April 23, 2013 at 13:50“If it works, don’t touch it.” Old iron still benefits
Surprisingly, some private firms and government organizations still use computer technology many years ago . They believe that if a device does its job, then why change it?
Sparkler Filters IBM 402 Programmable Electromechanical Tabulator
For example, the filter manufacturer Sparkler Filters (Texas) still accounts for accounting in the 1948 Electromechanical Tabulator. The company sees no reason to invest in retraining employees and upgrading, if everything works fine already.
The IBM 402 processes information on punch cards and prints the result on paper tape. Tabulators of this type have been manufactured in the United States since 1890, and their inventor Herman Hollerith founded the TBC (Tabulating Machine Company) company, which was renamed IBM in 1924.
The Hollerite punch card of the 1890 model underwent several format changes, and in 1928 the standard format of 12 lines and 80 columns was introduced. This is the format used by Sparkler Filters so far.
Punch cards and IBM 029 punch for data entry
Like 60 years ago, the tabulator compiles a payroll, keeps track of sales and stock.
For programming the tabulator, a universal panel (plugboard) is designed, in which the necessary contacts are connected by wires.
At Sparkler Filters, old programs are not discarded, but neatly archived. Perhaps they will be needed in the future.
Sparkler Filters software archive for IBM 402
In 2010, one of the computer museums sent a delegation to Sparkler Filters asking them to donate the car to the museum, but the company’s management refused.
Old computer equipment, if desired, can be found on the streets of large cities. There are ATMs and terminals in New York that operate under the OS / 2 operating system. For example, such terminals sell MetroCard cards in the subway.
A state audit in the US Secret Service revealed that this office up until 2011 used the mainframe produced in the 1980s, and it was in working condition only 60% of the time. They say that computers of about the same age are installed in the Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile control system. The last generation of these LGM-30G missiles was put on duty in 1970-1979 and the software was not updated.
Some US Navy and Atomic Weapons Establishment radars still operate on PDP computers manufactured in the 70s. Another user of these "mini-computers" produced by DEC is the French aircraft manufacturer Airbus.
DEC PDP-11 (1972)
Sparkler Filters IBM 402 Programmable Electromechanical Tabulator
For example, the filter manufacturer Sparkler Filters (Texas) still accounts for accounting in the 1948 Electromechanical Tabulator. The company sees no reason to invest in retraining employees and upgrading, if everything works fine already.
The IBM 402 processes information on punch cards and prints the result on paper tape. Tabulators of this type have been manufactured in the United States since 1890, and their inventor Herman Hollerith founded the TBC (Tabulating Machine Company) company, which was renamed IBM in 1924.
The Hollerite punch card of the 1890 model underwent several format changes, and in 1928 the standard format of 12 lines and 80 columns was introduced. This is the format used by Sparkler Filters so far.
Punch cards and IBM 029 punch for data entry
Like 60 years ago, the tabulator compiles a payroll, keeps track of sales and stock.
For programming the tabulator, a universal panel (plugboard) is designed, in which the necessary contacts are connected by wires.
At Sparkler Filters, old programs are not discarded, but neatly archived. Perhaps they will be needed in the future.
Sparkler Filters software archive for IBM 402
In 2010, one of the computer museums sent a delegation to Sparkler Filters asking them to donate the car to the museum, but the company’s management refused.
Old computer equipment, if desired, can be found on the streets of large cities. There are ATMs and terminals in New York that operate under the OS / 2 operating system. For example, such terminals sell MetroCard cards in the subway.
A state audit in the US Secret Service revealed that this office up until 2011 used the mainframe produced in the 1980s, and it was in working condition only 60% of the time. They say that computers of about the same age are installed in the Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile control system. The last generation of these LGM-30G missiles was put on duty in 1970-1979 and the software was not updated.
Some US Navy and Atomic Weapons Establishment radars still operate on PDP computers manufactured in the 70s. Another user of these "mini-computers" produced by DEC is the French aircraft manufacturer Airbus.
DEC PDP-11 (1972)