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Present an on-line (compact rather than hi resolution), searchable (ASCII character rather than image) version of the 393 page document
"A Fourth Survey of Domestic Electronic Digital Computing Systems"
Report No. 1227, January 1964
by Martin H. Weik,
published by Ballistic Research Laboratories, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

(Supplement to the Third Survey)

The source paper document is the property of

Computer History Museum Center

Notes:

  • Pages 1 through 327 and 375 through 378 are included - I do not intend to do more.
  • *** Not carefully proof read ***
  • Color photo of book.
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Ed Thelen, Fremont, CA June 2001 - ed@ed-thelen.org

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BRL 1964, Cover Sheet

BRL
REPORT NO. 1227
JANUARY 1964


A FOURTH SURVEY OF DOMESTIC
ELECTRONIC DIGITAL COMPUTING SYSTEMS

Martin H. Weik


BALLISTIC RESEARCH LABORATORIES
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MARYLAND

BRL 1964, inside cover sheet

DDC AVAILABILITY NOTICE
Qualified requestors may obtain copies of this report from DDC.



The findings in this report are not to be construed
as an official Department of the Army position.
BRL 1964, starting page 0001

A FOURTH SURVEY OF DOMESTIC
ELECTRONIC DIGITAL COMPUTING SYSTEMS

Martin H. Weik

This report supplements BRL Report No. 1115 (PB 171265,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Technical Services,
Washington 25, D.C.)


ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MARYLAND

BRL 1964, starting page 0002

[ page 0002 is blank]
BRL 1964, starting page 0003 


       BALLISTIC RESEARCH LABORATORIES


REPORT N0. 1227
MWeik/jgd
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
January 1964
A FOURTH SURVEY OF DOMESTIC ELECTRONIC DIGITAL COMPUTING 
SYSTEMS

(Supplement to the Third Survey)

ABSTRACT
This report includes the results of a .fourth survey of the engineering and programming characteristics of one hundred twelve different electronic digital computing systems that have been developed since 1961. The report describes the application, numerical and arithmetic characteristics, input, output and storage systems, construction and checking features, power, space, weight, and site preparation and personnel requirements, production records, cost and rental rates, sale and lease policy, reliability, operating experience, and time availability, engineering modifications and improvements and other related topics concerning the computing systems. Fifteen comparative tables are included. This report supplements BRL Report No. 1115 (Public Bulletin 171265, OTS, U. S. Department of Commerce). 
   




    


  BRL 1964, starting page 0004 




                                   ACKNOWLEDGMENT
On behalf of the Computing Laboratory of the Ballistic Research Laboratories, the author wishes to extend his appreciation for the excellent spirit of cooperation displayed by the various representatives of the computer industry who have devoted their time and effort in responding to the survey inquiries.

The greatest individual assistance, approaching that of a co-author, was rendered by WAC Master Sergeant Joy G.J. DeMasse. An undertaking as comprehensive as this computer survey, requires that a large quantity of data has to be acquired, correlated, transcribed and checked. Particular attention must be paid to accuracy and detail. We are heavily indebted to Master Sergeant DeMasse for the major role she has performed in all phases of preparation of this report. She has been responsible for the general conduct of the survey, the control of communications with respondents, the preparation of correspondence, screening returns, sorting returns, preparing the layout of all the pages, typing, titling, and making all the photo arrangements.
BRL 1964, starting page 0005 



            TABLE OF CONTENTS

    ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    4
CHAPTER
    I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 9
    PREVIOUS SURVEYS . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 10
    PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY REPORT . . . . .. . . . . 10
    SCOPE OF THE SURVEY REPORT . . . . . .  . . . . 11
    PROCESSING OF THE SURVEY DATA . . . . . . . . . 11
    INTERPRETATION OF THE SURVEY DATA . . . .. . .  12
    USE OF THE SURVEY REPORT . . . . . . . .  . . . 12
    
    II. COMPUTING SYSTEMS DESCRIPTIONS 
    System                                Page
    AERIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
    AGDIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
    AM943. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
    AM960. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
    AN/MSM 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
    APOLLO DC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
    ASI 210 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
    ASI 420 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
    ASI 2100. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
    BRLESC  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
    BURROUGHS B260/B270/B280 . . . . .  40
    BURROUGHS B263/B273/B283 . . . . . .44
    BURROUGHS B5000 . . . . . . . . . . 46
    BURROUGHS D210  . . . . . . . . . . 50
    BURROUGHS D825  . . . . . . . . . . 52
    CCC 6B4 TRAINER . . . . . . . . . . 54
    CCC 6F2 TRAINER . . . . . . . . . . 56
    CCC 6F4 TRAINER . . . . . . . . . . 58
    CCC DDP 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
    CCC DDP 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
    CONCORD DIGITAL COORD . . . . . . . 68
    CONCORD NUM CNTRL NC 5. . . . . . . 70
    CONTROL DATA 160A . . . . . . . . . 72
    CONTROL DATA 924 . . . . . . . . .. 74
    CONTROL DATA 924A . . . . . . . . . 76
    CONTROL DATA 1604A . . . . . . . . .78
    CONTROL DATA 3600 . . . . . . . . . 80
    CONTROL DATA 6600 . . . . . . . . . 82
    CORRELATION COMP CC 1 . . . . . . . 84
    CYCLONE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
    DAYSTROM 046 . . . . . . . . . . . .88
    DAYSTROM 136 . . . . . . . . . . . .90
    DAYSTROM 636 . . . . . . . . . . . .92
    GE 200 BANK TRANSIT . . . . . . . . 96
    GE 215. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
    GE 225. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
    GE 235. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
    GE 312 GARDE . . . . . . . . . . . 110
    GE 412. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  112
    HONEYWELL 400 . . . . . . . . . . .116
    HONEYWELL 1400 . . . . . . . . . . 118
    HONEYWELL 1800 . . . . . . . . . . 120
    HONEYWELL 1800 II . . . . . . . .. 122
    HUGHES HCM 101 . . . . . . . . . . 126
    HUGHES HCM 121 . . . . . . . . . . 127
    HUGHES HCM 122 . . . . . . . . . . 128
    HUGHES HCM 301 . . . . . . . . . . 129
    HUGHES HCM 201 . . . . . . . . . . 130
    HW-15K. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 132
    HYDAC 2000 . . . . . . . . . .  . .134
    HYDAC 2400 . . . . . . . .  . . .  142
    IBM 1401. . . . . . . . . . . . .  144
    IBM 1440. . . . . . . . . . . . .  148
    IBM 1460 . . . . . . . . . . . .   150
    IBM 1620 MOD 2 . . . . . . . . . . 154
    IBM 1710. . . . . . . . . . . . .  156
    IBM 6400. . . . . . . . . . . .  . 158
    IBM 7010. . . . . . . . . . . . .  160
    IBM 7040. . . . . . . . . . . . . .162
    IBM 7044. . . . . . . . . . . . . .164
    IBM 7072. . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
    IBM 7094 II .. . . . . . . . . .  .168
    ILLIAC II . . . . . . . . . . . .  170
    ITT 525 VADE . . . . . . . . . . . 172
    ITT 7300 MOD II . . . . . . , . .  174
    LFE GUESTRON . . . . . . . . . . . 178
    LGP 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  180
    LGP 30. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  182
    LIBRASCOPE C141 . . . . . . . . .  186
    LIBRASCOPE L90-I  . . . . . . . . .188
    LIBRASCOPE L600 . . . . . . . . .  190
    LIBRASCOPE L2010 . . . . . . . . . 192
    LIBRASCOPE L3055 . . . . . . . . . 194
    MAGLOC I. . . . . . . . . . . . .  196
    MANIAC III . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
    MINUTEMAN . . . . . . . . . . . .  200
    MINUTEMAN ADVANCED D37B . . . . .  201
    NCR 310 . . . . . . . . . . . . .  202
    NORDEN SCRIBE II . . . . . . . . . 204
    PACKARD BELL 440 . . . . . . . . . 206
    PDS 1020. . . . . . . . . . . . .  212
    PDS 1068 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
    PHILCO 210 & 211 . . . . . . . . . 216
    PHILCO 212 .. . . . . . . . . . . .220
    PHILCO 1000 .. . . . . . . . . . . 224
    PROGRAMMED DATA PROCESSOR 4 . . . .228
    RCA 3301 REALCOM . . . . . . . . . 230
    RECOMP III .. . . . . . . . . . . .234
    RPC 4000. . . . . . . . . . . .    236
    SDS 910 . . . . . . . . . . . .    238
    SDS 920 . . . . . . . . . . . . .  240
    SDS 9300. . . . . . . . . . . .    242
    SEMA 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . .  244
    SEMAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  247
    SPEDAC 220 . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
    SPEDAC 310 .. . . . . . . . . . . .250
    TELEREGISTER TELEFILE . . . . . .  252
    TRW 230 130 AN/UYK 1 . . . . . .   256
    TRW 330. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
    TRW 340. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
    UNIVAC 422 TRNG COMP . . . . . . . 266
    UNIVAC 1000 . . . . . . . . . . .  268
    UNIVAC 1004 80/90 . . . . . . . .  272
    UNIVAC 1020 . . . . . . . . . . .  278
    UNIVAC 1050 . . . . . . . . . . . .280
    UNIVAC 1206 .. . . . . . . . . . . 284
    UNIVAC 1212 . . . . . . . . . . .  288
    UNIVAC 1218 . . . . . . . . . . .  291
    UNIVAC 1824 .. . . . . . . . . . . 294
    UNIVAC DIG TRNR . . . . . . . . .  296
    UNIVAC SOLID STATE II 80/90 . . .  302
    VERDAN II. . . . . . . . . . . .   306

CHAPTER
  III. TABLES OF COMPUTER CHARACTRISTICS . .   . . . . . . . . . . . .  309

                 LIST OF TABLES
TABLE
NUMBER                 TITLE
  I. MANUFACTURERS OF COMPUTING SYSTEMS	 . .   . . . . . . . . . . . .  310
 II. QUANTITY OF COMPUTING SYSTEMS MANUFACTURED TO DATE . . . . .  . .  316
III. WORD LENGTH OF COMPUTING SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   319
 IV. ARITHMETIC OPERATION TIME (EXCLUDING ACCESS) OF COMPUTING SYSTEM . 328
  V. ARITHMETIC OPERATION TIME (INCLUDING ACCESS) OF COMPUTING SYSTEMS .333
 VI. ACCESS TIME OF HIGH SPEED STORAGE UNITS . . . . . . .  . . . . . . 339
VII. CAPACITY OF HIGH SPEED STORAGE UNITS . . . . .  . . . . . . . . .  345
BRL 1961, starting page 0007 

VIII. LOG10 CAPACITY/ACCESS TIME OF HIGH SPEED STORAGE UNITS 351
  IX. CAPACITY OF MAGNETIC DRUM OR DISC STORAGE UNITS . . . .  . . . . .354
   X. TUBE QUANTITY IN COMPUTING SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  359
  XI. CRYSTAL DIODE QUANTITY IN COMPUTING SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . 362
 XII. TRANSISTOR QUANTITY IN COMPUTING SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . .  365
XIII. APPROXIMATE POWER REQUIREMENT OF COMPUTING SYSTEMS . . . . . . . .368
 XIV. APPROXIMATE COST OF BASIC COMPUTING SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . .372
  XV. CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF INITIAL OPERATION OF COMPUTING SYSTEMS . . 375
BRL 1964, starting page 0008 

[ page is blank ]
BRL 1964, starting page 0009



CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION
BRL 1964, starting page 0010


INTRODUCTION

PREVIOUS SURVEYS

A survey of electronic digital computing systems was conducted in 1955 by the Ballistic Research Laboratories in order to provide technical data for the evaluation of the then existing computing machine complement of the Laboratories. The results of that survey were made available in BRL Report Number 971, M. Weik "A Survey of Domestic Electronic Digital Computing Systems". The report was well received by persons in government and industry. The U.S. Department of Commerce undertook further printing and distribution of the report under cover of Public Bulletin 111996, Office of Technical Services.

A second survey of electronic digital computing systems was conducted during October, November and December 1956 and January 1957 by the Computing Laboratory of the Ballistic Research Laboratories. The second survey was conducted as part of the continuous surveillance and evaluation program of the Laboratory. The results were published as BRL Report Number 1010, June 1957. This report covered the results of the new survey and superseded BRL Report 971. The U.S. Department of Commerce undertook further printing and distribution of this report also, under cover of Public Bulletin 1119968, Office of Technical Services.

A third survey of domestic electronic digital computing systems was conducted in 1960. Due to the great interest which had developed in these survey reports, the Department of Defense decided to co-ordinate this activity among the Armed Services. The results of the third survey were published as BRL Report Number 1115, "A Third Survey of Domestic Electronic Digital Computing Systems" March 1961 and as Public Bulletin 171265, Office of Technical Services, U.S. Department of Commerce. The Third Survey report was comprehensive, and superseded all previous survey reports.

This Fourth Survey Report only supplements the Third Survey Report, and includes only those domestic electronic digital computing systems that have evolved since the third survey in 1960, except for the 15 comparative tables in Chapter III. The tables include all the systems that have been developed since the ENIAC, some 20 years ago. Some 330 computers are entered in the comparative tables.

PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY REPORT


Before any major decision can be made regarding the acquisition, installation, operation, improve- ment or retirement of computing equipment, first hand technical information must be obtained concerning the characteristics, availability, cost, operational problems, capability and useful life of available systems. Efficient management requires that the experience of others be exploited wherever such exploitation is beneficial. The present trend in the rapidly changing computing and data processing hardware field is toward higher operational speeds, increased memory capacity and reliability, and solid state electrical components, including a widespread use of semi-conductors and the advent of the use of thin magnetic films in standard commercial systems. However, only existing or readily available equipment may be utilized for the immediate solution of scientific and commercial data processing problems.

