Digital_Computer_Newsletter_V05N04_Oct53 Digital Computer Newsletter V05N04 Oct53
Digital_Computer_Newsletter_V05N04_Oct53 Digital_Computer_Newsletter_V05N04_Oct53
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DIGITAL COMPUTER
NEWSLETTER
OFfiCE OF NAVAL RESEARCH
• MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES DIV.'S.ON
October 1953
Vol. 5, No.4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COMPUTERS
1. The Rand Junior Johnniac
2. University of Illinois Computer (ILLIAC)
3. Project Hurricane Computer (RA YDAC)
4. Whirlwind I
5. Aberdeen Proving Ground Computers
The ORDVAC
The EDVAC
The ENIAC
6. University of Michigan Computer (MIDAC)
7. The FLAC
8. The SWAC
9. The Oak Ridge Automatic Computer (ORACLE)
10. The Institute for Advanced Study Computer (IAS)
11. Computer Research Corporation Computers
CRC 102-A
CRC 105
GRC 107
12. IBM Type 701 Electronic Data Processing Machine
13. IBM Type 650 Magnetic Drum Calculator
14. The SEAC
15. Consolidated Model 30-201 Computer
16. Burroughs Laboratory and Wayne University Computers
17. The JAINCOMP-D
18. Aeronautical Research Laboratory Computer (OARAC)
19. The ALWAC
20. The MONROBOT MU
DATA
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
PROCESSING AND CONVERSION EQUIPMENT
Kearfott SADAC (Servo-Analog-Digital..;Analog-Converter)
CCP 701 Digital Point Plotter
Solid Acoustic I/elay Line Memory Unit
MacDonald Magnetic Storage Drums
Potter Magnetic Tape Handler
LIST OF COMPUTING SERVICES
COMPUTER COURSES
1. Wayne University Computation Lab. (Machine Computation)
2. Computer Research Corp. (l02-A Operation & Maintenance Course)
NOTICES
1. Newsletter to be Reprinted in Journal of ACM
2. Joint Computer Conference
3. Joint Computer Conference Publications Available
Approved by
The Under Secretary of The Navy
27 August 1951
COMPUTERS
THE RAND JUNIOR JOHNNlAC
A 10-digit Junior Johnniac machine has been completed and is in operation at the RAND
Corporation. This machine is built mechanically and electrically like the larger machine and
uses components which are interchangeable with it. It contains a complete arithmetic unit, a
5-selectron 128-word electrostatic memory, but only sufficient control to do fixed program
memory evaluation tests of the leapfrog variety. To date it has been used to dynamically test
selectron tubes, and to accumulate life data on these tubes. The system has performed exceedingly well, and usually runs test routines unattended and over night. Two endurance runs
have been attempted. The first was terminated at 80 hours by a systematic memory error; the
second was deliberately terminated at 90 hours with no errors. The first run was interrupted
twice by tube failures in a power supply and in a register; the second was deliberately'interrupted a few times to accomodate engineering measurements. No adjustments were ever made,
however, and after every interruption the system resumed operation promptly and without
difficulty. In each case the system was executing a self-checking error-detecting memory
test routine which continually altered the information stored at each address, however verifying the correctness of the information at each address before alteration. The nature of the test
routine and of the checking feature is such that any random or. systematic error will be detected
and stop the test. During selectron tube checking, there also has been accumulated a large
number of error-free -runs of 8- 20 hours extent.
One particular selectron has been in the memory through all testing and endurance runs.
Its life now exceeds 600 hours and there is no sign of deterioration or change. Sufficient good
tubes are on hand to fully equip the full size memory. It is expected that the arithmetic unit
and parts of the control of the large machine will be operative in the middle of October, and
that the complete machine will be operative by 1954.
.
THEILUAC
The Illiac has been in general use by the University of Illinois since September 1, 1952.
It was shut down on August 10, 1953, to allow the installation of a new set of covers and some
control changes which will increase the addition speed of the machine. The machine has been
used by fifteen different departments within the University for many different types of research
work. A library of about one hundred routines has greatly extended the usefulness of the
machine to all of these groups.
PROJECT HURRICANE COMPUTER (RAYDAC)
The RAYDAC Computer is now installed and in operation at the Naval Air Missile Test
Center, Point Mugu, California. The machine compl¢{ed its engineering acceptance tests
early in July and has been operated by the NAMISTESTCEN staff since that time. It is expected
that a contractor will take over the computer in ear ly autumn under an operation and evaluation program.
WIDRLWIND I
Applications
Since June 1 the following problems have been initiated by the Scientific and Engineering
Computation (S&EC) Group for solution on the Whirlwind I Computer:
No. 137. Investigation of Atmospheric Turbulence
No. 138. Spheroidal Wave Functions
- 2-
No. 139. Calculations of the Shape of Nuclear-Magnetic-Resonance Absorption Lines
No. 142. Study of Shock Waves (a two-dimensional grid of concentrated masses subjected to impulsive loads)
No. 143. Vibrational Frequency Spectrum of a Copper Crystal
These problems were in addition to the long-range problems reported in the previous Digital
Computer Newsletter.
Summer Session
During July the S&EC Group developed an experimental computer logic which was used in
a two-week Summer Session course ·at MIT (August 24 - September 4) entitled "Digital Computers and their Applications." This logic involved the physical equipment of Whirlwind I and
made use 'ofinterpretive routines for programmed extra precision and floating-point arithmetic, cycle counting, input and output, together with facilities for program conversion, mistake recognition, and post-mortem diagnosis. The course was attended by 106 persons representing 67 organizations.
ACM Meeting
The summer conference of the Association for Computing Machinery was held at MIT on
September 9, 10, and 11. During the meeting, the Digital Computer Laboratory was open for
inspection and 239 visitors were recorded.
Magnetic-Core Memory
A new internal high-speed memory utilizing magnetic cores has replaced electrostatic
storage in Whirlwind I. The storage capacity of the new memory is the same as the old (2048
registers), but performance tests have indicated that magnetic cores will greatly reduce
maintenance time as well as increase the computer's operating speed. The next issue of the
Newsletter will contain detailed information on the operation of this system.
