. You don't we will sacrifice a little of the ways to use the greater power have to know how to spell. You new speed to have easier pro­ that is very easy for us. We need just do it. gramming. Today the market­ A.!. and A.I., A.!.. A.!. . ... in place is screaming for user-con­ ways that I can't even specify Some ideas, derived from the trolled languages because today. devices to help the disabled use people want control. People computers, take us beyond the want power. Do you like to mouse. There are prostheses that program your VCR? The coffee capture nervous system outputs maker?

The Computer Museum Report Winter 1987/ 88 Page 9 The Great Equalizer Apple's Role

My concerns for the future in­ Apple stemds on the shoulders of We feel that social policy emd elude the creation of the gulf giemts. We adapt things; we long term mmketing should be between the computer haves don't invent memy things. That's convergent. It should not be a emd the have nots. The gap be­ nice. There is nobility in making tug of wm. But the problem of tween the most emd least edu­ things nice emd usable. Apple's declining literacy really scmes cated persons in the Western role is to provide platforms for the me. If you cem't spelL a spelling world is widening. We me in creativity of other people. Sey­ checker won't do much for you. great demger of creating em intel­ mour Cray is one of our custom­ No one knows how to fix the lectual South Africa. The people ers emd I'm proud to say he uses declining literacy in the Western with the best education end up our machine to do some drafting. world. One underlying reason is with the most interesting, emd Our role is to integrate ideas emd that technology is making the highest paid jobs. The lack of make them into products so that world easier to live in. The symmetry is interesting: people they cem be on the shelves in the survival needs, just about the who have boring jobs don't get store for people to buy to en­ poverty leveL me less them they paid more. The most exciting hemce their pursuits. used to be. TV is p:rrt of this, but jobs me the best paid. it is legal emd I don't believe in cultural fascism. VCR's emd tapes me the wrong medium for lemning. Lemning is not pouring information into a vesseL the student. Lemning is simulation. " Learning is not just pouring It is trying out pieces. Putting them together. Trying again. iniorInation into a vessel, The reason that there me so few good lemning programs on the student. Learning is personal computers today is that good lemning programs me siInulation. It is trying out simulation programs. They me impoverished metaphors of the pieces. Putting theIn book or of silly games. JJ together. Trying again. We feel that the computer is the celebration of the humem spirit. Holombmt, emother philosopher, said, "The cathedrals of the The great equalizer of having While Apple will have a CD ROM twentieth century me cms" networks in the home emd office device in the future, today's because they reflect technology, is going to happen in Europe emd problem is to get two gigabytes art, emd humem freedom. I cer­ Japcm before the United States. I of information out of the machine tainly hope that if Holobmt were don't like it because I wemt it. (I usefully. Experimentation is alive today he would say that am a frustrated user.) But I am going on for new navigational computers me the cathedrals also frustrated because networks devices. We will lick the naviga­ of the second half of the me em importemt tool for produc­ tional problem before the pub­ twentieth century. tivity for the whole country. In lishing problem. Why? We the US, freeways me built by the femtasize about using the com­ federal government. Sirnilmly, I puter to write. For my next book, think data freeways should be em I'd like a thesaurus, Strunk emd edict of the federal government. White's Elements of Style, emd If this job is not done, the forces of some specialized materials. The the free mmket could create a data bases that cem be on CD time lag or some expensive in­ ROMs for a mass mmket me compatibilities that we, as cus­ small. I think some vertical tomers, would end up paying for. mmket meas may develop, such The ISDN stemdmd for graphic as tax rules. Nevertheless, Apple stations is a less attractive subset will provide a CD ROM product them the European stemdmds. emd lose money for a while.

Page 10 Winter 1987/ 88 The Computer Museum Report The Early History of LEO: The First Data Processing Coznputer John M.M. Pinkerton

John Pinkerton was the chief architect of LEO, which stood for Lyons Electronic Office. LEO, the world's first commercial data processing computer, is a direct descendant of the architec­ ture outlined in draft EDVAC Report via the Maurice Wilkes' EDSAC. LEO I was being used for payroll and office data process­ ing in early 1954, prior to similar use by GE of their UNIVAC 1.

John Pinkerton tells his own story, that of a young physics graduate of Cambridge, who joined The Lyons Company and was in­ spired by Comptrollers John R.M . Simmons (who died in 1985) and T. Raymond Thompson (who died in 1972) to build the first data processing computer. G.B.

