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The IBM 305 RAMAC is demonstrated at the Computer History Museum on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. It's an impressive machine to see in action. It has one arm for all
by kens 2y ago
The IBM 305 RAMAC is demonstrated at the Computer History Museum on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. It's an impressive machine to see in action. It has one arm for all the platters; the seek time is very slow as the arm is retracted, moves up or down to a new platter, and then engages. To keep the head floating above the surface, an air pump (maybe 1/4 HP) provides air flow.
- mmastrac 2y agoThe demo at the CHM is very impressive. They extracted the data from the drives many years ago and it turns out that it was a bunch of records about Canadian companies from the 60s or 70s. I love the sound it makes.
- retrac 2y ago> They extracted the data from the drives many years ago There are a lot of drives in museums out there that might be worth reading. Same with the magnetic core memories (which are persistent and keep their data without power). For example, the only way that (maybe) someone could retrieve a copy of the flight software on the Saturn V flight control computer is if the Smithsonian ever lets someone crack open the unit in their collection and see if there's anything in that unit's core memory still. Reminds me a bit of the fragile ancient scrolls scholars are now trying to scan with X-rays and make readable with new technology. Retrieval of the information is often balanced against a risk to the artifact's integrity.
- kens 2y agoStrangely enough, the Saturn V Flight Control Computer is analog and has no software. You're probably thinking of the LVDC.