5 Apr
2010
5 Apr
'10
9:10 p.m.
Rod Smallwood wrote:
I worked with cards and paper tape in both the US and
UK between 1970 and
1980. 'Chad' normally referred to paper tape punchings on both teletypes and
high speed punches. The receptacle into which they went was called a 'chad
box'. You could tell new users because they would try to tip the contents
into a paper bin. It blew everywhere and the static made it stick.
We used an industrial vacuum with an earthed nozzle to empty the box and
clear the chutes.
As to punched cards I never heard the rectangular punchings referred to as
'chips' on either side of the Atlantic.
Regards
Rod Smallwood
-----Original Message-----
From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of Al Kossow
Sent: 01 April 2010 21:52
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: chips (was Re: Reading ancient paper digital media (was Re:
HamurabiFocal source))
On 4/1/10 12:50 PM, Fred Cisin wrote:
FWIW, I always called the little rectangles punched out of cards "chips"
as did everyone I worked with in the early 60s in the US.
You've reminded me of the fortunately rare freak of nature called a chip
jam. In an IBM 1402 it was a sight to behold. I never really
understood how they got started since the chip bucket in the 1402 was
pretty huge. I've wondered if they started from the top down or vice
versa. It would be an interesting experiment to try to repeat while
recording a video, except that one would have to punch an awful lot of
cards to get it to happen. I wish now I'd taken a picture of one. Of
course it became less beautiful when you started cleaning it up.
I do recall discussions of chad versus chadless paper tape, though I
don't remember when. The difference was whether the round holes were
fully punched out and discarded or left attached by a bit of a paper
"hinge".
Later,
Charlie C.
("Hanging Chad")
There is no such thing. They are called 'chips'. They went
into a "chip bucket". The name is documented in the service
and users manuals for punched card (NOT "punch card") devices.
Repeating incorrect information is not helpful.