Many persons in the computing and data processing field continually seek answers to many different questions simultaneously. Some of these questions are: Can present methods, practices and procedures used in a given organization be accomplished by automatic computing and data processing equipment? Will investment in such equipment reduce costs, provide improved service, conserve manpower or save time? When shall existing computing equipment be modified, supplemented or replaced? Of all available equipment, what type of system is best suited for the solution of a given problem or a given group of problems? Is the maximum possible return being obtained from a given investment in computing equipment?
BRL 1964, starting page 0011

Does a given problem require specially built equipment or is a solution to be found with commercially available standard equipment? Should computing equipment be rented or purchased? Should a system be installed "on the premises" or should computer time be purchased elsewhere? The purpose of a computer surveillance and evaluation program is to provide answers to these and similar questions.

Government agencies, particularly Department of Defense agencies, and their contractors, require the latest technical information concerning computing and data processing equipment in order to properly establish their policy regarding acquisition, installation, operation, improvement and retire- ment of equipment. The purpose, therefore, of this survey report is to allow government agencies and their contractors to benefit from the results of the computing system surveillance and evaluation program conducted by the Ballistic Research Laboratories.

SCOPE OF THE SURVEY REPORT

This report is limited to commercially available or existing operational electronic digital computing and data processing systems manufactured or operated within the United States that have evolved since 1960. Large, intermediate and small scale systems are included, regardless of whether the determination of "scale" is based on size, weight, cost, storage capacity or any other reasonable criterion. An attempt has been made to include general purpose, special purpose, on-line, real-time, and control equipment. It must be borne in mind that there is no clear-cut line of demarcation between systems designated as special purpose computing machines and certain "on-line" control systems, in which a computer is used to determine operational control-commands, based upon data received by the system from instruments measuring the results of the commands. Many of these systems usually have analog input and output with internal digital computation and thus require transformation of data to and from digital form.

Among the items not covered by this report are analog computing systems, foreign systems or separate computing components, such as analog-digital converters, separate storage units, arithmetic units, input-output units, and data recording units, except when these are associated with specific complete systems. Many recording media converters, such as magnetic tape-to-card converters, card- to-paper tape converters, etc., are not specifically covered, except again as they are used with specific complete systems. By a "complete system" is meant an electronic digital computing system with input, output, control, arithmetic and/or logical, and storage units.

PROCESSING OF THE SURVEY DATA

A consolidated system description was prepared from data made available by the manufacturer. Information concerning each computing system was divided into the following sub-headings:

Applications
Programming and Numerical System
Arithmetic Unit
Storage
Input
Output
Circuit Elements of Entire System
Checking Features
Power, Space, Weight and Site Preparation
Production Record
Cost, Price and Rental Rates
Personnel Requirements
Reliability, Operating Experience
Additional Features and Remarks
Future Plans
Installations
BRL 1964, starting page 0012

The large volume of technical data processed for this report will make errors unavoidable, particularly in correlating and transcribing information. It will be appreciated if errors are brought to the attention of the Ballistic Research Laboratories. Subjective statements, claims and criticisms were screened as much as possible. Every endeavor was made to insure that the information included in this report is factual. To a large extent, certain superlative adjectives used in describing equipment, were deliberately eliminated as a matter of fairness and in order to avoid implication in sales activities.

INTERPRETATION OF THE SURVEY DATA

The interpretation of the data included in this report is perhaps the most difficult aspect of all, therefore much of this activity is left to the reader. In Chapter II, the data are grouped under alphabetically sequenced computing systems names. The charts and tables in Chapter III have been prepared in order to show various relative characteristics, features and trends. A brief analysis and interpretation of the data accompanies these tables. It must be emphasized again that data concerning computing systems taken out of context or disassociated from other related data, can be misleading. Because of this, the information contained in this report, particularly the tablular data of Chapter III, must be used with appropriate caution.

It is recommended that the prepared tables in Chapter III be used only as generalizations to show trends. Data on specific systems should be taken from the systems descriptions rather than from the prepared tables. Further details must be obtained from manufacturers or users directly. This report does not constitute an indorsement of any of the products described within it.

USE OF THE SURVEY REPORT

As has been previously stated, the computing field is a dynamic and rapidly changing one. From a technological point of view, some of the information contained in this report is obsolete as it is being printed. Certain computing systems may be considered obsolete when they are installed. However, in most cases, manufacturers are accepting orders and will continue to produce, the systems described in this report for quite a number of years. Chapter II contains engineering and programming descriptions of 112 different types of computing systems. Persons who are interested in the acquisition of systems will find useful information on applications, cost, personnel requirements, and power and space requirements for specific systems. Operators may find useful suggestions on modifications and improvements. The question of reliability, a particularly difficult one to resolve, has been answered to some extent under the sub- heading: Reliability, Operating Experience.

It is hoped that enough general and specific technical data have been compiled in the following three chapters to permit anyone involved in the computing and data processing field to draw at least some general conclusions and find answers to some of the questions which he may have.


MARTIN H. WEIK JR.