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND COMPUTERS
The ORDVAC
The Ordvac underwent a thorough overhaul in July. Available machine time for the past
five weeks following the overhaul has averaged 126 hours per week. The last week in August,
40 RCA TYP'e C73376B developmental-type cathode~ray tubes were installed in the memory. On
the basis of early experience with this installation, it.appears that minimum read around ratios
of 100 can be maintained. This is about twice the read around ratio obtained previously.
The EDVAC
During the week ending 26 June 1953, the Edvac broke all previous records of availab1e
weekly machine time for BRL machines, with an available time of 159.9 hours. For the past
three months the Edvac has averaged 92 hours per week of available machine time, reflecting
the effect of improvements which have been incorporated into the basic machine during the
past year.
The ENIAC
Installation of the new 100-word static magnetic memory was satisfactorily completed.
The unit, designed and constructed by the Burroughs Corporation, increases the internal highspeed memory to 120 words and is one of the most significant improvements to the ENIAC
since its completion in February 1946. It is interesting to note that the memory was delivered,
installed, successfully tested with the ENIAC, and placed in routine operation in a four-day
period. Operating experience with the memory to date has been highly satisfactory.
- 3 -
THE MIDAC (University of Michigan Digital Automatic Computer)
Regular operation of the MIDAC, begun June 1, 1953, has increased over the summer
period to approximately 40 hours of scheduled operational time per week. The MIDAC, a general purpose digital computer patterned after theSEAC, was constructed by the Willow Run
Research Center of the University of Michigan under the auspices of the Air Forces. A majority of the internal operations, about equivalent to those on the SEAC ,are now aVailable.
Additional "relative addressing" operations, designed specifically for use with subroutines
stored on a magnetic drum, are now being checked out.
Construction has been under the supervision of John DeTurk and, later, Roy Hock. The
machine, which was begun in 1951, is a serial machine using a basic "clock" frequency of one
megacycle. The principal engineering characteristics of the machine are:
Word length
44 bits plus sign bit (45 tptal)
Arithmetic Unit Type
Serial
Type of Code
Three -address
Average number of additions,
subtractions, etc./sec.
1,000 (including four accesses
to memory)
Average number of multiplications
or diviSions/sec.
300 (including four accesses
to memory)
Memory Type
Acou,stic delay line; Drum
Memory Capacity
512 words (Acoustic)
6,144 words (Drum)
Number of vacuum tubes
1500
Number of germanium diodes
20,000
Physical Layout
Packaged units
Input
Photo-electric reader
Output
Flexowriter (at present)
During the three months of operation an interim "Input Translation Program" has been
checked out to provide complete translation of instructions and numbers from an external
decimal-algebraic language into the internal machine binary language. Upon completion of the
drum and "relative-addressing" features, this program will be extended to call in subroutines
automatically and to provide automatic code-checking and utility program features.
Among the problems coded, checked out, or solved on the MIDAC are: solution of simultaneous equations for general order n <: 17, solution of a parabolic differential equation, solution of a problem in the dynamics of a large-scale economic system, several data-reduction
problems, and simulation of a number of large-scale dynamic systems. In addition, a floating
point program is available for short problems where elimination of scaling procedure can save
programming time.
,
The machine has been so constructed that it can be expanded, without changes in the logical
structure, to twice the acoustic memory storage capacity and four times the drum storage
capacity.
A special two-week Summer Program on "Digital Computers - Their Application and
Evaluation" was held at the University of Michigan, August 10 through August 21. The MIDAC
was used as the laboratory machine for course members. The course itself stressed programming and formulation, numerical analysis, applications, and evaluation of existing commercial
computers.
- 4-
A graduate course in "Methods in High-Speed Computation" (M174) was given at the University for the first time last spring. This course will be repeated in 1953-1954 as a twosemester course aimed at training for use of the MIDAC. In addition, a two-semester course
in "Digital Technology" (EE258) will be concerned with the design, construction, and simulation uses of digital computers.
THE FLAC
During the past two months a limited computational work load has been assumed by FLAC.
Lack of both coding personnel and multiple input units has delayed transfer of all Air Force
Missile Test Center computations from SEAC to FLAC. Several problems have been solved,
however, including one for F.J. Murray of·Columbia pertaining to crystal growths.
The final control console has been attached to the computer, and the addition of four
Raytheon multichannel magnetic tape handling units is in progress. With all auxiliaries operating, the total power furnished by the computer's power supplies is less than six kilowatts.
Since little information has been made available on the coding for FLAC, the operation
codes and operating times are given in Figure 1. It should be noted that the addresses specified in FLAC instruction words may be either absolute or relative, hence the machine is
called a floating three-address machine. Further, when relative addresses are employed,
they may be relative to either the control counter (Cc) which sequences the machine through
its instructions, or relative to a number stored in the base counter (Cb). The contents of Cb
can be modified only by a tally instruction.
The terminology used in Figure 1 is explained as follows: 0 and fJ designate the locations of the two operands, " the result. (0), (/J), and (1) designate the quantities stored in
. 0, p, and". The binary control digits a,b,c, and d are used to indicate whether 0, p, " are
relative (I.e. presence of an a, b, or c digit indicates a relative address) and the presence of a
d digit indicates that the relative addresses are with respect to the base counter (Cb). These
relative-address features greatly simplify and accelerate handling of iterative processes.
THE SWAC
During the last quarter the SWAC worked on 29 different problems for a computing time
of 623 hours out of a scheduled time of 845 hours. A full set of eigenvalues and eigenvectors
for a 32nd order matrix was computed, to 10 Significant decimal digits. With the aid of the
magnetic drum memory, the complete solution was obtained in 18 hours of computing time.
Methods were developed for the solution of assignment problems, by permutation of
matrix elements. In particular, solutions for 8 x 8, 10 x 10, and 12 x 12 matrices were obtained.
The solution of the 12 x 12 was obtained in 3 hours running time.
