Philco computers

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Philco was one of the pioneers of transistorized computers, also known as second generation computers. After the company developed the surface barrier transistor, which was much faster than previous point-contact types, it was awarded contracts for military and government computers. Commercialized derivatives of some of these designs became successful business and scientific computers. The TRANSAC (Transistor Automatic Computer) Model S-1000 was released as a scientific computer. The TRANSAC S-2000 mainframe computer system was first produced in 1958, and a family of compatible machines, with increasing performance, was released over the next several years.

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However, the mainframe computer market was dominated by IBM. Other companies could not deploy resources for development, customer support and marketing on the scale that IBM could afford, making competition in this segment difficult after the introduction of the IBM 360 family. Philco went bankrupt and was purchased in 1961 by Ford Motor Company, but the computer division carried on until the Philco division of Ford exited the computer business in 1963. The Ford company maintained one Philco mainframe in use until 1981.

The surface-barrier transistor

The surface-barrier transistor developed by Philco in 1953 had a much higher frequency response than the original point-contact transistors. The transistor was made of a thin crystal of germanium, which was electrolytically etched with pits on either side forming a very thin base region, on the order of 5 micrometers. Philco's process for etching was United States patent number 2,885,571. Philco surface-barrier transistors were used in TX-0, and in early models of what would become the DEC PDP product line. Although relatively fast, the small size of the devices limited their power to circuits operating at a few tens of milliwatts.

The surface-barrier transistor was the first type that could compete with vacuum tubes in speed. Philco SB100 surface barrier transistor ad=1955.jpg
The surface-barrier transistor was the first type that could compete with vacuum tubes in speed.

Military and government

Between 1955 and 1957, Philco built transistor computers for use in aircraft, models C-1000, C-1100, and C-1102, intended for airborne real-time applications. By 1957, the C-1102 had been used by a civilian sector customer. [1] The BASICPAC [2] AN/TYK 6V (first delivery in 1961), [3] COMPAC AN/TYK 4V (not completed), [4] [5] [6] and LOGICPAC [7] systems were built for the US Army as transportable computer systems for use with their Fieldata concept of integrated information management.

BASICPAC was a transistorized computer with up to 28,672 words of 38-bit core memory (including sign and parity), available in several configurations from a minimum system, to a truck-borne mobile version, to a fully expanded system. Basic clock periods was 1 microsecond (which gives a clock rate of 1 MHz), [8] [9] with 12 microsecond memory access and a fixed-point multiplication taking 242 microseconds. Input/output was by paper tape reader and punch, or through a teletypewriter. With additional hardware, magnetic tape storage was also available, with up to seven I/O devices. The instruction set had 31 basic operation codes and nine opcodes for I/O [10]

CXPQ

Philco was contracted by the US Navy to build the CXPQ computer. One model was completed and installed at the David Taylor Model Basin. This design was later adapted to become the commercial TRANSAC S-2000. [11] Only one CXPQ was built. [12]

The CXPQ is a 48-bit transistorized computer. [13]

SOLO

In 1955, the National Security Agency through the US Navy contracted with Philco to produce a computer suitable for use as a workstation, with an architecture based on the vacuum-tube computer system called Atlas II already in use at the NSA, and similar to the commercial UNIVAC 1103. At the time, Philco was the largest producer of surface barrier transistors, which were the only type available with the speed and quantities required for a computer. The SOLO prototype was delivered in 1958, but required extensive debugging at NSA. Difficulties were encountered with core memory and power supplies. SOLO used paper tape and teleprinter machines for input and output. [14] SOLO cost about $1 million US, and contained 8,000 transistors. While the system was extensively used for training, testing, research and development, no additional units were ordered. SOLO was removed from active service in 1963. [15] The design of the SOLO became commercialized as Philco's TRANSAC Model S-1000.

Commercial

S-1000

The TRANSAC S-1000 was a scientific computer with a 36-bit word length and 4096 words of core memory. It was packaged in a container about the size of a large office desk, and used only 1.2 kilowatts, much less than vacuum-tube-based computers of similar capacity. [16] In a 1961 survey, about 15 S-1000 computer installations had been identified. [12]

It weighed about 1,650 pounds (750 kg). [17]

S-2000

Philco 2000 Philco 2000 computer.jpg
Philco 2000

The TRANSAC S-2000 was a large mainframe system intended for both business and scientific work. It had a 48-bit word length and supported calculations in fixed point, floating point and binary-coded decimal formats. The original S-2000 "TRANSAC" (Transistor Automatic Computer) released in 1958 [18] was later designated Model 210; it was used internally at Philco. Similar to the Control Data Corporation Model 1604, it was a 48-bit fully transistorized computer. Three succeeding models were released in the series, all compatible with the software of the original model. The Model 211 was introduced in 1960, using micro-alloy diffused field-effect transistors, requiring significant redesign of circuits compared to the original.

