IBM 7070 MAINFRAME COMPUTER SYSTEM 1960 PROMO FILM (SILENT) TRANSISTORIZED COMPUTING XD59804

Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website This (silent) 1960 film shows an IBM 7070 mainframe computer system in operation, running program to calculate customer billing for a utility (e.g., gas or oil). Introduced in 1958, the Model 7070 was IBM’s first fully transistorized stored program computer. It was part of the 700/7000 series. It used a total of about 30,000 alloy-junction germanium transistors and 22,000 germanium diodes, on approximately 14,000 SMS cards. “SMS” stands for “Standard Modular System.” Each SMS card was a field-replaceable unit, designed for a specific logical operation. Single width cards were just under 3 x 5 inches in size. Double-width cards were also used. It was a decimal-architecture intermediate data-processing system. It used magnetic core memory, available with 5,000 to 9,900 words of core memory. The film shows an IBM data center 7070 installation with numerous magnetic tape drives, a card reader, the main operator’s console, printer and other devices. Description: 00:02 “IBM Data Center sign.” 00:25 Wide angle view of the 7070 system and some of its peripherals. A computer operator is sitting at the 7150 System Console, which provides manual control of the overall operation of computer and displays the content of the core-storage memory. Shown are several IBM Model 729-II magnetic tape units. Up to 40 individual 729 tape units could be attached to one IBM 7070 computer. (The six foot tall cabinets seen at the far back of the room house the CPU, core memory and SMS circuit boards.) 00:43 Seen are 4 of the 6 units in operation, with the tape reels spinning and the tape moving inside the vertical vacuum columns of each unit; 00:48 Another operator is seen loading punch cards into a Model 7500 card reader; 01:49 An operator is threading a magnetic tape reel through the read/write heads of the tape unit. He slides up the clear Plexiglas reel cover and engages the tape drive using the control panel at the top of the machine. This unit is labeled “INPUT PROGRAM” indicating that the tape contains program instructions; 02:00 Operator loads the “INPUT CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS” tape into a different tape unit. Each tape unit has a sign at the top indicating its function in the overall data processing system; 02:25 An operator slides the number indicator (“3”) to the right, which indicates which tape unit is running which type of data; 02:40 The man at the operator console types instructions into the computer via the keyboard. 02:54 shows a close-up view of the system console; 02:59 close up view of the INPUT PROGRAM magnetic tape unit; 03:03 operation of the console carriage return printing; 03:07 close up of the printer shows date of “04/27/60”; 03:18 close up of “INPUT METER READINGS” magnetic tape unit; 03:23 close up of “INPUT CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS” magnetic tape unit; 03:29 close up of “OUTPUT REVENUE & STATISTICS MEMORANDUM INFORMATION” and “OUTPUT CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS” magnetic tape units; 03:34 console printer in operation, operator reads printed output. (The computer is processing input data from one tape unit and outputting result to the printer and to the output tape reel unit, as a demonstration of data processing functions.); 04:05 operator reads printed output at the system console; 04:08 close up of the “IBM 7070 Data Processing System” sign on the operator’s console; 04:14 wide angle view of overall computer system with Model 7400 high-speed printer in the foreground with tractor-feed paper hanging out of the back of the printer (aka “green bar” paper); 04:35 spinning magnetic tape reels and tape moving inside vacuum columns; close up of reels and capstan wheels; 04:50 close-up of “IBM 729 II” sign and tape loop activity; 05:00 another wide angle shot of computer and peripherals; 05:30 spinning tape reels; wide angle views of computer in operation; 07:04 very fast tape reel spin rewind; 07:23 view of “OUTPUT BILL REGISTER,” “BILL AMOUNT,” “BILL ADDRESS,” tape units; 07:29 threading magnetic tape reader; 08:00 tape drives working; 08:34 operator adjusts the Model 7400 printer and forms, control panel for printer close up; continuous feed, tractor-fed paper output; 09:37 slides lists benefits of the 7070 system (Reduced Installation Costs, Earlier Computer Benefits, Earlier Cost Recovery, ending slide “Sure 7070 IBM balanced data processing). The End. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit