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Typisches SLT-Modul. Den Schaltplan hat IBM auf Schnell- druckern hergestellt. Nachteil: Schwer lesbar da alle Logik- elemente gleich aussehen.
Vergrößern: Bild anklicken!
Since December 2013, we own a very nice and also quite interesting "Electronic Computing System" by IBM. This type was delivered for the first time in 1965 and intended for use by scientists, engineers, and mathematicians.
- The "AMPEX TMZ" (digital tape memory system) is connected to the equipment, so we are urgently looking for Manuals (schematics).
-There is much to report about, but in first place the optical and electronical restoration of the Computer have to be realized.
This section will be continued within a short time.
In December 2013 we got a wonderful and interesting IBM 1130 computer. This model was announced in December 1965 and was shipped beginning in 1966. It was primarily used for scientific, engineering and mathematical purposes. Many universities for applied sciences also had such machines since funding was easy once it had been demonstrated that the machine could also be used for clerical applications as well. Our machine was once used at the university of applied sciences in Darmstadt (see here for background information: ).
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+Initially, IBM estimated that a market for about 100 machines of this particular model might exist. It turned out that this estimation was far to pessimistic. Since the system featured a disk drive and was very cheap, compared with comparable machines from other vendors, about 50% of the systems running at customer locations were used in clerical applications. Thus, in Germany alone 385 machines were in use in 1970. The monthly rent was between 3500 DM and 14500 DM (this was about 3 to 12 times more than the average montly earnings of a German worker in 1970) depending on the configuration of the system.
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+Beginning in 1964/65, IBM developed so-called SLT (Solid Logic Technology) devices - precursors of todays SMD (Surface Mounted Device) components. This technology found widespread use in the 1980s - about 20 years after IBMs pioneering developments. (Cf. our repair blog: ) Our machine is as a card-system fully functional since January 2015. We will now focus on the restauration of the disk drive..
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IBM 1130
-IBM 1130: IBM 1131 central processing unit (front, right), memory expansion (left), IBM 1442 punched card unit (background, left), IBM 1132 printer (right)
+Facit paper tape devices:
- Rewinder type 4015, punch type 4060, reader type 4001 and punch electronics type 5104
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The picture on the left hand side shows the paper tape devices of the Facit 4000 series that were connected to the system. -
+ 4 + All pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.
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+ Figure 1 shows the keyboard with the ball-printing mechanism, the control console and the display panel. The keyboard is identical to that used in the IBM 029 card punch - its decoding mechanism is purely mechanic. The smallest configuration of the computer system had no memory expansion (front, left), no IBM 1132 printer, no removable disk drive and used paper tape as the main input/output medium. Since the paper tape system was no match for the rather powerful processor, most machines came with a lot more peripherals than this minimal configuration. The system could be expanded easily and thus could grow with the demands of its users.
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+ The IBM 1132 printer is based in the IBM 407 tabulating machine which was developed in the 1950s. The 1132 features a simplified printing mechanism. Figure 2 shows the printer with its side panels removed. This is the view our visitors have on this rather archaic printing system. After restauration the printer looks like new. Visible on the front are the 120 solenoids which control the printing wheels - rock-solid technology of the 1950s and 1960s.
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The printer is capable of printing 80 lines per minute - not too impressive given the rather modern electronic control system and a result of the comparable low price of the overall system. Users demanding more printer throughput could also attach an IBM 1403 high-speed printer.
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+ Figure 3 shows an 8k x 16 bit core memory stack (16 kB) with its associated control circuitry. The high density of this module is typical for IBMs SLT based devices of that time. IBM was far ahead of most of its competitors (not only in this respect). The matchbox shown visualizes the small size of this memory module. Most IBM 1130 systems only had one such module - the memory expansion of our system (left) is a rare device.
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+ Our system also features several Facit paper tape devices (figure 4):
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A paper tape winder type 4015, paper tape punch type 4060, paper tape reader type 4001, and punch control type 5104. Back then it was customary to have paper tape equipment connected to computers used in a scientific environment. Since these devices are very sturdy they were sometimes the last means in cases of major malfunctions of other input/output equipment. Unfortunately, it is not possible to start programs from paper tape - this requires an extra option.
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+ Figure 5 shows additional output devices such as a plotter and a terminal. The COMPLOT DP-1 digital plotter shown is a fully transistorized high-speed plotter which was used instead of the much slower IBM plotter (which was basically a Calcomp 565 plotter). As simple as the plotter is from a mechanical and electronic point of view, it was extremely expensive at more than 18,000 DM in 1971 (about as expensive as two middle-class cars of that time). The profit-margin back than was quite remarkable.
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+On the right a Tektronix 4006 graphic terminal can be seen. This device is capable of displaying text as well as graphics and was introduced in 1975. Instead of a bit-mapped display, a storage display tube was used since digital memory chips were prohibitively expensive back then. This display tube is based on the same principles of operation as contemporary storage oscilloscope tubes.
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+The processing of large data sets required a tape drive such as our Ampex TMZ shown in figure 6. It was cheaper than comparable devices used in larger installations.
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+*** We are desperately looking for schematics and documentation for this tape drive and its computer interface! Please let us know if you happen to have information regarding this. ***
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+ [The IBM 1130 has been donated by the FITG (Frankfurt), the peripheral devices are on loan from the FITG.]
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- As we did for the restoration of the UNIVAC 9200, we will again have a repair
-blog for the IBM 1130. The main problem here is due to the rather special
-technology employed by IBM, the so-called SLT (Solid Logic Technology). The
-circuit elements are small ceramic tiles with discrete transistors, resistors
-etc. which thus form an equivalent to an integrated circuit. The problem is
-that these elements and boards are no longer available. So the very advanced
-technology of IBM makes it hard to maintain these old machines today.
-In the same time other companies like BULL still used discrete transistors mounted
-on large circuit boards. Worlds colliding... Such a restoration process is
-extremely time consuming and cumbersome and maybe we wouldn't start it at all
-if we knew in advance how many bugs there are to resolve.
Typical SLT-module.
- The IBM circuit diagram was printed on high-speed printers.
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Disadvantage: heavy to read because all logic elements look identical.
Dec.2013: Cleaning the machine and removing disintegrated foam rubber mats.
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30.12.2013: Due to curiosity we already invested much time. After installing
-32 kB memory (with a word length of 16 bits) the first power on was attempted: No magic smoke escaping - a big success! Nevertheless, the console typewriter banged its type head
-repeatedly at the left margin so we switched off quickly.
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+32 kB memory (with a word length of 16 bits) the first power on was attempted: No magic smoke escaping - a big success! Nevertheless, the console typewriter banged its type head repeatedly at the left margin so we switched off quickly.
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Typical SLT module. The schematics were printed with standard high-speed printers which makes their interpretation hard all logic-elements look quite similar. +
2.1.2014: Removal of the console typewriter for easier maintenance. After three hours the bug was found: Four small bars, moved by springs, were