22 Dec
2014
22 Dec
'14
11:51 a.m.
On 12/22/2014 10:57 AM, Chuck Guzis wrote:
"Anchors Aweigh" was also another favorite
when the Navy brass showed
up--and the Navy was usually a very good customer in those days. It was
said that CDC would have an order as soon as a new machine was
announced. Perhaps not true, but pretty nearly.
I should also add that the 60x (and probably 65x) 7-track tape drives
were used to good effect. Reading (and writing) short records caused
the voice-coil valves switching the vacuum capstan flows made quite a
loud (with recognizable pitch) sound. The usual custom was to leave the
tape door down to better hear it. From memory, said noise was also
quite audible when running some of the Navy Audit COBOL tests even with
the door closed--so much so, that people on the other side of a room
packed with noisy equipment could hear it quite distinctly.
--Chuck