THE ORACLE (Oak Ridge Automatic Computer)
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory's high-speed, electronic, digital computer (ORACLE)
has passed the final acceptance tests at the Argonne National Laboratory and is at present
being installed in its permanent location (ORNL) at Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
The ORACLE ran successfully at ANL for approximately 250 hours, solving problems
with an efficiency of 92%; i.e., 23 hours of the total available problem time were used for
trouble-shooting machine failures. During this time, the 204B-word electrostatic memory
feature of the ORACLE was utilized in solving a Monte Carlo type problem.
The installation at ORNL will incorporate a Ferranti photoelectric reader and a teletype
fast punch in the input-output system.
- 5 -
FLAC OPERATING CHARACTERlSTJCS
CODE
DESCRIPT.ION
OPERATION
~~~R; ~EN~~:yE~EO:L~ORDS FROM p
INPUT
LOGICAL TRANSFER
(-y).
I. DECIMAL. BINARY CONVERSION
II. BINARY. DECIMAL CONVERSION
/3
/3
MUL TIPLICATION (Complete Produc:t)
SHIFTED BY "71" IN
(,8)/,
WHERE
:~~~~1~NO: OPERATION
--------
LOGICAL PRODUCT"
- - - - - - (a) x (,8)
(,6) =71 x 2- 44 AND +71 IS SHIFT LEFT (-71, RIGHT)
}
SHIFTED NUMBER
CONVERTED NUMBER
-----------
G:t)- (,8) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ G:t)- (,8)
EVEN, ADVANCE -y UNIT,
a
NUMBER OF WORDS
} ------------
Jj ODD, REVERSE -y UNIT, aNUMBER OF WORDS
ON HIGH SPEE-D TAPE UNITS, HUNT FOR BLOCK
0.)
(-y) .. (a,)x
b.) (FFF)I
(-y)" fa)x
MUL TIPLICATION (Rounded)
(,b), HIGH ORDER PRODUCT
= fa) x (P),
(,b)
LOW ORDER PRODUCT
a
28S
:~~~~1~NO:
330.1101.
2000
OPERATION
ON TAPE UNIT-y
}
(a)'x
(,6) LOW ORDER"
330
(P) ROUNDED
330
---------------------
ROUNDED TO 44 BINARY DIGITS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _fa) x
TALLY
a.) a = 0, RESETS BASE COUNTER (CB) TO a AND COMPARES a AND.4 JF a < p NEXT INSTRUCTION}
RESUL TS OF
TAKEN FROM-yORCc: +-y, IF a~ PNEXT INSTRUCTION TAKEN FROM Cc:
I
----PRECEDING OPERATION
b.) a = 1 ADDS a TO BASE COUNTER AND COMPARES SUM WITH !3AS INDICATED ABOVE-
B
DIVISION (Unrounded)
0.)
+
b,) (FFF) I = TRUE REMAINDER FOLLOWING DIVISION
!,By
fa)
}
REMAINDER
C
ALGEBRAIC COMPARISON
IF fa)< ftj) NEXT INSTRUCTION TAKEN FROM -y OR Cc: +-y }
IF (a,)~ (,b) NEXT INSTRUCTION TAKEN FROM Cc: + 1.
0
ABSOLUTE COMPARISON
IF 1 fa) 1 < 1 (P) 1 NEXT INSTRUCTION TAKEN FROM -yOR Cc: +-y
IF 1 fa) 111 !til 1 NEXT INSTRUCTION TAKEN FROM Cc: + 1
EQUALITY COMPARISON
IF fa), (j,)NEXT INSTRUCTION TAKEN FROM-yORCc: +-y}
(a,)IF fa) = (,b)NEXT INSTRUCTION TAKEN FROM Cc: + 1
• -----------------.-:.-
READ OUT
READ
a
330.1100
1100'
A
~=~/W
1100
1100
W+~
c.:
!3
OPERAT.IOHS
PERISEC
800
a.) Jj EVEN, THE NUMBER "ir IN (-y) =NUMBER OF PLACES G:t) MUST BE SHIFTED TO BRING } _ _ _ _ _ _ _ SHIFTED NUMBER"
MOST SIGNIFICANT DIGIT TO THE BINARY POINT. (-y) =_ 71x 2- 44
b.) THE SHIFT~D NUMBER IS AVAILABLE FROM (FFF)I
}
a.) !3 ODD, d =0, FILE CONTROL COUNTER PLUS ONE IN -yPOSITION OF G:t), RESET CONTROL'
FILED COUNTER
COUNTER TO
+-YOR -y
- - - - - . - - PLUS ONE
b.) P ODD, d = 1, FILE BASE COUNTER PLUS ONE IN a POSITION OF G:t), RESET CONTROL
COUNTER TO Cc: +-y OR-y
I. TAPE ADVANCE
II. TAPE REVERSE
III. TAPE HUNT
0)
}
~=W+~
ADDITION
II. FILE
G:t)
EVEN, G:t). DECIMAL NUMBER, (-y). CONVERTED NUMBER (BINARY)
ODD, G:t) = BINARY NUMBER, (-y). CONVERTED NUMBER (DECIMALl
(-y)"
SUBTRACTION
POWER EXTRACT
INPUT· UNIT INTO MEMORY COMMENCING
a.) TRANSFER DIGITS IN G:t) CORRESPONDING TO ONES IN (,8) TO (-y)
}
b.) LOGICAL PRODUCT (I.e. PRODUCT G:t) x (,8) DIGIT BY DIGIT) IS AVAILABLE FROM (FFF)I
SHIFT
I.
STORED
IN FFFI
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (a)_
W·~
W
(,b)
J______________
1 fa) 1 - 1
(,6) 1~
(P)
Cc IS THE CONTROL COUNTER USED FOR SEQUENCING INSTRUCTIONS.
CB IS THE BASE COUNTER USED AS AN ADJUSTABLE REFERENCE POINT FOR RELATIVE ADDRESSES, AS WELL AS FOR A TALLY REGISTER
a, b, c, d, ARE CONTROL DIGITS TO INDICATE ABSOLUTE OR RELATIVE ADDRESSES FOR
fJ, -y, ETC.
I FFF IS A SPECIAL MINIMUM ACCESS STORAGE REGISTER, THE CONTENTS OF WHICH ARE CHANGED BY ALL OPERATIONS EXCEPT THE TALLY (A),INPUT (0), OUTPUT (F), OR TAPE (7) INSTRUCTIONS.
