Machine ReUse was How much RAM is 64K 36bit words of Core Memory

Peter Flbutt

In rare instances, hardware itself was recycled, but it generally had little value because subsequent technology was so much better. An exception of hardware recycling is using the printer mechanism from IBM's 407 tabulator (1948) in the printer for their 1130 "mini-computer), the 1132 in 1965.

Overall, specific parts weren't reused. Sometimes whole computers were re-leased to someone else.

In the tabulator era, machines had a much longer service life and would be recycled from customer to customer. Some mainframes like S-360 and 1401 were used by multiple owners; the subsequent owner getting a discount from either IBM or a 3rd party leaser in return for using an older machine.

The designs and manufacturing gear could be and were re-used. For instance, IBM developed the "SMS" printed circuit card in the late 1950s for its transistor machines. This included developing the machines that made up the cards, a technical achievement often overlooked (IBM failed to patent some valuable inventions).

Anyway, S-360 used SLT chips for the CPU, but continued with SMS cards for its peripherals. So, the SMS manufacturing gear remained in service. Big savings.

IBM did reuse its 2314 disks for S-370 service.

Each new machine built upon the experience--good and bad--of its predecessors. That was valuable in itself. For example, IBM's SSEC was technically obsolete when born, but it still used modern programming techniques. Those techniques were a big help and there were valuable patents obtained none the less. Likewise, IBM's work on SAGE gave it valuable technical and software experience.