History
The following pages present an accurate account of the history of the IBM 1620
Data Processing System.
Five different approaches are used to present the information:
- Chronology - A chronological listing of key
milestones.
- Narrative - The IBM 1620 history told as a
narrative story.
- Significance - The IBM 1620's unique place in
computer history.
- People - The IBM'ers responsible for the 1620.
- Trivia - Miscellaneous facts and interesting tidbits
about the IBM 1620.
Three variations of the IBM 1620 were actually produced:
- IBM 1620 Model 1 - The original system produced. The basic system was a
single cabinet containing power supplies, 20,000 digit core memory, logic
and control circuitry, operator controls, indicator lights and a console
typewriter.
- IBM 1620 Model 2 - A mid-life update system with higher clock speed, faster
memory and a few more options than the Model 1. Unless it was timing
dependent or manipulated the add table, any program written for the Model 1
would also run on a Model 2.
- IBM 1710 - A process control system built from an IBM 1620 Model 1 or 2
processing unit and a 1711 Data Converter unit.
This web site contains information about all three systems.
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