1960s computer

[fredjones77]

I have about 20 boards from a Tescos computer from the 60's, photo of one attached attached, looking for someone with knowledge about whether these are collectable or museum pieces I have had them lying around for fifty years.

 

[daver2]

Tescos? That well-known supermarket

That particular board doesn't look that interesting, but that is only my opinion.

Some of your other boards may be more interesting.

Have you tried doing any investigation into what the boards may have been used for?

Do any of the boards have any markings on them?

Doing a search for "Tescos computer" (even adding the word vintage to the search) just gives me nothing of help.

Dave

 

[fredjones77]

Some more photos

 

[MrImprovement]

The front of the pictured board seems like part of the power supply system; do you have any pictures of boards with smaller chips, integrated circuits, etc on them?

 

[Eudimorphodon]

Some early ICs came in TO cans like that, but yeah, when you look at the back and see the number of leads it seems like those are just power transistors or something. (I'm not sure of the right databook to try to search them in. If it's the 60's I think it's too early for integrated voltage regulators, so I'm thinking power transistors or rectifiers.)

 

[Eudimorphodon]

Doing a search for "Tescos computer" (even adding the word vintage to the search) just gives me nothing of help.

Maybe I found a possible breadcrumb?



Now the problem is finding anything about a "Control Data 636" and trying to confirm these bits are from one.

EDIT: Seriously, this is apparently a non-trivial ask. Here's a list of "CDC System Installations that confirms that in May 1966 CDC completed installation of a "Model 636" at "Texas Electric Service Company, Morgan Creek Station", a 500Mw generating plant that might still exist(?), but I can't find any technical data about the system itself.

That said, the story seems to add up that, yes, a company called TESCO had a computer in the mid-1960s...

 

[syzygy]

As @Eudimorphodon posted


from https://vintagecomputer.net/CDC/CDC_System_Installations_2-1968.pdf

And apparently a pic of an installation - Cool keyboard

"It's a Control Data CDC-636 Industrial Control Computer which seems to be used mostly at power stations according to google. I'm sure you figured that out tho." from

https://www.reddit.com/r/retrobattlestations/comments/2gymgq/my_grandfather_circa_1965

 

[MrImprovement]

Is that keyboard maybe something like a Friden with punched tape output?

 

[Al Kossow]

It's a friden flexowriter

this explains why it doesn't look like anything CDC made

so you should be looking for info on the Daystrom 636

 

[daver2]

Nice detective work guys!

Dave

 

[pbirkel@gmail.com]

"It's a Control Data CDC-636 Industrial Control Computer which seems to be used mostly at power stations according to google. I'm sure you figured that out tho." from

https://www.reddit.com/r/retrobattlestations/comments/2gymgq/my_grandfather_circa_1965

Small enough to be "mobile" no less :->. Note the "low-boy" external wheel mounting.

 

[Eudimorphodon]

so you should be looking for info on the Daystrom 636

It was a 15 bit single-address core memory/drum transistorized (zero tubes, 3,700 transistors, 6,200 diodes) computer optimized for data acquisition and process control applications. A minimum 4Kword core memory system sold for $95,000 (that’s a cool million in today’s money) weighed a ton, occupied 200 cubic feet, and sucked 3KvA of power.

Sadly, if the OP only has 20 cards the size pictured I don’t think this particular unit will ever play the piano again. Or monitor a gas turbine, whatever.