IBM 1620
The IBM 1620 (produced or in operation 1959–1970) was an early, medium-sized, programmable punch card computer from IBM for scientific users. In addition to the basic Type I, the improved Type II was later produced. The expansion to the model 1710/1720 was basically possible, the model 1401 was intended for comparable tasks from the economy. The prototype of the type III was no longer in production, the development line went over to the model System / 360 .
Essential components of the computer system
- CPU unit with
- Magnetic core memory with approx. 50 kHz clock frequency
- Console (blue-black console, lamps similar to LED) and
- Computing unit (actual CPU) with 1–2 MHz clock frequency (transistors), typical instruction times a few 100 μs for fixed point operations
- Telegraph or typewriter as a printer
- Memory expansion type 1623 (various sizes)
- Card reader type 1622
- Perforated tape reader type 1621 (Baudot 8-hole tape, with tape loop buffer analogous to magnetic tape devices)
- Perforated tape punch type 1624
Periphery
were available:
- Drum plotter for continuous paper, type 1627 or Calcomp 565, to be operated with a type 1626 controller. Possibly the non-IBM device for connection to IBM systems.
- (Fixed) disk controller type 1311 with exchangeable Winchester disks of type 1316. 6 disks per stack. Refrigerator size.
- Type 1443 high-speed printer
Remarks
- The internal code name was CADET, "Computer with Advanced Economic Technology". After a company-internal change of the development location, however, "Can't Add, Doesn't Even Try" was also used due to a technical peculiarity of the circuits.
- The design was intended to compete with the Librascope LGP-30 and Bendix G-15 computers, both still with drum storage and tubes.
- The computer already had FORTRAN as a high-level programming language; in addition to the compiler, there was also a kind of interpreter for troubleshooting.
- The military-fictional film computer Colossus was assembled from various consoles of the type 1620. At this point, IBM was just beginning to phase out the Type 1620.
- The type 1620 was (allegedly) the first computer system from IBM, the monthly rental costs of which were lower than the actual type number.
- The first TV projection for German federal elections was made in 1965 by the infas Institute for Applied Social Science with an IBM 1620.
- The structural analysis of the main parts of the World Trade Center was performed on an IBM 1620 computer.
- Jacques-Yves Cousteau used an IBM 1620 at the Monaco Institute for ongoing calculations and for data evaluation as part of the Conself project. The computer (in the form of the console and the perforated tape device) can be seen briefly in the Cousteau documentation "Three Weeks in the Underwater City" from 1966.
Web links
Commons : IBM 1620 - collection of images, videos and audio files
