Senior Users...?

John Sabato · 11-04-2002, 10:44 PM

REALLY <img src="graemlins/offtopic.gif" border="0" alt="[offtopic]" /> I can beat that date John D. The first computers I worked on were designed in 1947, the same year I was born. They were rack mounted and used vacuum tubes and memory cores. The function they performed was secret...but I was trained to install, operate and repair them down to the discreet components... They don't teach core theory to too many folks today...and the school was 8 months long just to learn how to keep this one piece of equipment functional...

The memory was measured in bits, not bytes, not kilobytes, or megabytes or gigabytes or terabytes... working voltages were greater than -250 volts and speeds were less than 200 timing cycles a second. I could measure the timing by manually counting the cycles on an ocilloscope.

Computer programming back then was accomplished by writing the code out by hand on 80 column sheets of paper and then punching cards to match the coding.

And the equivalent of today's messages were transmitted and received manually on punched Baudot code tape. Know what a transmitter-distributor is? How about a reperforator? Have you ever seen a TT-4 teletypewriter? AN/FGC-58?

Well enough of a core dump for tonight... see you guys tomorrow if the Good Lord decides I am supposed to open my old eyes in the morning...

[img]smile.gif[/img]

11-04-2002, 10:44 PM	#12
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	REALLY <img src="graemlins/offtopic.gif" border="0" alt="[offtopic]" /> I can beat that date John D. The first computers I worked on were designed in 1947, the same year I was born. They were rack mounted and used vacuum tubes and memory cores. The function they performed was secret...but I was trained to install, operate and repair them down to the discreet components... They don't teach core theory to too many folks today...and the school was 8 months long just to learn how to keep this one piece of equipment functional... The memory was measured in bits, not bytes, not kilobytes, or megabytes or gigabytes or terabytes... working voltages were greater than -250 volts and speeds were less than 200 timing cycles a second. I could measure the timing by manually counting the cycles on an ocilloscope. Computer programming back then was accomplished by writing the code out by hand on 80 column sheets of paper and then punching cards to match the coding. And the equivalent of today's messages were transmitted and received manually on punched Baudot code tape. Know what a transmitter-distributor is? How about a reperforator? Have you ever seen a TT-4 teletypewriter? AN/FGC-58? Well enough of a core dump for tonight... see you guys tomorrow if the Good Lord decides I am supposed to open my old eyes in the morning... [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*