The TRANSAC S-2000/Philco 210/211 weighed about 2,000 pounds (910 kg). [19]

By 1964, eighteen Model 210, eighteen Model 211 and seven Model 212 systems had been sold. [12]

After Philco was purchased by Ford Motor Company, the Model 212 was introduced in 1962 [20] and released in 1963. It had 65,535 words of 48-bit memory. Initially made with 6-microsecond core memory, it had better performance than the IBM 7094 transistor computer. It was later upgraded in 1964 to 2-microsecond core memory, which gave the machine floating-point performance greater than the IBM 7030 Stretch computer. A Model 213 was announced in 1964 but never built. By that time competition from IBM had made the Philco computer operations no longer profitable for Ford, and the division was closed down. [21]

Philco 212 at the Computer History Museum Philco 212 at the Computer History Museum (4311194741).jpg
Philco 212 at the Computer History Museum

The Model 212 could carry out a floating-point multiplication in 22 microseconds. Each word contained two 24-bit instructions with 16 bits of address information and eight bits for the opcode. There were 225 different valid opcodes in the Model 212; invalid opcodes were detected and halted the machine. The CPU had an accumulator register of 48 bits, three general-purpose registers of 24 bits, and 32 index registers of 15 bits. Main memory size ranged from 4K words to 64K words. Only the first model had a magnetic drum memory; later editions used tape drives.

The Model 212 weighed about 6,500 pounds (3.3 short tons; 2.9 t). [22]

Software for the S-2000 initially consisted of TAC (Translator-Assember-Compiler), and ALTAC, a FORTRAN II-like language with some differences from the IBM 704 FORTRAN implementation. A COBOL compiler was also available, targeted at business applications.

The Philco 2400 was the input/output system for the S-2000. Operations such as reading cards or printing were carried out through magnetic tapes, thereby offloading the S-2000 from relatively slow input/output processing. [23] The 2400 had a 24-bit word length and could be supplied with 4K to 32K characters (1K to 8K words) of core memory, rated at 3-microsecond cycle time. The instruction set was aimed at character I/O use.

The idea of base registers, implemented in Philco computers, influenced the design of IBM/360. [24]

The last Philco TRANSAC S-2000 Model 212 was taken out of service in December 1981, after 19 years service at Ford. [25]

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The GE-600 series is a family of 36-bit mainframe computers originating in the 1960s, built by General Electric (GE). When GE left the mainframe business the line was sold to Honeywell, which built similar systems into the 1990s as the division moved to Groupe Bull and then NEC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TX-0</span> Early transistorized computer

The TX-0, for Transistorized Experimental computer zero, but affectionately referred to as tixo, was an early fully transistorized computer and contained a then-huge 64K of 18-bit words of magnetic-core memory. Construction of the TX-0 began in 1955 and ended in 1956. It was used continually through the 1960s at MIT. The TX-0 incorporated around 3,600 Philco high-frequency surface-barrier transistors, the first transistor suitable for high-speed computers. The TX-0 and its direct descendant, the original PDP-1, were platforms for pioneering computer research and the development of what would later be called computer "hacker" culture. For MIT, this was the first computer to provide a system console which allowed for direct interaction, as opposed to previous computers, which required the use of punched card as a primary interface for programmers debugging their programs. Members of MIT's Tech Model Railroad Club, "the very first hackers at MIT", reveled in the interactivity afforded by the console, and were recruited by Marvin Minsky to work on this and other systems used by Minsky's AI group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GE-200 series</span> Small mainframe computer series (1960s)

The GE-200 series was a family of small mainframe computers of the 1960s, built by General Electric (GE). GE marketing called the line Compatibles/200 (GE-205/215/225/235). The GE-210 of 1960 was not compatible with the rest of the 200 series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IBM 1620</span> Small IBM scientific computer released in 1959

The IBM 1620 was announced by IBM on October 21, 1959, and marketed as an inexpensive scientific computer. After a total production of about two thousand machines, it was withdrawn on November 19, 1970. Modified versions of the 1620 were used as the CPU of the IBM 1710 and IBM 1720 Industrial Process Control Systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IBM 1401</span> 1960s decimal computer

The IBM 1401 is a variable-wordlength decimal computer that was announced by IBM on October 5, 1959. The first member of the highly successful IBM 1400 series, it was aimed at replacing unit record equipment for processing data stored on punched cards and at providing peripheral services for larger computers. The 1401 is considered by IBM to be the Ford Model-T of the computer industry due to its mass appeal. Over 12,000 units were produced and many were leased or resold after they were replaced with newer technology. The 1401 was withdrawn on February 8, 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IBM 7090</span> Mainframe computer

