Computer History: RCA 501 Transistorized Computer 1959 (USAF) Electronic Data Processing, Mag Tape
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- Опубликовано: 11 июл 2023
- Rare Vintage Film shows the RCA Model 501 COMPUTER of 1959 at U.S. Air Force Air Reserve Records Center. Excellent Color. If you enjoy our videos, PLEASE HELP US Preserve Technology History with a small contribution to our channel: www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted... Your contribution greatly helps! Thank you! ~ CHAP. --
The ARRC or Air Reserve Records Center, was located at 3800 York Street, Denver, Colorado. The RCA 501 Computer was a general purpose, mid to large scale computer, used for maintenance of personnel data on USAF reservists, statistical reports, controlling military reserve staff requirements and allocation of skills in the event of mobilization, preparation and control of questionnaires sent to individual reservists and preparation of mailing labels for periodicals, preparation of rosters for personnel assignment control, and determination of those eligible for discharge and preparation of applicable discharge certificates.
This unique vintage film from the 1959 to early 1960's, shows rare footage of the staff using the 501 as the narrator describes its functions and advantages. Full color, runs about 18 mins.
{RCA was the "Radio Corporation of America," an American company in existence from 1919 to 1986. At one time, it was the largest radio communications firm in the United States. RCA also produced the BIZMAC large scale vacuum tube computer, the RCA 301 and RCA 601 computers, and the later "Spectra" line. RCA sold its large computer division to Sperry Rand in 1971, due to competition from IBM.}
The 501 was designed by industrial designer John Vassos, who employed a modular design strategy, framing the computer and its components as a system and not as individual units. This design became highly successful. The 501 used high-speed magnetic-core memory, expandable from 16k to 260k characters. An optional drum memory unit could provide up to 1.5 million characters of storage. Up to 63 magnetic tape units could be installed.
RCA 501 COMPUTER INSTALLATIONS included the following by 1961:
U. S. Naval Propellant Plant, Indian Head, Maryland
Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
Air Reserve Records Center, York Street Denver, Colorado
Ordnance Weapons Command Rock Island, Illinois
Ordnance Ammunition Command Joliet, Illinois
Atlantic City Electric Company, New Jersey, EDPD
New York Electronics System Center, Wall Street New York
Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
General Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio
Raytheon Company Missile Systems Division, Andover, Mass.
RCA Astro Electronics Division, Princeton, New Jersey
RCA Electronic Data Processing Division, Camden, New Jersey
RCA Electronic Systems Ctr, Cherry Hill Plant, Merchantville, N J
RCA Service Company, Camden 8, New Jersey
RCA Service Co. Electronic Data Proc. Sales Dept, Camden, NJ
State Farm Life Insurance Company, Bloomington, Illinois
Bureau of Naval Weapons, Constitution Ave, N W., Wash D. C.
Chase Manhattan Bank, New York, N. Y.
Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey
---- Source: BRL Report 1961 (courtesy of Ed Thelen)
www.ed-thelen.org/comp-hist/B... 
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The computer AI seems pretty advanced, able to speak with a clear and concise voice. Siri and Google can learn from that. 😎
Thanks for the video CHAP.
The industrial design of the 501 was by John Vassos, who did some beautiful Art Deco design work during his career at RCA. He designed the innovative, ergonomic, color coordinated console for the 501 and the overall modular design of the system.
Did Stanley Kubrick use his services when filming 2001: A Space Odyssey?
@@nicholasmaude6906 Not as far as I know. Vassos spent the bulk of his career at RCA, but he did do some outside consulting, so it's not impossible.
535k (wow) in the USAF Reserve then, 70.5k now. 840k active duty USAF then, 329k now. Even more impressive since the US population was 173 million then, 340 million now.
I enjoy stories about computers because I like seeing people use them. As a computer user as an end user, I appreciate modern computer technology. Hence, I own a microcomputer, along with a color laser printer and a label printer, and they all make business tasks done conveniently as easily, without becoming mundane, thanks to my keyboarding skills. I wish that Computer History Archives Project is alive and working in this year 2023.
Hi @captainkeyboard1007, Thanks very much for your feedback and continued interest! Glad to have you on board as a viewer and commenter! We have more videos planned and enjoy sharing these with our valued viewers. We receive no funding from any ads, even though YT runs the ads. We rely on viewer support. We plan to keep going in 2023 and beyond, with the help and support of viewers. Thanks again! ~ Victor, CHAP
That opening statement regarding 'brain' and 'truthful' and 'only as good as my planners' is possibly very relevant for today, perhaps. I'm looking at you A.I. 😉
14:17 Doxxing, 1959 style. I see you, Shoemaker, Arthur of 2300 Blain Street, Brunswick GA. 😁
Interesting
WOW! That computer could talk?? SCNR
Very good show! Thank you...
I wouldn't be upset if I had a control panel like that for my work computer 😄
Me too !!!
yeah, the ultimate in "das blinkenlights" 🙂
Gotta say... Jam Handy would have done a better job! Thanks for posting!
The most inaccurate scenes are the lack of overflowing ashtrays and butt cans and cancer sticks hanging out of people's mouths. Even in the early 19880's my USAF experience was that the smokers always got what they wanted in terms of smoking - non smokers be dammed.
Reading at the amazing speed of 33,000 characters per second! No one will ever need faster than that 🙂
Funny watching the lady drop the cards on the floor & kick them under her desk
I wonder if/when the RCA 1802 microprocessor replaced or updated the 501 computer.
It would be fascinating to learn more about COMLOGNET (17:53). A computer communications network planned in the 50s!?
Does anybody know if this is what became ARPANET, the forerunner of the internet we're using to watch this video?
Hi @RottnRobbie, Thanks for your comment. COMLOGNET has interesting historical connections. It was created around 1958 by a collaboration of Western Union, RCA and IBM. The customer was the U.S. Air Force. There is a fascinating history posted at the following link. (We would like to do a deeper dive on this technology some time in the future.)
military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Automatic_Digital_Network
~ VK, CHAP
@@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject Thanks!
Very inspiring video. For further generations of programmers. I am curious if the "storage" has the same inflation as money. So 1 magnetic tape reel is equal to today's TeraBytes..
Good question! It is a little hard to compare today's magnetic tapes with those of 1959, but some general info is interesting to consider. An early magnetic tape reel from 1959 to 1960, might hold about 1.1 megabytes of data.
Cost of one tape reel back then might be in the $15 range (or $150 in 2023 money). However, today's magnetic tape storage devices can put 50 to 100 terabytes of data on a single tape, but the tape and the storage method is different from that used in 1960. But your suggestion sounds very valid. Data storage is vastly cheaper today and prices deceased much faster than expected. It is fascinating how much data we can store today, in such a small space and this capacity is increasing. thanks very much for your comment and feedback! ~
National data networks in the 50s.
Number built and sold?
Hi @winstonsmith478, we know that at least 24 had been made as of March 1961. The full system price tag (not including the Air Force's special discount) was about $250,000 per machine in 1959. By the early 1960's, IBM had grabbed a growing share of the big computer market, due to competition, it is unlikely that RCA sold many more Model 501 machines after the mid 1960's. The delivery time from order placement to delivery was about 12 months. Source BRL Report 1961. Maybe a max of 30 sold, but that is a guesstimate. Hope this helps. ~ VK
So primitive. Todays computers will be primitive in 25 years.
I doubt the commies had anything close to this in '59.