OPERATION TIMES ARE BASED ON RANDOM ACCESS TO MERCURY ACCOUSTIC MEMORY.
-i- QUANTITIES AVAILABLE ONLY AS SECONDARY RESULTS OF NORMAL OPERATIONS.
• INPUT'. OUTPUT OPERATING SPEEDS (a) PUNCHED TAPE ~IO DEC DIGITS / SEC.
(b) MAGNETIC WIRE = 50 WORDS / SEC.
(el MAGNETIC TAPE =250 WJ)RDS / SEC
•• THE ~N OF THE REMAINDER IS ALWAYS THE SAME AS THE SIGN OF (P)
Figure 1
330
1100
NUMBER OF WORDS COMMENCING WITH (p) INTO OUTPUT UNIT -y _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ RESULTS OF
PRECEDING OPERATION
a.
28S0
1100
1100
THE lAS COMPUTER (Institute for Advanced Study Computer)
For the period 1 June through 29 July 1953 the Institute for Advanced Study machine was
in operation for 1176 of the 1416 hours in that period. Of this total number of hours the machine
was available for computation 1017 hours and was used for computing 920 hours, i.e. about
90.5% of the available time.
Since that date the machine has been in the process of being moved from its temporary to
its permanent location in the computer building at the Institute. At the time of this move minor
wiring changes and rearrangements have been made. The new location has been planned and
arranged so that it should be considerably more advantageous from the point of view of convenience of operation. The machine proper is to be housed in a room by itse If with the machine
operators in a separate and adjoining room. The manual control of the machine is to be in the
latter room and has been simplified.
COMPUTER RESEARCH CORPORATION COMPUTERS
CRC 102-A
The twenty-ninth 102-A is now in production, and the first training class for maintenance
and programming personnel has been held for customers. These classes will be held bimonthly,
and are four weeks in length. The next class will begin October 12.
A special address, 2100, has been made available in the 102-A, providing a zero as an
operand with no access time. This programming feature makes possible unconditional transfer,
easy transfer of information from one cell to another, and a new mode of extracting; provides
zero test; and facilitates certain logical products.
The Magnetic'Tape-Handling Unit, an auxiliary piece of equipment for use with the 102-A,
is now in production,and it is expected that it will be purchased by the majority of 102-A customers. The Tape Editing and Printing Unit is in final test and will be available as auxiliary
equipment shortly.
CRC 105
Three 105 Decimal Digital Differential Analyzers are now in use. Acceptance was made
of a 105 on September 10 at the U. S. Naval Ordnance.Test Station at Pasadena. The 105 which
has been operating at Lockheed Aircraft has, according to the Mathematical Analysis Department there, " ... been in fault-free operation for 21 days (9-hour shift), with an over-all availability time since the date of installation of 91%." One more 105 is in the test stage for another
government installation and four more are under construction.
CRC 107
The first 107, along with the High Speed Printer, was deliver~d in August to the Bureau
of Aeronautics, Washington. Final tests are being made on a similar installation to be delivered
in November to the White Sands Proving Grounds.
The High Speed Printer, part of the BuAer installation, consists of a mechanical printer
and paper feed, and a separate cabinet containing the logical circuitry. It is designed to print
120 characters per line at the rate of ten lines per second. It can prepare forms, paper copies
and carbons, or duplicating masters. The printer can print 55 characters, which include all
the characters on a Flexowriter, exceptil)g the lower case alphabet but including "1", "=", and
"+". The printer is capable of handling information at an average rate of 1300 decimal digits
per ~econd, with a peak. of 2000 decimal digits per second.
IBM TYPE 701 ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING MACHINE
The 701 is a large-scale electronic digital computer controlled bya stored program of
the one-address type, and utilizing cathode ray and magnetic drum types of internal storage.
- 7 -
The machine operates in the parallel mode, working internally in the binary system. The
input and output, however, may be accomplished on standard IBM cards in the decimal system.
Conversion between the decimal and binary systems is accomplished by a subroutine,. which
does not decrease reading, punching, and printing speeds. The 701 has a maximum multiplication time of 456 microseconds and will execute instructions at a rate of about 14,000 per second
on typical problems. Results of a computation are printed on a modified IBM Type 407 accounting machine operating at a speed of over 10,000 characters per minute. Output can also be
taken in the form of cards punched in either the binary or the decimal system.
One electrostatic storage unit in the 701 can accommodate' 2048 full words or 4096 half
words. Each full word consists of 35 bits (binary digits) and a sign 'or 36 bits in all. This is
equivalent to about ten decimal digits and a sign. Any of the full words can be split into two
"half words", each having 17 bits and a sign, or 18 bits in all. Two electrostatic storage systems may be used to provide a maximum storage of 4096 full words.
Additional storage capacity is provided by two magnetic drums, each having a storage
capacity of 4096 full words. Average access time to the drum is 40 milliseconds. It is contemplated that the drums will be used for storing large blocks of information. After the first
word of such a block has been located, the remaining words are read at a rate of 800 per second. The magnetic drums will retain stored information after the power is off. The 701 also
has a tape-storage section which includes four magnetic tape units. Each tape, which may be
up to 1200 feet long, is wound on a reel. The tape itself is a nonmetallic, oxide-coated band
one-half inch wide. It is possible to store upwards of 200,000 words on each tape. It takes,
on the average, about 10 milliseconds for the tape to accelerate to its reading or writing speed,
after which the reading or writing takes place at a rate of 1250 words per second. Since the
tapes are removable, a library of standard programming and mathematical tables may be kept
on tapes.
As of September 1, 1953, installations of the IBM 701 which have been in operation
include the following:
Consolidated Vultee Aircraft, Fort Worth, Texas
Douglas Aircraft, Santa Monica, California
General Electric, Cincinnati, Ohio
IDM, New York City, N. Y.