The IBM 7090 is a second-generation transistorized version of the earlier IBM 709 vacuum tube mainframe computer that was designed for "large-scale scientific and technological applications". The 7090 is the fourth member of the IBM 700/7000 series scientific computers. The first 7090 installation was in December 1959. In 1960, a typical system sold for $2.9 million or could be rented for $63,500 a month.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IBM 7030 Stretch</span> First IBM supercomputer using dedicated transistors

The IBM 7030, also known as Stretch, was IBM's first transistorized supercomputer. It was the fastest computer in the world from 1961 until the first CDC 6600 became operational in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IBM 701</span> Vacuum-tube computer system

The IBM 701 Electronic Data Processing Machine, known as the Defense Calculator while in development, was IBM’s first commercial scientific computer and its first series production mainframe computer, which was announced to the public on May 21, 1952. It was designed and developed by Jerrier Haddad and Nathaniel Rochester and was based on the IAS machine at Princeton.

The Cyclone is a vacuum-tube computer, built by Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa. The computer was commissioned in July 1959. It was based on the IAS architecture developed by John von Neumann. The Cyclone was based on ILLIAC, the University of Illinois Automatic Computer. The Cyclone used 40-bit words, used two 20-bit instructions per word, and each instruction had an eight-bit op-code and a 12-bit operand or address field. In general IAS-based computers were not code compatible with each other, although originally math routines which ran on the ILLIAC would also run on the Cyclone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IBM 700/7000 series</span> Mainframe computer systems made by IBM through the 1950s and early 1960s

The IBM 700/7000 series is a series of large-scale (mainframe) computer systems that were made by IBM through the 1950s and early 1960s. The series includes several different, incompatible processor architectures. The 700s use vacuum-tube logic and were made obsolete by the introduction of the transistorized 7000s. The 7000s, in turn, were eventually replaced with System/360, which was announced in 1964. However the 360/65, the first 360 powerful enough to replace 7000s, did not become available until November 1965. Early problems with OS/360 and the high cost of converting software kept many 7000s in service for years afterward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of computing hardware (1960s–present)</span>

The history of computing hardware starting at 1960 is marked by the conversion from vacuum tube to solid-state devices such as transistors and then integrated circuit (IC) chips. Around 1953 to 1959, discrete transistors started being considered sufficiently reliable and economical that they made further vacuum tube computers uncompetitive. Metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) large-scale integration (LSI) technology subsequently led to the development of semiconductor memory in the mid-to-late 1960s and then the microprocessor in the early 1970s. This led to primary computer memory moving away from magnetic-core memory devices to solid-state static and dynamic semiconductor memory, which greatly reduced the cost, size, and power consumption of computers. These advances led to the miniaturized personal computer (PC) in the 1970s, starting with home computers and desktop computers, followed by laptops and then mobile computers over the next several decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MOBIDIC</span> Transistorized computer

Sylvania's MOBIDIC, short for "MOBIle DIgital Computer", was a transistorized computer intended to store, sort and route information as one part of the United States Army's Fieldata concept. Fieldata aimed to automate the distribution of battlefield data in any form, ensuring the delivery of reports to the proper recipients regardless of the physical form they were sent or received. MOBIDIC was mounted in the trailer of a semi-trailer truck, while a second supplied power, allowing it to be moved about the battlefield. The Army referred to the system as the AN/MYK-1, or AN/MYK-2 for the dual-CPU version, Sylvania later offered a commercial version as the S 9400.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UNIVAC LARC</span> Livermore Advanced Research Computer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">IBM 7070</span> Decimal computer introduced by IBM in 1958

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">IBM System/360 Model 30</span> IBM computer model from 1960s

The IBM System/360 Model 30 was a low-end member of the IBM System/360 family. It was announced on April 7, 1964, shipped in 1965, and withdrawn on October 7, 1977. The Model 30 was designed by IBM's General Systems Division in Endicott, New York, and manufactured in Endicott and other IBM manufacturing sites outside of U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surface-barrier transistor</span> Type of transistor developed by Philco in 1953

The surface-barrier transistor is a type of transistor developed by Philco in 1953 as an improvement to the alloy-junction transistor and the earlier point-contact transistor. Like the modern Schottky transistor, it offered much higher speed than earlier transistors and used metal–semiconductor junctions, but unlike the schottky transistor, both junctions were metal–semiconductor junctions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transistor computer</span> Computer built using discrete transistors

A transistor computer, now often called a second-generation computer, is a computer which uses discrete transistors instead of vacuum tubes. The first generation of electronic computers used vacuum tubes, which generated large amounts of heat, were bulky and unreliable. A second-generation computer, through the late 1950s and 1960s featured circuit boards filled with individual transistors and magnetic-core memory. These machines remained the mainstream design into the late 1960s, when integrated circuits started appearing and led to the third-generation computer.

