60-year-old Harwell blinks again

One of the oldest computers decided to restart. The Harwell computer has already been sent for restoration to the National Museum of Computer Technology in Blechley. Only there are specialists who can breathe life into ancient technology.

The computer was designed in 1949, assembled by three engineers in a year and a half, and the grand launch took place in 1951 at the Center for Atomic Research in Blechli.

During its launch, this 2.4 x 5 m tube computer was an advanced scientific achievement, although its designers, they saidwere guided solely by economic considerations. The machine performed the work of six to ten counters with mechanical calculators and did not require a salary. Harwell was far from the first of its kind. By that time, more than five computers were already operating in the UK alone, including Colossus Mark 1, Colossus Mark 2, Manchester Baby, Manchester Mark 1 and EDSAC. About the same number was in the USA, not to mention the world's first full-fledged digital computer Zuse Z3 (launched in May 1941 in Nazi Germany).

Harwell successfully performed its functions until 1958, until serial computers appeared on sale. Then he traveled to universities, students studied at it. Only in 1973, the computer was sent to the collection of the Birmingham Museum.

Harwell restoration will take about a year. After that, he will become, by all accounts, the oldest working computer on the planet. Finally, geeks will be able to see with their own eyes how the tube memory works.