John M. M . Pinkerton cmd Gwen Bell at the talk. Pinkerton presented the Museum with a marketing film to sell LEO II computers that was made by Lyons in 1957.

The Lyons Company the Olympian exhibition halls next door. By the beginning of How did it happen that J. Lyons World War II, Lyons had a high & Company Limited, a wholesale reputation for efficiency with the food and catering business, general public. They ran a came to build a computer for its variety of wholesale food busi­ own use and then go into the nesses distributing tea and This is an abstract of a talk given computer business? coffee, ice cream, bread and by John Pinkerton at The Com­ cakes, as well as other lines puter Museum on October 4, In the 1890s, the Salmon and throughout the UK. Lyons did not 1987. A paper on which this Gluckstein families started a believe in using wholesalers but talk is· based is copyrighted by business at Cadby Hall in West sold and delivered directly to John M.M. Pinkerton. London to cater for functions at twenty or thirty thousand small

The Computer Museum Report Winter 1987/ 88 Page 11 ~ ~:f.JI~)J!I ~ ·1 )

The EDSAC being built at Cambridge University Mathematical Laboratory. Maurice Wilkes is kneeling in the center behind the mercury delay lines.

retail shops. They also had a curse of routine clerical work is When I joined Lyons in 1949, chain of about 150 tea shops, that without exercising the Simmons was Chief Comptroller four or five large hotels, various intellect, it demands accuracy and Thompson was Chief Assis­ restaurants, and an outdoor and concentration. " .(He was) tant Comptroller. They were in catering division. Theyem­ looking forward to the day when charge of some 2,000 clerical ployed 30,000 people. All this machines would be invented staff who worked in large open meant routine accounting for a which would be capable of plan rooms with 200 clerks vast number of small transac­ doing all this work automati­ carrying out routine payroll tions with clerical efficiency since cally." calculations, order processing or margins were small. invoice passing. I found the at­ By the thirties, Simmons and mosphere in the clerical depart­ In the early twenties, the need for Thompson were not only study­ ment was one of high seriousness effective methods of accounting ing the accounting and calculat­ of purpose and dedicated loyalty was recognised and resulted in ing machines on the market but on the part of the staff. System­ the recruitment of a young using some in intensively unor­ atic grading of clerical jobs had mathematics graduate from thodox ways. For instance, they been pioneered in Lyons' offices Cambridge, John R. M. Simmons. were pioneers in the use of the and rewards and promotion A few years later he recruited Kodak Recordak camera for were strictly related to merit, another Cambridge mathemati­ processing bakery orders. which was regularly reviewed. cian, T. Raymond Thompson. By Punched card systems were not the mid-thirties they had rational­ generally favored. Lyons be­ Simmons was totally dedicated to ized the Lyons office practice and lieved that the rationalisation of management and especially to brought it under their manage­ clerical procedures that was the collection and application of ment. In LEO and the Managers needed to transfer work to cards management information using (1962), Simmons wrote, "" .the would not prove to save costs. the computer. This came out

Page 12 Winter 1987/ 88 The Computer Museum Report The LEO I used 5,000 valves (vacuum tubes), drew 30 lew of power of which 3 kIn were used for cooling fems, and occupied a room 45 feet square. The mercury in the delay tubes weighed half a ton. It executed 700 instructions per second and could pro­ duce two-line payslips at the rate of 50 per minute on the line printer.

The Birth 01 LEO clearly in his second J.:::x:x)k : The In 1947, Lyons sent Thompson Cambridge University. They lost Management of Change (1970). and Oliver Standingford to the no time in going to Cambridge USA to investigate the "giant on returning to the UK. After brains" that were then being seeing Wilkes' project, Thompson Thompson joined Cadby Hall in reported in the British press. An told me he was impressed by the 1928, after working in a Liverpool introduction was obtained to squareness of the pulses he saw department store. He had the meet Professor Goldstine at on an oscilloscope in the lab quickest intelligence of anyone I Princeton who was associated (even though he had no knowl­ ever met. Much of the inspiration with the ENIAC and specifying edge of electronics). Thompson for the hardware development as the EDVAC. I heard Thompson's and Standingford formed a well as the software of the LEO account of this meeting several favorable impression of Wilkes' project came from him. He could times. It apparently lasted an work reported for the Lyons quickly visualize ways to organ­ hour or so . In the first half hour, Board. Only a fragment of this ize anything from a complex Goldstine explained to Thompson has been preserved: "We believe clerical task to a language the principles of the stored pro­ that they have been able to get compiler down to the finest gram computer. In the second a glimpse of a development detail. He maintained the enthu­ half hour, Thompson explained which wilL in a few years time, siasm and set the intellectual and to Goldstine just how the com­ have a profound effect on the management tone of the Leo puter could be employed on way in which clerical work (at project from its beginning in 1947 routine clerical work, such as least) is performed. Here, for the to the merger with English Elec­ payroll and invoicing. first time there is a possibility of a tric in 1963. machine which will be able to Ironically in the USA, they cope, at almost incredible speed, learned about Maurice Wilkes' with any variation of clerical EDSAC project underway at procedure, provided the condi-

