Computer History Archives Project

Your contribution greatly helps! Thank you! ~ CHAP. -- Computer History: A 10 minute look back at punch cards from the early 1900's up to the 1960's. Vintage films and photos of early IBM, Remington Rand and other keypunch, tabulating, calculating and computing machines. - Special thanks to IBM Archives, UNISYS Archives, US Government Archives and others, for vintage material. Compiled and edited by Computer History Archives Project. Narrated by David Melvin.

Your contribution greatly helps! Thank you! ~ CHAP. -- This film provides a good depiction of a 1957-1960's era data processing installation at a U.S. Air Base. - Titled: "Logistic Support Management in Advanced Weapons." Although the letters “IBM” were apparently taped over by the original film producers, the equipment is clearly an early IBM mainframe, almost certainly a model 705 EDPM with its accompanying peripheral devices. The IBM 705 was introduced in 1954 and installed starting in 1956. It was a large vacuum tube based computer -- one of the most powerful data processing systems available at during the late 1950's. This 20 minute film has good quality, color and sound, lightened up slightly from the original to improve the detail of the computer equipment. Computer footage starts at 4 minutes into the film.

A brief presentation highlighting early PLATO Computer Based Education systems. This presentation is an independent research project by Computer History Archives Project. For an in-depth look at PLATO’s fascinating history, we suggest the following resources.

From US Government Archives, a 1961 film spotlights the GE 210 Computer. The GE 210 Computer announced in 1960 was based on the earlier ERMA (Electronic Recording Machine Accounting) system developed in the early 1950’s. ERMA systems used MICR (magnetic ink Character recognition) which revolutionized bank check processing. At least 44 systems were produced from 1960 to 1964. Film created for the former Merchandise National Bank of Chicago in 1961.

How early army used computers: 1957 Automatic Data Processing. Great footage of the IBM 705 mainframe in a data processing environment, and glimpses of the UNIVAC I, IBM 650, RCA BIZMAC and Burroughs Datatron. Block diagram explanation of how ADP works, followed by more footage of the IBM data center in action. Here is a time code of where various topics start in the film. Uploaded for educational and historical purposes for the Computer History Archives Project (CHAP).

A brief look at the U.S. Army’s “MOBIDIC” mobile computer of 1959. Dedicated to those who worked on the early FIELDATA project and its related computers, these vintage film clips and photos give a brief glimpse of some of the milestones of that early computing period. Please feel free to comment, especially if you worked on any of the early MOBIDIC, BASICPAC, LOGICPAC or other aspects of FIELDATA history.

Original un-edited 1962 film. A “somewhat dry” Army/Navy film of basic computer concepts. Detailed descriptions & diagrams of computing “input, store, control, arithmetic, output”, etc. Machine peripherals shown briefly. Film quality starts poor, but gets better towards the end. Nice description of “core memory” at 10:20 mins into the film. - Watch with a cold drink and some tasty snacks and enjoy this classic educational treat.

IBM Computer History: Mainframes: The following was painfully rescued from an ancient VHS tape, and enhanced to increase viewability. It provides a look at IBM promotional computer developments up to about 1970. Many early machines are touched on very briefly, ending with a mention of an IBM customer information and control system used by Houston Lighting & Power Company, as well as other material. Video quality is somewhat poor. Historical value rests mostly with the original audio narrator Norman Rose. Worth sharing for those who love early IBM history. Hope you enjoy. Film segment courtesy of IBM Archives. Runs 20 minutes. Computer History Archives Project.

A partially restored vintage Army film showing the Norden Battery Computer System of 1979. Ten systems were built for the Army as part of a research and development project to control mobile howitzers in the field. The Army expanded the contract in 1980. Norden became a part of Northrop Grumman and operated until 2013. Testing was done by U.S. Army at Fort Sill Oklahoma; software testing was done at Aberdeen Missile Ground. A fascinating, short video originally a promotional piece for Norden. ~ Special thanks to the CECOM History Archive, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, for the vintage film clip.

A vintage 1969 Burroughs Corporation briefing on the status of the B6500 Electronic Data Processing System. With very minor restorations, this clip provides a historical view of this early machine's creation. Burroughs Corporation was merged with Sperry Corporation in 1986 to form Unisys Corporation. Information courtesy of Unisys Archives, Charles Babbage Institute, and Bitsavers.org. Provided for non-commercial use only.

Courtesy of Henk Stegeman, of the Netherlands, a very unique promotional film featuring the IBM System/3 from about 1968. System/3, formally introduced in 1969, was a called a “midrange” system, much smaller, more affordable than large mainframes, and easily tailored to small to medium business needs. Visit his Henk’s impressive web site dedicated to the IBM System/3, its packed with fascinating data

Back-to-back, two “Cold War” computing films that complement each other. First, IBM’s commercial for the SAGE computer system built in the 1950’s for U.S. defense. SAGE was used by NORAD and included the BOMARC missile system, which is the subject of film #2 “The Armored Sky” from 1958.