I am spending a lot of time working on the COBOL21 side of the PRIMA
website at the moment.
Today I managed to get some pages that are nearly 8 years old
refurbished and updated.
There will be free stuff when the site is finally released (not too far
away now...) and part of this is a component written in Ye Olde Ancient COBOL (1974) for an IBM mainframe.
The page will be part of a larger series of pages that explores the
whole idea of components, objects and layers, and why I think this stuff
is important for anyone who wants to program applications for the Network.
Anyway, I found a photo that kind of tugged at my heartstrings :-) and
I've put it on the page.
The scene is an IBM 360/40 which is very close to the first one I worked
on in 1969...
BUT, I have a problem with it.
In the picture there, is a guy sitting down at a device that I simply
don't recognize. I can't see any disk drives in the picture but they
could be out of shot (or they may have been running TOS).
I would be grateful if anyone here can identify and give us some
information on what the mysterious device is that guy seems to be eating
his lunch in front of (a firing offence on most sites I worked on...)
Any thoughts?
Here's the link:
http://primacomputing.co.nz/PRIMAMetro/S2NTestServer.aspx
Pete.
On 11/09/2017 6:42 PM, pete dashwood wrote:
I just had a closer look at it and I'm pretty sure it is actually a
system 370 in the picture... :-)
The console is very similar to our old system 360.
BTW, please do have a go at trying the component further down the page
and see if you can "break" it. I spent a few hours writing the C# code behind that drives it so I'd be glad to see people using it... :-)
Pete.
<previous snipped>
The scene is an IBM 360/40 which is very close to the first one I worked[snip]
on in 1969...
Any thoughts?Looks like a 360/44, to me. I saw one back in 1974. It was used for
Here's the link:
http://primacomputing.co.nz/PRIMAMetro/S2NTestServer.aspx
On Mon Sep 11,2017 2:52 AM, pete dashwood wrote:
On 11/09/2017 6:42 PM, pete dashwood wrote:
I just had a closer look at it and I'm pretty sure it is actually a
system 370 in the picture... :-)
The console is very similar to our old system 360.
BTW, please do have a go at trying the component further down the page
and see if you can "break" it. I spent a few hours writing the C# code
behind that drives it so I'd be glad to see people using it... :-)
Pete.
<previous snipped>
I would not agree Pete - I think the /370 front panels all had BLACK backgrounds - that sure looks like a 360/40 to me... another thing: I
think the /370 did away with the toggle switches (except for perhaps a couple? - not rows and rows of them)
As for that device that looks like a large display with a pen input tablet... no idea. Never saw anything like that. I do remember using and seeing a DataCell - the gazillion pound (as in weight) rotating disk
storage unit...
BUT, I have a problem with it.
In the picture there, is a guy sitting down at a device that I simply
don't recognize. I can't see any disk drives in the picture but they
could be out of shot (or they may have been running TOS).
I would be grateful if anyone here can identify and give us some
information on what the mysterious device is that guy seems to be
eating his lunch in front of (a firing offence on most sites I worked
on...)
Any thoughts?
Here's the link:
http://primacomputing.co.nz/PRIMAMetro/S2NTestServer.aspx
Pete.
Pete,
It looks to me like he is writing on a piece of paper instead of eating
his lunch.
just be a poster taped to the box.-a Unfortunately I have no idea what
the box would be, but my best guess is a core memory expansion unit.
It's about twice the size of a 64K CORE memory box.-a That's those little magnetic donuts with three wires threaded through each hole.-a This was
long before integrated circuits or transistor memory.
Here are a some other IBM-360 pictures you might find interesting:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_System/360#/media/File:Supercomputer_NSA-IBM360_85.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_System/360#/media/File:Bundesarchiv_B_145_Bild-F038812-0014,_Wolfsburg,_VW_Autowerk.jpg
https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1024&bih=638&q=images+of+ibm-360&oq=images+of+ibm-360&gs_l=img.3...1436.5108.0.5663.19.17.0.0.0.0.257.2162.0j11j2.13.0....0...1.1.64.img..6.10.1766.0..0j0i24k1j0i30k1.gYZsdb67tjg
The last is just a search of Google Images for "images of ibm-360".