The Computer Museum Report Winter 1987/ 88 Page 13 C/O SWITCHES 35-BIT F/F REGISTERS I c/o SWITCHES \ LIP

2xPTRS~===:

3xPCR 5

STORE

CONVERT LOGIC A.U. RECONVERT LOGIC

ALL HARD VALVE LOGIC + GERMANIUM DIODES

The overall organization 01 LEO I as it was built. tions which govern the variations years, was employed in elec­ liquids using a pulse method can be pre-determined. What tronic engineering during his war which, as it happened, was an effect such a machine could service. In return, Wilkes agreed ideal preparation for work on have on the semi-repetitive work to give Lyons whatever details of computers using delay lines for of the office needs only the the EDSAC design they might storage. I first met Wilkes as an slightest effort of imagination. need to build a machine for their undergraduate through the Uni­ The possible saving from such a own use. Lenaerts reported to versity Wireless Society. In the machine should be at least Thompson on progress. summer of 1948, Wilkes told me £50,000 a year. The capital cost about Lyons' interest in building would be of the order of During 1948 Lyons tried, and a computer. £100,000. failed, to find a contractor to build a machine like the EDSAC. In December 1948, I went for an "We feel therefore that the Com­ Later that year they decided in all day interview at Lyons which pany might well wish to take a principle that when Wilkes' was extremely impreSSive. Not lead in the development of the machine had been shown to only was I given an excellent machine and, indeed, unless work, they would build a version lunch, but Mr G. W. Booth, the organizations such as ours, of it themselves. They therefore venerable but alert Director of the namely the potential users, are advertised for someone to take clerical department who was prepared to do so, the time at charge of the engineering and I over 80 years old, came out to which they become commer­ applied for the job. interview me. He asked me if I cially available may be unneces­ thought I could make this ma­ sarily postponed for many years." When the anonymous advertise­ chine work. I optimistically said I ment appeared I suspected it could, but added that as it In November 1947, the Board was from Lyons. I had returned needed several thousand valves, agreed to contribute £2,500 to to Cambridge after the war to it would be difficult to make reli­ the cost of the EDSAC and to lend work with Mr J. A. Ratcliffe at the able, which naturally turned out Emest Lenaerts to Wilkes for six Cavendish Laboratory only 100 to be correct. On December 18th, months, which turned out to be yards away from the Maths Lab I got married and in mid Janu­ nearer a year. Lenaerts, who where Wilkes worked. I wrote a ary, 1949, I started to work for had worked for Lyons for several thesis on ultrasonic absorption in Lyons.

Page 14 Winter 1987/ 88 The Computer M useum Report Construction of LEO 1 Putting LEO to work

Lyons decided to wait to start Once EDSAC began to work, From the start Lyons believed building their copy of EDSAC events moved fast at Cadby Hall. that their own staff should create after it was demonstrated to work A large room in the office block programs for LEO which would by computing a table of primes. was allocated, staff were trans­ be suitable for the work of their In the meantime, I went to a ferred from other departments or offices. In 1950, David Carniner Lyons training course given to hired from outside, and Lyons ex­ who had been in charge of Lyons their office supervisors and spent cellent drawing office got to work Systems Research Office was several weeks in Cambridge drawing up racks and chassis to appointed to take charge of all absorbing the design of EDSAC carry the circuits. A contractor and its logic and circuit tech­ was appointed to build the units, niques. Ernest Lenaerts and I set and a revised design of the up a small workshop to build a EDSAC batteries of ultrasonic delay line and circulate pulses in delay lines was drawn up mak­ it. We also tried some ideas for ing full allowance for engineer­ transmitting pulses over long ing tolerances. leads because we thought LEO HandmCD'ked docwnents at J. Lyons & would be physically bigger than Compcmy Ltd. to be automatically read and transferred to punched paper tape EDSAC. by LEO in the emly sixties.

