22 Feb
2010
22 Feb
'10
7:42 p.m.
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>
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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