On Monday, September 11, 2017 at 2:42:36 AM UTC-4, pete dashwood wrote:
[snip]
The scene is an IBM 360/40 which is very close to the first one I worked
on in 1969...
[snip]
Any thoughts?
Here's the link:
http://primacomputing.co.nz/PRIMAMetro/S2NTestServer.aspx
Looks like a 360/44, to me. I saw one back in 1974. It was used for simulation.
< https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fimage.slidesharecdn.com%2Fprogramminginthe1960s-140630202244-phpapp01%2F95%2Fprogramming-in-the-1960s-16-638.jpg%3Fcb%3D1404159839&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slideshare.net%2Flenbass%2Fprogramming-in-the-1960s&docid=D2vU8HO18m9bQM&tbnid=91dDoKnkKDI0IM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwibpu3e6J3WAhUil1QKHdwCCFEQMwg2KA8wDw..i&w=638&h=479&bih=898&biw=1265&q=ibm%20360%2F44&ved=0ahUKEwibpu3e6J3WAhUil1QKHdwCCFEQMwg2KA8wDw&iact=mrc&uact=8 >
On 12/09/2017 7:47 AM, Rick Smith wrote:Magnified, the image being studied by the guy at the desk,
On Monday, September 11, 2017 at 2:42:36 AM UTC-4, pete dashwood wrote:
[snip]
The scene is an IBM 360/40 which is very close to the first one I worked >> on in 1969...
[snip]
Any thoughts?
Here's the link:
http://primacomputing.co.nz/PRIMAMetro/S2NTestServer.aspx
Looks like a 360/44, to me. I saw one back in 1974. It was used for simulation.
< https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fimage.slidesharecdn.com%2Fprogramminginthe1960s-140630202244-phpapp01%2F95%2Fprogramming-in-the-1960s-16-638.jpg%3Fcb%3D1404159839&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slideshare.net%2Flenbass%2Fprogramming-in-the-1960s&docid=D2vU8HO18m9bQM&tbnid=91dDoKnkKDI0IM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwibpu3e6J3WAhUil1QKHdwCCFEQMwg2KA8wDw..i&w=638&h=479&bih=898&biw=1265&q=ibm%20360%2F44&ved=0ahUKEwibpu3e6J3WAhUil1QKHdwCCFEQMwg2KA8wDw&iact=mrc&uact=8 >
Thanks Rick.
No thoughts on what the mystery device might be?
I am spending a lot of time working on the COBOL21 side of the PRIMA
website at the moment.
Today I managed to get some pages that are nearly 8 years old
refurbished and updated.
There will be free stuff when the site is finally released (not too far
away now...) and part of this is a component written in Ye Olde Ancient >COBOL (1974) for an IBM mainframe.
The page will be part of a larger series of pages that explores the
whole idea of components, objects and layers, and why I think this stuff
is important for anyone who wants to program applications for the Network.
Anyway, I found a photo that kind of tugged at my heartstrings :-) and
I've put it on the page.
The scene is an IBM 360/40 which is very close to the first one I worked
on in 1969...
BUT, I have a problem with it.
In the picture there, is a guy sitting down at a device that I simply
don't recognize. I can't see any disk drives in the picture but they
could be out of shot (or they may have been running TOS).
I would be grateful if anyone here can identify and give us some
information on what the mysterious device is that guy seems to be eating
his lunch in front of (a firing offence on most sites I worked on...)
Any thoughts?
Here's the link:
http://primacomputing.co.nz/PRIMAMetro/S2NTestServer.aspx
On 12/09/2017 2:47 AM, Kerry Liles wrote:
On Mon Sep 11,2017 2:52 AM, pete dashwood wrote:Hmmm... It is hard to be certain and the console itself certainly looks
On 11/09/2017 6:42 PM, pete dashwood wrote:
I just had a closer look at it and I'm pretty sure it is actually a
system 370 in the picture... :-)
The console is very similar to our old system 360.