In February 1949, I started discus­ sions on how to deal with the input and output problems E/21 BAKERY RAILS ORDER FORM revealed by the payroll program. DEALER 'S NAME JOURNEY It was recognized that input data NUMBER would typically fall into one of DEALER'S three categories: 0) current data NUMBER reflecting events since the last QUANTITY OIl.O EIlEO ITEM OUC'UI"nON PklCE run of the job, (2) data brought No. , 2 J " 5 6 7 8 12 H 48 96 x 3 Chocolate forward from that run and (3) een, 9d semi-permanent data not requir­ ing to be repunched for each ctn. 3/- run. Similarly results would fall een. 3 / ~ into at least two categories: 0) results to be printed and acted on (e.g ., wages to be paid) and (2) results to be carried forward.

We decided that LEO needed multiple channels for both input and output, to be fitted with buffers that could be read in a single operation and were large enough to hold all the data items of a given kind, e .g ., one person on the payroll. We also decided that LEO needed means for con­ Chocolate 5/3 verting and reconverting data Variable and results automatically in each channel, rather than using sub­ routines within the machine. The first of these decisions turned out to be excellent but the second DELI VERY REQUIRED was bad in execution and proba­ blyin principle. J. LYONS & COM PANY L TO.

The Computer Museum Report Winter 1987/ 88 Page 15 LEO Lives On ...

LEO progrmnming. Payroll was Lyons saw LEO I as a consider­ to be the first main routine task. able success and it remained in Since a breakdown in the middle service until 1954. They invested of a two hour job could be seri­ in a design of an improved ous, the concept of putting out model for small scale production restart totals at the end of each and sale, LEO Mark II. which ran department in the payroll was about three times faster than LEO established early on. I. Eleven LEO II's were built - all of them slightly different. Punched card machines were used for all channels, except Before the end of the fifties, it those carrying current input became obvious that a parallel data, for which we chose transistorized machine was punched tape. Binary, not feasible and we embarked on decimal numbers, were punched LEO III. This was a 40-bit parallel , into the cards as a compact machine of advanced architec­ method of carrying forward ture incorporating (as we later results from one run of a job to found out) many ideas also used form the data for the next. in the IBM 360 series. Besides the multiple, buffered I/ O channels We estimated that doing the provided by LEO I and II. it had conversions by subroutines multi-radix, as well as floating would take up 90% of the time of point arithmetic, extremely LEO I. But the conversion and effective checking of data re­ reconversion problems were corded on tape, direct input and solved when Lenaerts recognised output to and from main store thot if the binary values of 10, (DMA) and 4 protection tag bits 100, 1,000 and so on were stored to each word in store allowing in a matrix of the new germa­ multitasking with up to 15 jobs. It nium diodes, then the control was, I believe, also the first circuits for multiplication and machine using microprogram­ division taken over from EDSAC ming to go into production any­ could be adapted to control the where in the world. two conversion operations. They took no more than 10% of LEO's About 150 LEO III's were built time, an acceptable overhead. and sold. However, the capital About 1,000 new germanium demands of a growing business diodes were used, accomplish­ persuaded Lyons in 1963 to ing a task that would have been merge the computer department impractical with hot cathode with English Electric. Later they diodes used elsewhere in LEO . sold their half share of the joint company to English Electric. In 1953, when the machine was While no LEO III's remain in use, ready for use, the entire clerical a few System 4 machines from staff of Lyons, numbering more English Electric and 2900 series than 2,000, wasbrought to models from ICL have micro Cadby Hall in batches of 30 to coded implementations of the see a demonstration of LEO. LEO III instruction set. thus allow­ Wifuin SIT months, LEO pIOduced ing one valued customer to part of the payroll for the Ford continue to use an interlocked Motor Company at Dagenham. suite of programmes originally Early in 1954, LEO started doing written for LEO III in the mid­ the Cadby Hall payroll and other sixties. jobs followed rapidly, including bakery sales and tea shop orders.

Page 16 Winter 1987/ 88 The Computer Museum Report Calendar Winter 1987/88 The Computer Museum Feb 6 Choreo Graphs The Computer Museum is a non-profit Saturday Choreographer Alice Trexler explains her work in computer S01(c)3 foundation that chronicles 2PM demce with a live demonstration of body movements interacting the evolution of information process­ with computer screen displays. ing through exhibitions, archives, publications, research emd programs. Feb 7 Experiments in Computer Graphics cmd Art Sunday Graphics pioneer Ken Knowlton will present em illustrated Museum Hours: Summer: Open 3PM lecture on the evolution of his work from the sixties through daily 10 - 5, Friday 10 - 9. Winter: the eighties. Open Tuesday - Sunday 10 - 5, Feb 20-21 Third Annual Kids Computer Fair Friday 10 - 9. Open Mondays during Saturday­ Try out some of the latest educational emd entertaining software Boston school vacation weeks, 10 - 5. Sunday for students ages 4-14. Play with robot toys. Learn about Closed Thcmksgiving, Christmas, emd lOAM computer related activities in a special resource center. New Years Day. Hours are subject to -5PM chemge.

