21 Feb
2022
21 Feb
'22
2:11 p.m.
On Feb 21, 2022, at 4:26 PM, Guy Fedorkow via cctalk
<cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
[apologies if this is a dup, but I didn't see it coming back in any of the cctalk
digests]
Greetings CC-Talk,
I've been working on a low-budget project to help to introduce students to history
of computing through material we have from MIT's 1950's Whirlwind project. The
activity would have more of a hands-on feel if we could use actual paper tape.
A simple reader is easy enough, but a punch is a bit harder. We don't need
anything "authentic", or fast, or high performance, just something fairly
reliable.
If anyone can suggest where to find such a machine, could you let me know? Fanuc PPR,
GNT 4601/4604, and the DSI NC-2400 have been cited as possible candidates, but I don't
see anything that looks like a good match on ebay.
Thanks!
/guy fedorkow
Do you mean a punch as a computer peripheral, or a keyboard operated tape punch? For the
former, the ones you mentioned are obvious choices; BRPE is another. Also the DEC paper
tape reader/punch (PC01 or some such number).
For keyboard operated, there's Teletype, Flexowriter, Creed, Siemens, depending on
where you're located. ASR33 is a common 8-bit punching terminal. Older models that
use 5-level tape ("Baudot") may also be around, and those could certainly serve
for 1950s era machines that may well have actually used those. I don't know what
Whirlwind used, but I know some other 1950s machines that used 5 bit tape for their I/O.
Electrologica X1 is an example.
paul