Collins C8401 computer 2138

Jim Haynes Jim Haynes

Do you have hard copies of old Datamation? jealous sigh. They're available at the library, but on microfilm which gets tiring to view and reproduces pictures poorly.

The system described for Canadian National Ry in the WU Tech Review seemed austere. My impression is that the first generation of SABRE was more sophisticated. My guess (from reading the postings here) is that the company was strong technically--ie setting up a reliable interface between a Teletype and computer storage. However, I don't know how strong the company was in developing good user interfaces. The system described in the WUTR required the agent code a mark-sense card which is a bit tedious. Terminal response time was about 16 seconds (partly due to transmission). I believe the agent had to look up scheduling and the like in a paper timetable, then fill out a marksense card for every inquiry or request. In contrast, I believe SABRE was a little more "flowing" in giving on-line information and allowing a selection from that online list, without rekeying a full inquiry.

When I last viewed Datamation for the 1960s I was surprised at how many electronics companies were involved making add-on or free-standing products for information processing. It would seem to be a natural outgrowth to take one's electronics knowledge and build CPUs with it, perhaps more nimbly than the big boys or for niche applications. One relatively small 30 year old electronics company did that and was a bit hit (ever hear of Hewlett Packard?) Several relatively large 70 year old electronics companies did that and lost their shirts (ever hear of RCA Spectra series? GE?) In the 1950s Tom Watson Jr of IBM was terrified that one of such electronic specialists--large or small--would outdo IBM. Certainly some tried. IBM was saved by its overall application systems knowledge--taking that computer and getting useful work out it for a company. Campbell-Kelly's book says IBM's mechanical skills helped too by making solid I-O gear (like the 1403 printer on the 1401 computer).

Thanks to everyone for their responses. Very interesting. Whoever put the WUTR on the telecom newsgroup gets a big thanks as well.

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