Feb 28 LEGO /LOgo: Building a New World in the Classroom Membership All members receive a Sunday Stephen Ocko emd Mitchel Resnick of MIT's Media Laboratory membership card, free subscription to 3PM will demonstrate a LEGO-based smart machine. They will also The Computer Museum Report, a 10% illustrate how children learn about the world by using personal computers emd sensors to transform LEGO building sets into discount on merchemdise from The sophisticated toys. Computer Museum Store, free admission emd invitations to Museum MCD'ch 6 Beyond Nature: Computer Graphic Simulations of ute previews. For more information Sunday Peter Oppenheimer of The Computer Graphics Laboratory, New contact Membership Coordinator at 3PM York Institute of Technology, will introduce emd discuss his The Computer Museum, 300 Con­ computer-generated experiments that create surreal forms of lif~ gress Street. Boston, MA 02210. captured on video. Telephone (617) 426-2800. MCD'ch 13 Intelligent Machines of Today cmd Tomorrow Sunday Raymond Kurzweil, inventor of a reading machine for the blind 3PM emd other computer-based devices, will talk about artificial Staff intelligence emd introduce the special film the Kurzweil Founda­ tion produced, "The Age of Intelligent Machines". Joseph F. cashen. Executive Director Dr. Gwen Bell, Founding President MCD'ch 19 SIGGRAPH Electronic Theatre 1987 PCD't 1 and 20 Four showings over the weekend of the edited tapes from Dr. Oliver StrimpeL CUrator Satcmd SIGGRAPH 1987 with commentary by em authority. Kurt Levitan, Technical Coordinator Sunday Tom Merrill, Exhibits Technician 12:30cmd 3:00PM Lynn Hall, Registrar/ Collections Manager Bonnie Turrentine, Education Director MCD'ch 26 SIGGRAPH Electronic Theatre 1987 PCD't 2 Michael Chertok, Education Assistant cmd27 Four showings over the weekend of the edited tapes from Gregory Schroeder, Operations Manager Satcmd SIGGRAPH 1987 with commentary by em authority. Sunday Mark Hunt, Marketing Director 12:30 cmd Gail Jennes, Public Relations Manager 3:00PM Laura Goodman, Store Manager Robert Gates, Assistant Store Manager Linda Holekamp, Communications Assistant ,------, Kathleen Keough, Functions Manager D YES! I want to become a Member of The Computer Museum. Michael N . Oleksiw II, Development Director Scott Reilly. Development Coordinator $20 Student $ 45FamIly $250 Sponsor o o o Toni Dunham, Membership Coordinator o $30 lnd1v1dual o $lOODonor o $500 Patron Mark R. Allio, Director of Finance & Members receive free admission for one full year, invitations to exhibit previews. advance Administration notice of exhibitions and lectures, invitations to members-only events. a subscription to our Brian McLaughlin, Accountant quarterly magazine. The Computer Museum Report, and a 10% discount in the Museum Store. Public Relations Committee Enclosed is my check made payable to The Computer Museum for $. _____ Cabot Public Relations Geinther/ McGowan or charge to: D VISA D Mastercard D Ameri= Express Germain/DRK GR PR, Inc. Card it ______Expiration Date____ _ Hill and Knowlton Sterling Hager, Inc. Signature ______

Name ______Advertising Consultcmt Abbot Ames Advertising Ad&ess ______Designer City ______----' ______State ______Zip ______Michael Sand, Inc. L ______~ The End Bit 00000000000000001

Among the items in the Museum's ephemera collection was our own "UNIX license." This was made by a group of software people in New Hampshire to look like their state license plate so that they could offer a "UNIX license" to any customer. Donor Anonymous.

- LIVE FREE OR DIE -

_ TRADEMARK OF BELL LABS· _

Address Correction Requested Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID PERMIT NO. 110 mCHBURG. MA 01420

The Computer Museum 300 Congress Street Boston, Massachusetts 02210