The way I remember it was a bit more complicated. IBM initial card size was originally based on the size of a bank note. To say the IBM just had 80 columns isn'

The way I remember it was a bit more complicated. IBM initial card size was originally based on the size of a bank note. To say the IBM just had 80 columns isn't enough, they also toyed with a 96 column card as well. And I wouldn't be surprised if first Jacquard and then Babbage are in this chain of causation also.