Tubes & Computers of Olden Days

[Roger Holmes]

On 22 Feb 2010, at 18:00, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote:

> 
> Message: 19
> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:45:19 +0000
> From: Colin Eby <ceby2 at csc.com>
> Subject: Re: Tubes & Computers of Olden Days
> To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
> Message-ID:
> 	<OF71E503B7.7C3067C5-ON802576D2.003F9F40-802576D2.00409310 at csc.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
> 
> 
> I'm rather surprised this thread hasn't brought up what has to be the most
> complete, working order,  and fully programmable of the remaining tube
> machines.  There are a couple of interesting systems in the process of
> restoration, but for my money, the best of the running examples is the
> Science Museum's (London's)  Ferranti Pegasus. Unlike the Collosus replica,
> this is an actual relic, and recognizably a programmable computer in the
> modern sense.  The Colossus and most of the later small systems are
> pegboard programmed and therefore cannot alter their instructions in
> flight. That Ferranti is demo'd regularly (though I never seem to be around
> on the right day). I'm sure everyone can do their own Googling, but it a
> pretty complete setup. I keep a loving photo of it in my office cubicle.
> 
> Thanks,
> Colin Eby
> Technical Architect
> NR Performance Engineering
> CSC
> 


I think you were right, and I hope you will be again, but last thing I heard was there had been an incident and it was shut down awaiting a health and safety review. If my memory serves me right some twit reported the blown fuse had asbestos in it. I expect most of the steam boilers in the building do too. We've gone health and safety mad, but when I reported someone had fly tipped a load of asbestos on a country verge the council collected 75% of it and left the rest behind and now some of it has got driven over and is being pulverised into the mud.

Roger Holmes,
Computer Conservation Society and 1301 working party member