Ken,
Here is an encyclopedia quote covering the computer systems with which I had
my earliest encounter. I helped shake down the wind tunnel systems and used
the computers for data reduction. No programming on my part. We wrote the
equations and others converted them into programming language.
"The UNIVAC 1102 or ERA 1102 was designed by Engineering Research Associates
for the United States Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center in
Tullahoma, Tennessee in response to a request for proposal issued in 1950.
The Air Force needed three computers to do data reduction for two wind
tunnels and an engine test facility.
The 1102 was a variant of the UNIVAC 1101, using its 24 bit word and a
smaller (only 8192 words) drum memory. The machine had 2700 vacuum tubes,
weighed 14,000 pounds (6,350 kg), and occupied 122 square feet (11 m?) of
floor area.
The computers were connected to data channels coming from the wind tunnels
and the engine facility. There were five typewriters for printed output,
five paper tape punches, and four pen plotters to produce graphs.
The three computers and related peripherals were delivered between July 1954
and March 1956 at a total price of $1,400,000. Software for the computers
was developed entirely at the Arnold Engineering Development center. All
programing was done in machine language (assemblers and compilers were never
developed)."
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken Norton"
> >
>> Sheesh. I would have dropped an early career in music and cut straight
>> to computers if I had seen that ad!
>>
>
>
> It was a scam. I never saw a data center with that kind of scenery in it.
> ;)
>
> Usually pencil-necked geeks like me with misbuttoned shirts and
> pocket-protectors. I went the opposite direction. Got into computers and
> migrated to the music/broadcast industry. Much funner and no
> pocket-protectors--except the engineers.
>
> AG
> --
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