This could sort 1000 cards per minute- that's about sixteen per second. It uses photoelectric sensing to do so. It wasn't the fastest card reader made, but it is the most common one AFAIK. The 084 was twice as fast.
I ran one in actual production. Sorters were actually fun to operate and required a degree of manual dexterity. Card would be generated in our shop by RDE (remote data) Shop would have machine that read work center card and employee badge. Cards were then produce by O26 remote key punch. Cards were then sorted by job and time and then sent to tabulator which produced report for cost accountant. Replaced big tubs full of hand written time cards. System was also tied to time card system for pay.
All the cards had punches in them. The holes were read by a wire brush that was set on the column to be sorted. What ever row the hole punched in that is the pocket that that card was sent to. I worked for IBM from 1966 until 1996, If IBM made it I fixed it! The sort speed was 1000 cards per min. until it jammed then it was a mess to get the cards out.
Quite a trip down memory lane. I used to operate one of these in my first job as a 'computer operator' in Winnipeg back in 1979. Yes - these machines (and the cards) were still very common in the '70's and early '80s. I also operated an IBM7010, IBM370/145 DOS/VSE - quite the hay day!
That's great. I read a PDF the other day about the history of IBM (from 1920 - today). Machines like this were IBM's backbone for many years. My only (minor) complaint is that you didn't show a close up of the cards... I thought they were all blank until I noticed (at 2:24) that some were punched.
Ummmm I haven't quite figured that part out yet! I just have a deck of random cards. Hey I'm not really into unit record equipment. Have to RTFM in my copious free time....
@abaduck How to sort: 1./ set sortcolumn to Last column. 2./ Run. All cards go from top hopper to the side pockets. Collect pockets in order into one pile, place in top. 3./ Decrement column.. Repeat 1-3 until column number = First. Done. It's easier with numbers than with letters.
This could sort 1000 cards per minute- that's about sixteen per second. It uses photoelectric sensing to do so. It wasn't the fastest card reader made, but it is the most common one AFAIK. The 084 was twice as fast.
douro20 2 months ago
I WANT ONE! I MUST HAVE ONE! I don't suppose you are planning on selling this, are you?
herosdiefreemen 4 months ago
Wow, that's a beautiful piece of engineering.
codykonior 4 months ago
I worked on one of these machines in Halifax, NS, 1970-72. You sorted on the least significant digit first, then worked your way up.
Heaven help you if you got a card jam...
chakani0001 4 months ago
I remember in 1985 while at Peugeot Talbot in Coventry they had a few old punch card devices still about. Not in use, but in the computer room.
marcel911 4 months ago
I ran one in actual production. Sorters were actually fun to operate and required a degree of manual dexterity. Card would be generated in our shop by RDE (remote data) Shop would have machine that read work center card and employee badge. Cards were then produce by O26 remote key punch. Cards were then sorted by job and time and then sent to tabulator which produced report for cost accountant. Replaced big tubs full of hand written time cards. System was also tied to time card system for pay.
HJMC3345 4 months ago
I'd love to just have one of those card weights
kiyotewolf 5 months ago
LOL so it has no serial port?
websuspect 5 months ago
Man that thing looks so cool, I want something like this for my CDs! Haha!
ThePhoneUpdate 8 months ago
What a beautiful piece of machinery. I love these things.
peziac 1 year ago
All the cards had punches in them. The holes were read by a wire brush that was set on the column to be sorted. What ever row the hole punched in that is the pocket that that card was sent to. I worked for IBM from 1966 until 1996, If IBM made it I fixed it! The sort speed was 1000 cards per min. until it jammed then it was a mess to get the cards out.
jcrobso 1 year ago
My dad has one of these babies. I'll post a video of it sorting cards when I'm at his house next. There can't be to many of these around nowadays.
Thanks for the demo.
ct1401 1 year ago
Quite a trip down memory lane. I used to operate one of these in my first job as a 'computer operator' in Winnipeg back in 1979. Yes - these machines (and the cards) were still very common in the '70's and early '80s. I also operated an IBM7010, IBM370/145 DOS/VSE - quite the hay day!
operaman99 1 year ago
Awesome, thanks for sharing!
amartini51 1 year ago
I used one of these in college in 74-75! I think I still have my textbook and manuals for it somewhare.
chatmroomcc 2 years ago
cool! they should teach more about this in CS classes in college, and take students to actually see these machines.
someone also should make videos explaining old school computing.
hashcr 2 years ago
That's great. I read a PDF the other day about the history of IBM (from 1920 - today). Machines like this were IBM's backbone for many years. My only (minor) complaint is that you didn't show a close up of the cards... I thought they were all blank until I noticed (at 2:24) that some were punched.
&eB
kinglonewolf104 2 years ago
Ummmm I haven't quite figured that part out yet! I just have a deck of random cards. Hey I'm not really into unit record equipment. Have to RTFM in my copious free time....
abaduck 2 years ago
@abaduck How to sort: 1./ set sortcolumn to Last column. 2./ Run. All cards go from top hopper to the side pockets. Collect pockets in order into one pile, place in top. 3./ Decrement column.. Repeat 1-3 until column number = First. Done. It's easier with numbers than with letters.
WrongTimeline 1 year ago
Why not show how the system actually does a sort?
tubastuff 2 years ago