Full Restoration of The Connecticut 1401 at the Computer History Muesum

When the Computer History Museum received the Connecticut 1401 system, the covers for the reader end of the IBM 1402 were missing.

While the machine was fully functional with the missing covers, for safety reasons and aesthetics we decided to find some covers.

We searched the CHM warehouse and all known sources of IBM card reader parts and could not find any of the required parts.

The right hand cover shown above was found in the parts that came with the Connecticut 1401 system.

The lower shelf was fabricated by Stan Paddock with help from Bill Flora, Sam Seibert (San Jose History Museum), Paul Williams (San Jose History Museum) and George Ahearn.

Bill Flora is shown here trying to figure how to get the support brackets into the IBM 1402.

The left hand cover was manufactured by the IBM Almaden research facility with help from Robert Garner. George Ahearn took some of the parts home to his garage machine shop to fine-tune the fit. George Ahearn is shown here adjusting the bolts so everything aligns correctly. Some unique paint was found locally to give the parts the rough finish that IBM used for the rest of the machine. 

This is a picture of the card reader end of the Connecticut IBM 1402 with all of the covers in place.

 This picture is of the completed Connecticut 1402 with some of the people responsible for the work.

I would like to thank all of the people involved in the fabrication and assembly of the parts to complete the Connecticut 1402.

Stan Paddock

Wednesday May 18, 2011

Attendees: Ron Williams, Bob Erickson, Robert Garner, George Ahearn, Stan Paddock, Bill Flora, Frank King, Glenn Lea, Douglas Martin, Bill Newman, Joe Preston, Ed Thelen, Jim Hunt, Ron Crane, Judith Haemmerle

Ed Thalen, Frank King and Bill Flora have been working on a problem with the German machine. A very little used instruction "Branch on printer busy" did not work. After tracing the ALDs, they found and replaced the failing card.

I am sure the fact that the German machine cannot load and execute programs has nothing to do with their fix.

Bob Edwards fixed a couple of mechanical problems with the IBM Transmitting Typewriter.

Bill Newman, Doug Martin, George Ahearn, Jim Hunt and Stan Paddock worked on wiring the switches in the typewriter.

Bill Newman and Stan Paddock tested the wiring and made some corrections. The typewriter was connected to Bill's Arduino. All of the typed characters sans two worked!!!

Next week the last of the special switches will be wired and tested and then wiring of the solenoids will begin.

Joe worked on both the second and third tape drives of the German machine. Test will be performed next week.

While it may look like they are working on the typewriter, Bob Edwards, Judith Haemmerle, and Bill Williams are working on a 'Williams' tube prototype.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_tube

Stan Paddock

Wednesday May 4, 2011

Attendees: Ron Williams, Bob Erickson, Robert Garner, George Ahearn, Stan Paddock,  Frank King, Glenn Lea, Douglas Martin, Bill Newman, Joe Preston, Ed Thelen, Jim Hunt, Ron Crane, Judith Haemmerle and Don Luke.

Visitors: Five visitors found there way into the IBM 1401 restoration room for an informal visit.

Taking advantage of the warm weather, we enjoyed lunch in front of the Computer History Museum. We had the pleasure of John C Hollar, President & Chief Executive Officer, of the museum join us for lunch. (The only one with a shirt and tie.).

 Several months ago, Stan Paddock misplaced his leather hat. This is a common event and most of the time the hat never returns.

Last Week, Dave Wood from the San Jose Fire Museum, found it in an old fire truck I had been driving. Before returning it, Dave felt it necessary to decorate it. Stan had to wear it for a week which included today.

Judith Haemmerle and Bob Erickson continued work on a Williams Tube memory prototype.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_tube
Bill Newman and Ron Crane are also involved in this project.

Ron Williams and George Ahearn checked out the problem with the feed rollers on the Connecticut IBM 1402. To everyone's amazement, today it works just fine. 

Stan Paddock modified his Tape demo program to print while the tapes are spinning. The program performed different on the Connecticut machine from the German machine. The problem is associated with a little used instruction known as "Branch On Printer Busy."

Ed Thelen Don Luke and Glenn Lea are working to find the source of the error on the German Machine.

Joe Preston and Frank King repaired the head lift mechanism on tape drive number two of the Connecticut system. This brings the Connecticut machine back to 100% operational status.

A trip is planned in the next few weeks to retrieve the covers for the IBM 729 tape drives for the German machines. We are also going to try to retrieve some parts for use on our operational tape drives. Pictures and conditions for all our tape drives being stored will be recorded.

Ron Crane is continuing his study to reduce the reactive power being generated by the German system and documenting the  true power being used by the Connecticut machine. This information will be required for planning of the up coming modifications to the room.

Jim Hunt, and Doug Martin continued their work wiring the IBM Model B transmitting typewriter.  Bill Newman brought in the circuit board that will operate the typewriter when everything is complete.

Stan Paddock