The IBM 608 Transistor Calculator, a plugboard-programmable unit, was the first IBM product to use transistor circuits without any vacuum tubes and is believed to be the world's first all-transistorized calculator to be manufactured for the commercial market. Announced in April 1955, it was released in December 1957. The 608 was withdrawn from marketing in April 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olivetti Elea</span> Series of mainframe computers

The Elea was a series of mainframe computers Olivetti developed starting in the late 1950s. The system, made entirely with transistors for high performance, was conceived, designed and developed by a small group of researchers led by Mario Tchou (1924–1961), with industrial design by Ettore Sottsass. The ELEA 9001 was the first solid-state computer designed and manufactured in Italy. The acronym ELEA stood for Elaboratore Elettronico Aritmetico and was chosen with reference to the ancient Greek colony of Elea, home of the Eleatic school of philosophy. About forty units were placed with customers. In August 1964, only a few years after releasing the 9003, Olivetti's mainframe business was sold to GE.

References

  1. ↑ Historical Narrative Statement of Richard B. Mancke, Franklin M. Fisher and James W. McKie, Exhibit 14971, US vs. IBM, Part 1. July 1980. pp. 238–240.
  2. ↑ "1960s computer ads created by the real Mad Men". Pingdom Royal. A computer on a truck. 30 May 2013. BASICPAC ad from 1960, from Computers and Automation, December 1960
  3. ↑ "MILITARY NOTES - 'Basicpac' Computer Systems". Military Review. 41 (2): 98. 1961. hdl:2027/uiug.30112106755934.
  4. ↑ "Data processing equipment". Signals. 14 (7): 60. 1960. hdl:2027/mdp.39015013429793.
  5. ↑ Weik, Martin H. (1961). A third survey of domestic electronic digital computing systems. Ballistic Research Laboratories.Report no. 1115. BASICPAC pp. 52-53. Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. pp. 50–53. hdl:2027/mdp.39015023453221.
  6. ↑ Missiles and Rockets. American Aviation Publications. 1967. p. 37.
  7. ↑ Quadrennial report of the Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Army. [Washington?]. 1959. pp. 20–21. hdl:2027/mdp.39015022453172.
  8. ↑ Berger, Arnold S. (2005). Hardware and Computer Organization: The Software Perspective. Newnes. pp. 66–67. ISBN   9780750678865.
  9. ↑ "Clock Signals, Cycle Time and Frequency". www.pcguide.com. Retrieved 2018-03-14.
  10. ↑ "BASICPAC Programming Manual" (PDF). Philco. January 1961. section 1.
  11. ↑ Kenneth Flamm, Creating the Computer: Government, Industry and High Technology, Brookings Institution Press, 2010, ISBN   0815707215, page 122
  12. 1 2 3 Martin H. Weik (January 1964). "Chapter III Tables of Computer Characteristics". A Fourth Survey Of Domestic Electronic Digital Computing Systems . Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Philco Transistorized Automatic Computer CXPQ".
  14. ↑ David L. Boslaugh, When Computers Went to Sea: The Digitization of the United States Navy, John Wiley & Sons, 2003, ISBN   0471472204, pp. 112-113
  15. ↑ "History of NSA General-Purpose Electronic Digital Computers" (PDF). 1964. pp. 29–31.
  16. ↑ J. L. Maddox; J. B. O'Toole; S. Y. Wong (1956). The TRANSAC S-1000 Computer. Eastern Joint Computer Conference. doi:10.1145/1455533.1455538 . Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  17. ↑ Weik 1964, PHILCO 1000.
  18. ↑ United States. (1959). "COMPUTERS AND DATA PROCESSORS, NORTH AMERICA - Philco Corp., Transac S-2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 4". Digital Computer Newsletter. 11 (2): 4. hdl:2027/nyp.33433108192331.
  19. ↑ Weik, Martin H. (Jan 1964). "PHILCO 210 & 211". ed-thelen.org. A Fourth Survey of Domestic Electronic Digital Computing Systems.
  20. ↑ "Philco Corporation | Selling the Computer Revolution | Computer History Museum". www.computerhistory.org. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
  21. ↑ Reilly, Edwin D. (2003). Milestones in Computer Science and Information Technology . Greenwood Publishing Group. pp.  201. ISBN   9781573565219. philco model 212.
  22. ↑ Weik 1964, PHILCO 212.
  23. ↑ Stephen H. Kaisler, Birthing the Computer: From Drums to Cores, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2017, ISBN   144389625X, pages 232-237
  24. ↑ Shustek, L. (2015), An interview with Fred Brooks, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
  25. ↑ "Retirement video for the Philco 212 Mainframe Computer". Computer History Museum. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
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