Lockheed Aircraft, Glendale, California
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Albuquerque, New Mexico
IBM TYPE 650 MAGNETIC DRUM CALCULATOR
The Magnetic Drum Computer was designed to meet the accounting and computing requirements in areas between those now served by the IBM 701 and the 604 Electronic Calculating
Punch. A numeric decimal machine using a self checking bi-quinary code, it has a punchedcard input-output unit and a magnetic drum memory with a capacity of either 1000 or 2000
words, as specified by the user. A word is 10 decimal digits plus algebraic sign.
All of the calculator'S arithmetic operations are controlled through a stored program.
which may be entered either automatically from punched cards or manually from the operator's
console and stored in the form of magnetized spots on the surface of a drum 4 inches in diameter and 12 inches long, spinning at 12,500 revolutions a minute~ The calculator's arithmetic
unit operates at electronic speeds. It can: accumUlate 10-digit numbers to form a 20-digit
total at the rate of 200 a second; multiply a 10-digit number by a 10-digit number to develop a
20-digit product at the rate of 100 a second; and divide a 19-digit number by a 10-digit divisor
to develop a 10-digit quotient and a 10-digit remainder at the rate of 80 per second. It has an
input rate of 200 punched cards a minute and a separate output of 100 cards a minute.
In addition to its large numerical capacity, the calculator also features a "Table Look-Up"
operation which facilitates the automatic searching of rate tables such as occur in the utilities,
life and casualty insurance, transportation, and other commercial fields.
- 8 -
By means of the console, the operator has control over all stages of the calculations and
.may manually insert instructions or data into any desired storage location, examine the contents of these locations, stop the calculation at any required point, and begin calculation with
any desired instruction located in the memory unit.
THE SEAC
The electrostatic (Williams) memory is now available for problems which require 512
words in addition to the 512 words of acoustic memory capacity. Since the beginning of June,
it has been used on 45 different occasions with productive results. These error-free runs
ranged from about 10 minutes to 9 hours in duration. Its use is now limited mainly by the fact
that most problems are coded for only 512 words of memory. The acoustic memory has been
provided with an odd-even (parity) check for all words read from memory. This equipment
has added to the efficiency of machine operation.
The computer is now powered by a set of regulated dc power supplies, the output voltages
of which are variable from the computer power panel for purposes of marginal checking. ill
addition, controllable ac stabilizers are now being used. A closed-cycle air-conditioning system, which is independent of the building air conditioning, is provided for the computer.
An additional magnetic wire input-output dumper has been added to the installation. Using
this dumper, a code has been devised which will check-sum all but eight words of the 1024-word
memory, transfer the entire contents of the memory to a removable wire cartridge, check the
complete recording for accuracy, and enable the machine automatically to resume computation,
all within 90 seconds.
During July and August 1953, average "good" operating time was 83 percent of total
assigned time, good time being defined as time during which the computer was used without
error for problem solution or code checking,· or in which it was idle but in order. The average
computational time per week during the June-September quarter has been 74 hours.
CONSOLIDATED MODEL 30-201 COMPUTER
The breadboard of the Consolidated Model 30-201 Computer has been in continuous operation for three months, as of September 8, 1953, except for scheduled tests and preparation for
transferring the breadboard assemblies to the prototype packaging. This prototype, which is
near completion, will remain at the Consolidated plant for engineering and application studies.
The first two production models of the computer will be delivered to customers early in 1954,
and computing systems incorporating the 30-201 as a central unit will be available for delivery
in the latter half of 1954.
Print-out and control commands have been expanded by the addition of several variants
for further flexibility in programming, and the use of interpretive subroutines has been facilitated by making the contents of the order counter available in the R register as an automatic
exit point and entrance point.
Diagnostic routines and operational test programs have been edited and thoroughly
checked. The library of subroutines has been expanded, and in addition to the problems mentioned in the July 1953 Newsletter, matrix inversion is being programmed and floating-point
arithmetic is available in two forms, one economical of time and the other of space.
Development of mM card input-output is continuing.
BURROUGHS LABORATORY AND WAYNE UNIVERSITY COMPUTERS
The installation of a new Burroughs Unitized Computer was scheduled for completion in
late September at Wayne University, Detroit.
- 9-
The Wayne Computer, designed and engineered by Burroughs Corporation's engineers in
the Philadelphia Research Center, has been named "UDEC"-Unitized Digital Electronic Computer. This digital computer will have been installed and in operation at Wayne University in
only four months after the job w~ begun.
The primary differences between UDEC and the original Burroughs Laboratory Computer
are: (a) use of new model magnetic shift registers, and (b) incorporation of a magnetic drum
memory of 5,300-word capacity, using low-level head switching techniques. The new model
magnetic shift register has also been installed in the Laboratory Computer in Philadelphia and
has given excellent performance. The ,magnetic drum in UDEC was tried out over a two-week
period in the P.hiladelphia Computer. Taking advantage of the fl~xibility of the Pulse Control
Unlts in the Philadelphia computer, it was possible to install the new magnetic drum in only a
few hours and later remove it in an equally short time without serious interruption to Computation Services.
The Philadelphia Laboratory Computer is now largely engaged in Computation Services
to industry on engineering problems. Among the recent computations and programming developments are included: pipe stress analysis; rotating disk stress analysis; servo-mechanical calcUlations;and, turbojet performance.
During a two-week special session on digital comp':1ters at Wayne University in August,
problems were transmitted from Detroit by teletype for solving on the Computer in the Philadelphia Research Center, and solutions were sent back to Wayne University by teletype.
THE JAINCOMP-D
Preliminary design work has been completed on JAINCOMP-D, an unusually small,
extremely fleXible, high-speed general purpose digital computer. This machine will occupy
three cabinets, each 24-1/4 x 21-7/8 x 27-5/8 inches in size, exclusive of power supply~ The
machine will contain a 36,864-digit (1,024 36-bit numbers) rapid access ,(3 ILsec/36-bit word)
magnetic storage of the JAINCOMP type, plus a 4,608-digit (128 36-bit numbers) static punched
card random access (1,..,. sec/36-bit word) storage for constants, plus a high capacity magnetic
tape storage of long access time. This very small computer can be programmed externally
from magnetic tape or a static punched card, or can be programmed from storage. Orders can
be manipulated in the arithmetic unit. Special operations such as extraction are possible. The
machine is basically of the three-address type, although it can be programmed to be used as a
four-address computer.
