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Help me ID this computer part from the 1950's *Updated 12/17/2016*

SketchMaster

SketchMaster

Diamond Member
Backgound:

My Grandfather worked for MIT as a physicist. He found this along with other parts in the "garbage pile" where they tossed old parts/systems that were no longer being used. It was never confirmed, but my grandfather believed they are parts from the Whirwind computer. Memory modules to be more precise.

I figured after having this sit in a drawer for years, I'd put it on the web to find out if jumps out to anyone. I'd love to know what it does and what it's from.

IMG_20160330_123652_zpsxurfox6m.jpg






********Update*********

So I decided to throw this question on a subreddit to try and take another crack at figuring out what this is. That lead me to start googling a bit more, where I found the DUMBKOPF 1 listed on eBay (be sure to scroll down). It had parts that look exactly like the one I have. Getting excited, I started looking around for anything on this unit but only found a light discussion about it with not a lot of useful info. Then I took a closer look at the control panels on the DUMBKOPF and saw "Phone line Demodulator". I googled that with some other keywords, and that lead me to this document from MIT's archives.

Am I on to something here? I'm trying to get in touch with my grandfather to see if any of this rings some bells. This is starting to get exciting!
 
Last edited:
sdifox said:
Huh? Pretty sure tubes were all socketed cuz they burn out and have to be replaced.
Click to expand...


My post was in response to:

Originally Posted by SKORPI0 View Post
Probably an IBM Computer Pluggable Unit Tube Assembly, pulled and replaced when the tubes burned out.

And you are correct I have never seen a soldered vacuum tube. But even if they were you could still replace them....
 
pcgeek11 said:
My post was in response to:

Originally Posted by SKORPI0 View Post
Probably an IBM Computer Pluggable Unit Tube Assembly, pulled and replaced when the tubes burned out.

And you are correct I have never seen a soldered vacuum tube. But even if they were you could still replace them....
Click to expand...

most people weren't stupid enough to solder them in to place.
 
Nice old school stuff, believe it or not about 6 or 7 years ago the place I was at set up some old school test equipment that had been hanging around since at least the early 70's in one area, still wasn't sure what the purpose was.

But many things were isolated there as far as why things were done sometimes. The relays sounded like about a 1000 crazed typists on amphetamines when that area was in use.

Used to fabricate a lot of things for Draper Labs out of MIT myself.
 
Last edited:
SketchMaster said:
Backgound:

My Grandfather worked for MIT as a physicist. He found this along with other parts in the "garbage pile" where they tossed old parts/systems that were no longer being used. It was never confirmed, but my grandfather believed they are parts from the Whirwind computer. Memory modules to be more precise.

I figured after having this sit in a drawer for years, I'd put it on the web to find out if jumps out to anyone. I'd love to know what it does and what it's from.

IMG_20160330_123652_zpsxurfox6m.jpg

IMG_20160330_123718_zpsdjnnk5ew.jpg

IMG_20160330_123724_zpsglpd8y5r.jpg

IMG_20160330_123733_zpsnyerkkw3.jpg

IMG_20160330_123738_zpsbcqka7ti.jpg
Click to expand...

Don't know, but it is now a beautiful piece of steam-punk art.

edit: should check it at a Tech Museum, if that is an early memory module, it could be worth alot.
 
Last edited:
SKORPI0 said:
Where in my sentence did I state that the vacuum tubes were soldered/not socketed? 🙄
Click to expand...


It sounded like what you were saying by your statement below. That the entire card ( unit ) was pulled and replaced when the tubes burned out.

" Originally Posted by SKORPI0 View Post
Probably an IBM Computer Pluggable Unit Tube Assembly, pulled and replaced when the tubes burned out."
 
If my google image skill is up to snuff my guess is that is part of the famous ENIAC. Specifically it's ballsack.
 
Sound Blaster 2.

Actually if I had to guess it's some kind of logic comparator. Two values go in (on or off) and one value comes out (on or off).
 
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