BTW, please do have a go at trying the component further down the page
and see if you can "break" it. I spent a few hours writing the C# code
behind that drives it so I'd be glad to see people using it... :-)
Pete.
<previous snipped>
I would not agree Pete - I think the /370 front panels all had BLACK
backgrounds - that sure looks like a 360/40 to me... another thing: I
think the /370 did away with the toggle switches (except for perhaps a
couple? - not rows and rows of them)
As for that device that looks like a large display with a pen input
tablet... no idea. Never saw anything like that. I do remember using and
seeing a DataCell - the gazillion pound (as in weight) rotating disk
storage unit...
360, but I think the bar across the top of it says "System 370".
On Mon, 11 Sep 2017 18:42:29 +1200, pete dashwood
<[email protected]> wrote:
Any thoughts?
Here's the link:
http://primacomputing.co.nz/PRIMAMetro/S2NTestServer.aspx
The terminal to his right is almost certainly a 2250, which was used
for graphics and CAD-like applications. The device to his left/front,
while I've never actually seen one in person, and can't seem to find a picture on the Internet, might a 2285 ("Display Copier"), which could
produce hardcopy from the terminals.
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/2250/A27-2723-0_2250mod4Descr.pdf
I am spending a lot of time working on the COBOL21 side of the PRIMA
website at the moment.
Today I managed to get some pages that are nearly 8 years old
refurbished and updated.
There will be free stuff when the site is finally released (not too far
away now...) and part of this is a component written in Ye Olde Ancient >COBOL (1974) for an IBM mainframe.
The page will be part of a larger series of pages that explores the
whole idea of components, objects and layers, and why I think this stuff
is important for anyone who wants to program applications for the Network.
Anyway, I found a photo that kind of tugged at my heartstrings :-) and
I've put it on the page.
The scene is an IBM 360/40 which is very close to the first one I worked
on in 1969...
BUT, I have a problem with it.
In the picture there, is a guy sitting down at a device that I simply
don't recognize. I can't see any disk drives in the picture but they
could be out of shot (or they may have been running TOS).
I would be grateful if anyone here can identify and give us some
information on what the mysterious device is that guy seems to be eating
his lunch in front of (a firing offence on most sites I worked on...)
Any thoughts?
Here's the link:
http://primacomputing.co.nz/PRIMAMetro/S2NTestServer.aspx
On Monday, September 11, 2017 at 7:31:39 PM UTC-4, pete dashwood wrote:
On 12/09/2017 7:47 AM, Rick Smith wrote:
On Monday, September 11, 2017 at 2:42:36 AM UTC-4, pete dashwood wrote:
[snip]
The scene is an IBM 360/40 which is very close to the first one I worked >>>> on in 1969...
[snip]
Any thoughts?
Here's the link:
http://primacomputing.co.nz/PRIMAMetro/S2NTestServer.aspx
Looks like a 360/44, to me. I saw one back in 1974. It was used for
simulation.
< https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fimage.slidesharecdn.com%2Fprogramminginthe1960s-140630202244-phpapp01%2F95%2Fprogramming-in-the-1960s-16-638.jpg%3Fcb%3D1404159839&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slideshare.net%2Flenbass%2Fprogramming-in-the-1960s&docid=D2vU8HO18m9bQM&tbnid=91dDoKnkKDI0IM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwibpu3e6J3WAhUil1QKHdwCCFEQMwg2KA8wDw..i&w=638&h=479&bih=898&biw=1265&q=ibm%20360%2F44&ved=0ahUKEwibpu3e6J3WAhUil1QKHdwCCFEQMwg2KA8wDw&iact=mrc&uact=8 >
Thanks Rick.
No thoughts on what the mystery device might be?
Magnified, the image being studied by the guy at the desk,
appears to be graphs of two intersecting functions. So,
some kind of graphics processor and display. That would be
consistent with the types of special devices used with the
360/44. The image I referenced shows a digital plotter and
what appears to be a graphics display unit.
< https://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/mainframe/mainframe_PP2044.html
mentions common interconnected devices.