THE OARAC (Aeronautical Research Laboratory Computer)
The Aeronautical Research Laboratory (formerly Office of Air Research) Automatic Computer was delivered to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in February 1953. Six weeks were
required for the physical installation, including air conditioning. Two more weeks were required for electrical installation and checking. The addition of a motor-generator set was
found necessary to eliminate line transients. Full-scale computing was under way the latter
part of April.
The OARAC is a coded decimal, single-address,. serial machine with magnetic drum
storage of 10,000 eleven-digit words. The input-output medium is magnetic tape with Flexowriter tape preparation and reading units. The operating speed is about 100 operations per
second at present. The design has been completed for conversion to a two-address system
and the addition of a high-speed' printer.
The machine is presently operating five days a week, twenty-four hours a day, with one
shift of engineering service. Since operations began, the machine has been available for use
1157 hours out of 1672 hours of "on" time. During the month of August the machine was operated two shifts a day. In that period the available time was 270 hours out of 327 hours of "on"
time.
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THE ALWAC
The ALWAC is a general purpose digital computer of the internally programmed magnetic
drum type. It is a serial, binary computer with automatic conversion from decimal-to-binary
and binary-to-decimal during input and output, accomplished by an internally programmed
routine. Recirculating working channels and arithmetic registers permit high computational
rates as a result of the low access times in these stores.
Electric typewriters with associated paper tape perforating and tape read~ equipment
are used as the basic input-output devices. Master programs containing numerical data to be
operated on by these standard routines can be entered into the computer from the punched tape
or manually via the keyboard. The final results can be printed out with form control, signs,
decimal points, and alphabetical headings completely under the control of a permanently stored
sequence of instructions. As many as ten electric typewriters can be attached to this machine
at various remote locations.
The magnetic drum memory consists of a 2048-word main storage, a 64-word working
storage, 4 arithmetical registers, and the clock and timing channels. The words in the main
storage are arranged into 64 channels containing 32 words each. Each word consists of a 32binary bit number (equivalent to about 9.5 decimal digits) with a sign digit and two check digits.
Additional 204B-word drums can be attached when greater storage capacity is required.
Each word space in the memory is divided into four order spaces, called syllables, and
each syllable is capable of storing a command or order, which the computer will carry out.
This compact method of storage for instructions is made possible by the system for specifying
addresses for the computer. Most of the commands that the machine will carry out do not
require addresses; therefore, a great deal of storage space is saved by having addresses only
when they are needed. The machine proceeds from one syllable to the next in a standard
sequence in looking for its orders. When it finds an order which requires an address, it looks
at the next syllable in the normal sequence and interprets the number located there as the
address. Then it will look in the riext space after that for its next order.
The first ALWAC has been in successful operation for six months at Redondo, California.
The second ALWAC installation will be at the Navy's David Taylor Model Basin in December
1953. The development of the computer was sponsored by Dr. Axel L. Wenner-gren, the wellknown Swedish industrialist, and the work is being done by Logistics Research, Inc. in
Redondo, California.
THE MONROBOT MU
A new series of Electronic Calculators currently under construction, to be called MONROBOT MU, will soon be available. In a variety of combinations, these units possess the
ability to meet a wide assortment of requirements in storage capacity, operating speed, facilities for input-output, etc. The present MONROBOT V may also be obtained with multiple
input-output units, including Flexowriter, keyboard, and perforated paper tape, each individually
under programmed computer control. The computers are made by MONROBOT Corporation,
Morris Plains, N.J. (Subsidiary of Monroe Calculating Machine Co.)
DATA PROCESSING AND CONVERSION eQUIPMENT
KEARFOTT SADAC
SADAC (Servo-Analog-Digital-Analog-Converter) was designed and built by Kearfott
Inc., Engineering Division, Clifton, New Jersey, during the second quarter of 1953.
SADAC, a compact converter measuring only 2-1/4 inches in diameter by 3-3/4 inches in
height, accepts analog information in voltage form from a remote transmitter and converts it
to digital readout in unambiguous cyclic-binary form.
Company~
Conversion of the analog information is made in a servo loop which, except for the amplifier, is enclosed in the SADAC converter. A remote synchro transmitter, mounted on the
- 11 -
shaft to be measured, furnishes an electrical indication of shaft movement to a control transformer in SADAC, and any change in shaft pOSition causes a departure from null in the control
transformer. A servo motor respondin~ to the amplified control transformer signal neutralizes this error signal by turning the control transformer back to the null position. Simultaneously, the servo drives a series of segmented drums whose electrical output when the control
transformer returns to the null pOSition is the cyclic binary representation of the pOSition of
the shaft being measured.
.
SADAC has a digitalized capacity of 212 or 4096 bits. Accuracy is .02% (one bit). Follow
up speed of SADAC Model 1 is 330 bits per second and readout can be either "on the run" or on
demand.
SADAC Model 2, which operates on the same basic principle, is a smaller unit designed
for mounting directly on the shaft to be measured so that one servo lo·op can be eliminated.
Design work has already begun at the Kearfott Company to modify SADAC for use as an
inverse converter (digital-to-analog) as well as on a miniaturized high-speed true binary
converter.
CCP 701 DIGITAL POINT PLOTTER
The new CCP 701 Digital Point Plotter, recently announced by California Computer
Products, 3927 West Jefferson Boulevard, Los Angeles 16, California, is a high-spe~d, lowcost digital point-by-point plottet developed primarily for preparing curves and graphs of
data received from general-purpose digital computers.
It has an aluminum plotting drun 12 inches long and 6 inches in diameter capable of
producing 11- x 17-inch plots. Plotting resolution is 40 points per inch, with accuracy held to
+0.025 ft. Plotting speed is 2 seconds per point. A variety of stylus-symbols may be selected
by the user.
An optional decimal keyboard is available for manual plotting, and provision can be made
to plot data from magnetic and paper tape or IBM card readers. Other features include
automatic multiple curve plotting, arbitrary origin location, scale factor trim adjustment, a
SWing-out chassis rack for easy accessibility to component parts, plug-in components, and a
choice of type of digital input system.
