Drum Computers

On Sat, Jan 07, 2017 at 04:26:25PM -0800, Chuck Guzis wrote: I didn't see the Bryant that Rice University had in operation on the R1 Research Computer; I was one year too late for that. They did save one of the platters for laughs. I recall it being about as wide as my outstretched arms. I was told two tales about the Bryant: - They had it up on the second floor. When the Bryant would seek, the building would "counter-seek". - One time a contractor came in to paint the building and despite instructions, painted the computer room as well. Of course the paint got in to the Bryant. The folks who worked on it said, well, what have we got to lose. They pulled the platters, used some kind of solvent to remove the mess, put them back in, and the thing just continued to work. "Tolerances", who needs 'em ... mcl