Artifact Details

Title

SAGE: One half of Radar Console

Catalog Number

X269.83

Type

Physical object

Description

A loose side panel is wrapped to the side of the object. There is a clear plastic display cover that has been added to the object. There is a label attached to the front which reads "Simplex maintenance console- this maintenance console monitored and controlled all of the Q-7's Input and Output equipment". Alternative label copy: SAGE console, 1958 This console was the user interface to the SAGE (Semi- Automatic Ground Environment) computer system known as the "FSQ-7." Begun in 1952 (and operational six years later), SAGE became the first U.S. continental air defense system, linking dozens of radar stations, weather bureaus, airports, and air force command centers together into a real-time early warning system. It comprised redundant CPUs, modems, "light gun" input, and earned its IBM, its prime contractor, over $1 billion in revenues over the life of the system. Despite it's complement of more than 50,000 vacuum tubes, the FSQ-7 was highly reliable (> 99.97% uptime).

Date

1958

Manufacturer

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)

Place Manufactured

U.S.

Identifying Numbers

Other number C42 CHIBOUGAMAU In center of front of unit on blue Dynotape
Other number SYRACUSE / Z10 21st NORAD DIV In upper left of front of unit on blue Dynotape

Dimensions

overall: 69 in x 57 1/4 in x 32 1/4 in

Category

I/O/display/CRT

Credit

Gift of National Museum of Science and Technology - Ottawa

Lot Number

X269.83