SOLID ACOUSTIC DELAY LINE MEMORY UNIT
Additional information has been received concerning the memory unit, Model 3CI-384,
mentioned in the July 1953 Newsletter, which was developed by the Computer CQntrol Company.
The design includes the entire memory circuit in one plug-in type chassis (Figure 2) ready
for installation in a computer. Groups of these units are used in a computer to provide sufficient
memory. A complete memory circuit can easily be removed for servicing, and a spare unit
plugged in to keep the computer operating. The unit stores 384 bits at a pulse repetition rate
of 1 Mc. A self-contained heating element and thermal control gives temperature stability to
the quartz line. Inherent accuracy of delay control greatly exceeds design requirements. All
germanium diodes are grouped in a single plug-in type subunit. All five tubes are 6AN5's
operated 80% below manufacturer's design center. The over-all dimensions of the plug-in
chassis are 4-1/2 x 5-1/2 x 10 inches. A self-contained filament transformer is optional.
The input voltage requirement into write-erase gate is 10 volts. The reshaped output signal
level is 15 volts into a 100-ohmimpedance load. Carrier frequency is 20 Mc. All circuits
are degenerated, with reserve gain in the wide band i.f. amplifier. There is again control for
initial adjustment of the 1.f. stage. No tuning is necessary. The temperature coefficient of
the quartz delay line is -123 parts per million per degree centigrade. The unit is especially
fitted for airborne use and is insensitive to shock.
- 12 -
Figure 2 - Solid acoustic memory unit
MACDONALD MAGNETIC STORAGE DRUMS
The W. S. Macdonald Co., Inc., 33 University Road, Cambridge 38, Mass., originally
designed a magnetic drum for the "Magnefile" electronic office equipment of the Company's
manufacture. It is now offered as a separate unit for those requiring data storage of the drum
type. This design and modifications thereof are available in several standard sizes; where a
standard size or capacity of memory will not meet the user's requirements, other sizes can be
furnished within rather broad limits.
The magnetic storage drum consists of an aluminum or magnesium ingot which is mounted
on ball bearings and driven by a belt or direct-coupled electric motor-. One drum type features
a moving head which travels on machined ways parallel to the axis of the drum and at constant
spacing from the drum surface. Heads which are adjustable in respect to drum clearance but
fixed in their lateral position may be supplied in addition to the moving head or in place of this
head. All heads are normally operated out of contact with the drum surface.
The magnetic storage medium of the drums consists of the red oxide of iron applied to
the drum surface as a coating of high uniformity.
POTTER MAGNETIC TAPE HANDLER
The Potter Magnetic Tape Handler,. Models 901A and 901B, is an instrument for inter...,
mittent or continuous recording and playback of digital information (Figure 3).
High-speed starts and stops in either direction (within 5 milliseconds) controlled by
external signals and dual-speed tape drive provide the facilities for all types of high-speed
recording, sorting, collating, comparing, and processing of any data which can be expressed
in digital form.
Tape drive is independent of the reel drives and symmetrical with respect to the recording
head to provide uniform tape speed in the forward and reverse directions and to assure optimum
compliance on all-recording tracks. Independent proportional photoelectric servos for each
reel maintain proper tension and completely eliminate breaking or spilling. Standard NAB
10-1/2-inch reels provide a tape capacity of 2400 feet.
- 13 -
Figure 3 - Potter Magnetic Tape Handler
LIST OF COMPUTING SERVICES
Key: (a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Name and Address of Contact
Facilities and their Location
Coding and Mathematical Services
To Whom Available
(1) Wayne University, Computation Laboratory
(a) A. W. Jacobson or E. P. Little, Wayne University, Computation Laboratory,
Detroit 1, Michigan
(b) Burroughs Unitized Digital Electronic Computer and a Differential Analyzer
(c) Available
(d) No restrictions
(2) Remington Rand, Inc.
(a) Remington Rand Inc., 1615 L street, N. W., Washington, D. C.
(b) UNIVAC with auxiliary equipment located at: Remington Rand Inc., 315 Fourth
Avenue, New York 10, N. Y.
(c) Complete coding and mathematical service available
(d) No restrictions on utilization
- 14 -
COMPUTER COURSES
WAYNE UNIVERSITY COMPUTATION LABORATORY
Six academic courses in machine computation are being offered during the fall semester.
These include numerical analysis, design and application of analogue and digital computers,
pulse circuitry, and physics of solids as applied to computers. A program of study and research
leading to advanced degrees in computational analysis is available. Several fellowships in
machine computation are being sponsored by industry.
COMPUTER RESEARCH CORPORATION
Computer Research Corporation will conduct its Operation and Maintenance of the 102-A
Courses on the following dates: October 12 to November 4, 1953, and November 23 to December 18, 1953. Courses for the year of 1954 will be announced later, both for the CkC 102-A
and CRC 105.
NOTICES
NEWSLETTER TO BE REPRINTED IN JOURNAL OF ACM
Beginning with the January 1954 issue, the Digital Computer Newsletter will be reprinted
in the newly established Journal of the Association for Computing Machinery, which will be
distributed to all members of the ACM. Prospective members of ACM or nonmembers desiring to subscribe to the Journal should write to the Association for Computing Machinery,
2 East 63rd Street, New York 21, N. Y.
Distribution of the Newsletter to agencies of the Federal Government and Federal Government contractors will continue as before. Non-government addressees who have remained on
the distribution list through this issue will no longer receive the Newsletter from government
distribution.
JOINT COMPUTER CONFERENCE
Statler Hotel
Washington, D. C.
December 8-10, 1953
"Information Processing Systems - Reliability and Requirements", is the generaltheme
of the Joint Computer Conference sponsored by the Institute· of Radio Engineers, the Association for Computing Machinery, and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, to be held
December 8-10, 1953, at the Statler Hotel, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Mark Swanson, Chairman of the local committee on arrangements, has announced
the completion of plans for all important aspects of this Conference. Mr. L. R. Johnson, vicechairman in charge of registration, stated that present interest in the Conference indicates an
attendance of at least 1600 persons.