< https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_System/360_Model_44 >
discusses some uses for the 360/44. They include: "scientific
computing, real-time computing, process control and Numerical
Control (NC)".
The 360/44 I saw was connected to a flight simulator. My job,
at that time, was to install and service a two-channel device
connected to both the 360/44 and a 360/65.
-----
Hurricane Irma blew through this morning. It is truly amazing
how much damaged flora it left in my yard!
On Mon, 11 Sep 2017 18:42:29 +1200, pete dashwood
<[email protected]> wrote:
I am spending a lot of time working on the COBOL21 side of the PRIMA
website at the moment.
Today I managed to get some pages that are nearly 8 years old
refurbished and updated.
There will be free stuff when the site is finally released (not too far
away now...) and part of this is a component written in Ye Olde Ancient
COBOL (1974) for an IBM mainframe.
The page will be part of a larger series of pages that explores the
whole idea of components, objects and layers, and why I think this stuff
is important for anyone who wants to program applications for the Network. >>
Anyway, I found a photo that kind of tugged at my heartstrings :-) and
I've put it on the page.
The scene is an IBM 360/40 which is very close to the first one I worked
on in 1969...
BUT, I have a problem with it.
In the picture there, is a guy sitting down at a device that I simply
don't recognize. I can't see any disk drives in the picture but they
could be out of shot (or they may have been running TOS).
I would be grateful if anyone here can identify and give us some
information on what the mysterious device is that guy seems to be eating
his lunch in front of (a firing offence on most sites I worked on...)
Any thoughts?
Here's the link:
http://primacomputing.co.nz/PRIMAMetro/S2NTestServer.aspx
The terminal to his right is almost certainly a 2250, which was used
for graphics and CAD-like applications. The device to his left/front,
while I've never actually seen one in person, and can't seem to find a picture on the Internet, might a 2285 ("Display Copier"), which could
produce hardcopy from the terminals.
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/2250/A27-2723-0_2250mod4Descr.pdf
BTW, do you know that the above page has "Test the String2Num
validation function, running as a COM component on our server..." at
the top?
On Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 11:20:24 AM UTC-4, [email protected] wrote:
On Mon, 11 Sep 2017 18:42:29 +1200, pete dashwood
<[email protected]> wrote:
[snip]
Any thoughts?
Here's the link:
http://primacomputing.co.nz/PRIMAMetro/S2NTestServer.aspx
The terminal to his right is almost certainly a 2250, which was used
for graphics and CAD-like applications. The device to his left/front,
while I've never actually seen one in person, and can't seem to find a
picture on the Internet, might a 2285 ("Display Copier"), which could
produce hardcopy from the terminals.
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/2250/A27-2723-0_2250mod4Descr.pdf
< http://www.ibm1130.net/functional/DisplayUnit.html >
shows an IBM 2285 Display Copier, near the bottom.
On 13/09/2017 4:23 PM, Robert Wessel wrote:
<snipped>
Yes. That is what the page is really about. If you scroll down you
BTW, do you know that the above page has "Test the String2Num
validation function, running as a COM component on our server..." at
the top?
should be able to input a string and have the component check it.
On Wed, 13 Sep 2017 16:30:10 +1200, pete dashwood
<[email protected]> wrote:
On 13/09/2017 4:23 PM, Robert Wessel wrote:
<snipped>
Yes. That is what the page is really about. If you scroll down you
BTW, do you know that the above page has "Test the String2Num
validation function, running as a COM component on our server..." at
the top?
should be able to input a string and have the component check it.
Ah, it looked like an error message of some sort being tossed into the
page, I didn't look too closely at the rest of it. And it seems to do
work OK for me (or at least it does something... ;-) ).
| Sysop: | DaiTengu |
|---|---|
| Location: | Appleton, WI |
| Users: | 924 |
| Nodes: | 10 (1 / 9) |
| Uptime: | 117:35:31 |
| Calls: | 12,236 |
| Calls today: | 9 |
| Files: | 186,539 |
| Messages: | 2,244,464 |
