IBM 650

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An IBM 650 at Texas A&M University.
IBM 650, autumn 1957 at night with user Rolf Hagedorn ( CERN ), punch card unit, computer and power supply unit

The IBM 650 was offered by IBM as a mainframe computer between 1953 and 1962 . IBM launched the computer in 1954. The computer worked with electron tubes and drum memories . 2000 units were produced, making the IBM 650 the first mass-produced computer. The calculator was one of the decimal calculators .

history

The calculator used a biquinary decimal code ; H. the data and addresses were shown in decimal format. The computer was intended for scientific users as well as previous users of tabulating machines . The IBM 650 was considered to be relatively easy to program.

It was developed in the IBM laboratory in Endicott while the IBM factory in Poughkeepsie was developing the 700 series. Originally there was only a need for 50 computers in the series, which should familiarize the industry with the concept of modern computers based on the Von Neumann architecture concept. In the mid-1950s, IBM increased the estimate to over 700 pieces. In 1956 there were already 300 computers installed, far more than the 700 series. Around 2000 had been installed by the end of production in 1962. This made it the most successful electronic computer of its time.

The development of the IBM 650 was led by Frank E. Hamilton .

On February 11, 1957, an IBM 650 acquired with funds from the DFG was put into operation at the TH Darmstadt by the Institute for Practical Mathematics under the direction of Alwin Walther . Lectures with exercises on programming the IBM 650 were held so that all students at the university could learn to program on the IBM 650.

hardware

The basic equipment of the computer consisted of:

If a program error occurred, the computer could automatically jump back in the program and run through the program again, which meant considerable time savings compared to manual re-entry for checking.

It also had a magnetic drum memory , hence the official name IBM 650 Magnetic Drum Data Processing Machine .

literature

  • Charles J. Bashe, Lyle R. Johnson, John H. Palmer, Emerson W. Pugh: IBM's Early Computers. MIT Press, Cambridge 1986, ISBN 0262022257 .

Web links

Commons : IBM 650  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Modern computing systems and their application to problems in chemistry . Lecture by Walther in Wiesbaden on March 28, 1958
  2. ↑ H. Schappert and G. Hund : Auxiliary sheets for the lecture and practical course in programming II . IPM, IBM 650, Programming, July 1958.
  3. ↑ Personnel and course catalog 1959/60 of the Technical University of Darmstadt, p. 44