[AccessD] OT: I'm old

This is what I trained on in 1972 at the Data Systems Training Command, Mare Island California.

http://ed-thelen.org/comp-hist/BRL64-u.html

Using that system we learned to read schematics and enter instructions into the computer using the 
switch panel on the left hand side.  It had a TTY paper tape punch reader which we could store the 
program once entered.

I was then sent to school to learn the Univac 1218 which was the general purpose "data processing 
center" minicomputer at the time, used for many general purpose processing tasks such as payroll and 
inventory.

http://usmc81.blogspot.com/2008/01/univac-1218.html

 From there I learned the Univac 642 A/B which was used for fire control (weapons) and intelligence.

http://dougscode.com/forum4/post.asp?method=TopicQuote&TOPIC_ID=23&FORUM_ID=13
http://ed-thelen.org/comp-hist/univac-ntds.html

All of these things were designed in the late 50s and used individual resister / capacitor / 
transister circuits to build out and/or/flipflop gates, one such circuit per circuit card, with 
entire trays of such cards to build the machine.

The IBM disk drive I was taught to repair had a 10 platter removable disk pack which stored (IIRC) 
20 (or perhaps 80) megabytes.  It used hydraulics to move the heads in and out and gears / detents 
to stop the thing.

These systems actually drove the US Navy through the 60s, 70s and 80s.  Of course all programming 
was done in assembler because memory space was so tight.

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com


Don Bozarth wrote:
> Ok.... IMSAI 8080 no input device at all.... enter the instructions in 
> binary with switches
> 
> Don B.
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Rocky Smolin at Beach Access Software" <rockysmolin at bchacc.com>
> To: "'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'" 
> <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
> Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 4:45 PM
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: I'm old
> 
> 
>> BIOS?  You had a BIOS?  We had to carry our code from one register to
>> another BY HAND!! Uphill.  Both ways.
>>
>>
>> Rocky Smolin
>> Beach Access Software
>> 858-259-4334
>> www.e-z-mrp.com
>> www.bchacc.com