Proposed Unit Record/1401 Equipment Display Room

Aug 16, 2010

Stan Paddock

GOAL

• To provide a safe environment for Computer History Museum visitors to view punched card computer history from the 1920s through the 1970s. The display may be static (powered off) with a docent speaking to the display or dynamic (powered on) where the docent runs the equipment for the amazement of the visitors.

Current Inventory

• Four operational IBM 026 printing keypunches

• One operational IBM 513 reproducing punch

• One operational IBM 083 card sorter

• One operational IBM 077 card collator

• Two operational IBM 1401 Computer systems– IBM 1401 computer

– IBM 1402 card reader card punch

– IBM 1403 printer

– IBM 1406 additional memory

– Three IBM 729 tape drives per system

• All of the above equipment was restored, as required, when brought into the room and is now operational

• All of the above equipment is at least 50 years old and is prone to random failures

Volunteer Activity in the

"Card to Stored Program Computer Evolution Center" • There are a dozen or more IBM 1401 volunteers that come in on Wednesdays and

the 2nd and fourth Saturdays• It is the objective of these people to keep the equipment operational• If the equipment is operational, we tell stories about working for IBM in the old

days.• If any piece of the equipment is non-operational, somebody takes the lead to

determine the problem and fix it.• Repairing the Equipment:• There should never be a problem or conflict when a tour is taking place and the

equipment is being repaired. In fact, it should enhance the visitors experience.• All safety precautions are taken at all times regardless if visitors are present or not.• The disruption to the exhibit when a piece of equipment is being repaired is like

when the copier repairman comes in to fix a copier. The equipment is never removed from it’s location while being repaired.

• Each IBM 1401 computer system has over 4,000 SMS electronic cards in it. Most of the system failures are traced to one of these cards.

Volunteer Activity when visitors are present

• The room is always in a presentable state.

• When visitors arrive while IBM 1401 volunteers are in the room, frequently one of the volunteers will give a presentation on how punched card processing was done and show the machines required to do it.

• If there is interest, demonstrations have been developed for the 1401 systems that show the operation of the card reader, the printer and the tape drives.

• Currently, operation of the 1401 systems is limited to when a trained IBM 1401 volunteer is present.

• When IBM 1401 volunteers are not present, the docents can still put on an interesting presentation with a static display of the equipment in the room.

Floor Plan as of August, 2010

A/C

KPKP

KPKP

KPKP

KPKP

1401

14021402 1406 1406

1403

1403

PWR Tools0

83

513

077

729729

729729

729729

1401

STORAGE

WORKAREA

WA

WA W

A

Proposed Floor Plan

A/C

KPKP

KPKP

KPKP

KPKP

140114021406

1406

1403

PWR Tools0

83

513

077

729729729

729

1401

STORAGE

WA W

A

RA

MP

UP

1402

729 729

WA

402

Visitor path

1403

What needs to be done1. Replace first door going into 1401 room with smaller glass safety door. Retain card activated key

lock. 2. Remove second large wood door going into 1401 restoration room.3. Remove existing power distribution unit from 1401 restoration room.4. Install replacement 120V power under the raised floor.5. Remove wall between 1401 restoration room and area 119.6. Install raised floor in 119 area.7. Install ramp in north end of area 119.8. Install rail next to ramp in area 119.9. Remove existing door into area 119.10. Install a glass safety door on the south end of area 119. Retain card activated key lock. 11. Provide roll out ribbon barrier between visitor path and the equipment.12. Install twelve speaker sound system and wireless microphones for whole area.13. Provide viewing windows into the room.14. Provide key only access to the power for both IBM 1401 systems.15. Connect the master power shutdown for the room to the fire alarm system such that if a fire is

detected in the room, it will trip the master power circuit.16. Rename the whole area "Card to Stored Program Computer Evolution Center"