Ken Shirriff @righto.com · Jun 7 The IBM 604 Electronic Calculating Punch was introduced in 1948. Not quite a computer, it was a programmable calculator that became very popular due to its low price of $550/month, and over 5600 were produced. I have a vacuum tube module from this system, so I powered it up... 1/N
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While visiting the Timeline computer museum (UK) last year, I was lucky enough to be able to stick my head inside one of these beasts. Very cool!
The tube module acts as a high-current switch: I hooked it up to control a light bulb. The first button turns the module on with a small signal. The second button cuts the power to turn the module off. 2/N
The styling of the thing is very period. A little art deco, and a little Rockefeller Center. Computer (case) design is very stylistic and mirrors the period, like everything else does.
I'm curious to know how they were built.