Dr. Howard T. Engstrom, chairman of the technical program committee, reports that
arrangements have been finalized for the following presentations:.
Tuesday, December 8th
Morning
"Address of Welcome"
John H. Howard, Burroughs Corporation
- 15 -
"Keynote Address"
Howard T. Engstrom, Remington Rand, Inc.
"The RTMA Support of the 1950 Computer Conference - A Progress Report"
Thomas H. Briggs, Burroughs Corporation
"The Use of Electronic Data Processing Systems in the Life Insurance Business"
M. E. Davis, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
"Computer Applications in Air Traffic Control"
Vernon 1. Weihe,. Air Transport Association of America
Afternoon
"Data ProceSSing Requirements for the Purposes of Numerical Weather Prediction"
Joseph Smagorinsky, U. S. Weather Bureau
"Methods Used to Improve Reliability in Military Electronics Equipment"
L. D. Whitelock, Bureau of Ships
"Digital Computers for Linear, Real-Time Control Systems"
Ralph B. Conn, Jet Prop. Lab., Calif. Institute of Technology
Wednesday, December 9th
Morning
"Reliability Experience on the OARAC"
Robert W. House, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
"Operating Experience with the Los Alamos 701"
Willard G. Bouricius, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory
"Acceptance Tests for the Raytheon Hurricane Computer"
Professor Francis J. Murray, Columbia University
"Reliability of a Large REAC Installation"
Bernard D. Loveman, Reeves Instrument Corporation
"National Bureau of standards Performance Tests"
. S. N. Alexander andRe D. Elbourn, NBS
"Experience on the Air Force UNIVAC"
Robert Kopp, Headquarters, U. S. Air Force
Afternoon
"Electron Tube and Crystal Diode Experience in Computing Equipment"
J. A. Goetz and H. J. Geisler, IBM Corporation
"Reliability and Performance of the ILLIAC Electrostatic Memory"
Joseph M. Wier, University of Illinois
"Electron Tube Performance in Some Typical Military Environments"
D. W. Sharp, Aeronautical Radio Incorporated
- 16 -
Thursday, December 10th
Morning
"SEAC - Review of Three Years of Operation"
R .. A. Kirsch and P. D. Shupe, Jr., NBS
" A Review of ORDVAC Operating Experience"
Charles R. Williams, Ballistic Research Laboratory
"Some Remarks on Logical Design and Programming Checks"
Herman H. Goldstine, The Institute for Advanced Study
"The Advantages of Built-in Checking"
John W. Mauchly, Remington Rand, Inc.
"Recent Progress in the Production of Error Free Magnetic Computer Tape"
W. W. Wetzel, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
Afternoon
"Reliability of Electrolytic Capacitors in Computers"
Mark VanBuskirk, P. R. Mallory and Company, Inc.
"A Method of Reliability Specification and its Application to Transistors"
W. J. Pietenpol, Bell Telephone Laboratories
"Case Histories in Resistor Reliability"
Jesse Marsten, International Resistance Company
"The MIT Magnetic-Core Memory"
William N. Papian, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Discussion of these papers will occur both in the sessions themselves and in additional
sessions to be held solely for the purpose of discussing topics of unusual interest. Miss
Margaret Fox, vice-chairman for inspection trips, has completed arrangements for visits
to various computer installations in the Washington area. All registrants will have the opportunity to indicate which inspection trips they prefer to make.
Mr. L. D. Whitelock, vice-chairman for exhibits, has prepared an unusual arrangement
for demonstrators at the Statler Hote 1. A unique feature of this arrangement provides a large
uncongested area, so that all parties will be able to view exhibits specially arranged by outstanding manufacturers.
Preliminary announcements have been mailed to all members of the sponsoring organizations. The final program and applications for reservations are now being processed for the
same mailing list. Interested parties who are not members of anyone of the three sponsoring
organizations may request the final program and reservation application from Mr. L. R.
Johnson, 2018 Sycamore Drive, Falls Church, Virginia.
JOINT COMPUTER CONFERENCE PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE
A limited number of Joint Computer Conference Proceedings are available from AlEE,
IRE, and ACM at the prices listed below. These Proceedings provide a comprehensive sourCl:
of information in the field of electronic computers. Many organizations are using them as
textbooks for courses on computer design and application and for the instruction of new
employees.
.
Orders should be sent to R. S. Gardner, American Institute of Electrical Engineers,
33 W. 39 Street, N~w York 18, N. Y.; L. G. Cumming, Technical Secretary, The Institute of
- 17
~
Radio Engineers, 1 East 79th street, New York 21,N. Y.; or R. V. D. Campbell, Treasurer,
Association for Computing Machinery, c/o Burroughs Corporation, 511 N. Broad Street,
Philadelphia 23, Pa.
Pub lication
Content
Joint AlEE-mE-Computer
Conference Proceedings
(Published Feb. 1952)
REVIEW OF ELECTRONIC DIGITAL COMPUTERS. Papers and Discussions presented at the Joint AlEE-IRE Computer
Conference, Philadelphia, Pa., Dec.
10-12, 1951 (114 Pages)
$ 3.50
J oint AlEE -mE - ACM
Computer Conference
Proceedings (Published
March, 1953)
REVIEW OF INPUT AND OUTPUT EQUIPMENT USED IN COMPUTING SYSTEMS.
Papers and Discussions presented at the
Joint AlEE-IRE-ACM Computer Conference, New York, N. Y., Dec. 10-12,
1952 (142 pages)
$4.00
Joint AlEE-IRE-ACM
Computer Conference Proceedings (Published June,
1953)
PROCEEDINGS OF WESTERN COMPUTER
CONFERENCE, Los Angeles, Calif.,
Feb. 4-8, 1953. Twenty-two papers and
discussions on computers and their
application (231 pages)
$ 3.50
DCN NEWS ITEMS
The Electronics Branch of the Office of Naval Research, Washington 25, D. C., solicits news
items for inclusion in the Digital Computer Newsletter. Material should be received by
10 March, 10 June, 10 September, or 10 December, for publication in the Newsletter for the
following months.
- 18 -
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