Descriptive
summary
|
creator: |
Husband,
William S. |
|
title: |
Computer
Manufacturing Collection |
|
dates: |
1950-2005, n.d. |
|
extent: |
3.78
linear ft. (9 document boxes) |
|
collection
number: |
RS
21/7/187
|
|
repository: |
University
Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State
University. |
Administrative
information
|
access: |
Open for research |
|
publication rights: |
Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
|
preferred
citation: |
William S. Husband Computer Manufacturing Collection,
21/7/187 Special Collections Department, Iowa State
University Library. |
|
Biographical note
|
|
William S. Husband received a B.S. (1962) in chemistry
from Iowa State University. He is a retired Vice
President of Technology from AT&T Capital Systems
Leasing Division in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The
Systems Leasing Division became part of CIT Corporation
when Mr. Husband retired. He currently resides in
Louisville, Kentucky.
|
|
Collection
Description
|
|
This collection (1950-2005, n.d.) contains a
comprehensive overview of a variety of important
computer vendors and their products. During this time
the first generation of stored program computers were
introduced and were followed by years of incredible
growth. The bulk of the information in this collection
represent the period 1965-1991, emphasizing IBM’s medium
and large-scale mainframes and peripherals.
Collectively, the IBM Price
Lists and Equipment Overview folders provide an
extensive official record of IBM products, their
functions, and other data covering the period 1950-1995.
The following
folders are worthy of special note, because of the
rarity of the information or in depth details the
information provides.
- IBM
Price Lists from July 1966-1974
(box 3, folders 13-20).
These folders contain a reasonably complete IBM Sales
Manual for all IBM products introduced between 1950 and
1974. The 1966 file includes all IBM’s System/360
processors and peripherals. The 1401 series processors
and peripherals, as well as some older 70xx
(7010/7040/707) series peripherals are also included.
The 1974 file includes all of IBM’s System/370
processors and peripherals introduced in the time period
from 1971-1974, plus the older S/360 series processors
and peripherals. The documents include the rental,
purchase and maintenance costs for each IBM product and
a summary of the functional characteristics of each
product. The Computer Price Watch folders (1981-1991)
and Daley (1991) provide similar information for
computers and peripherals announced by IBM, Amdahl,
National Advanced Systems, and other vendors during the
period 1975-1991.
- IBM
Equipment Overview
(box 1, folder 3).
This folder contains IBM sales manual records, grouped
into 7 categories.
1.
Index of Machines: This is a list of IBM "System
families” and the machines that operate or attach to a
given system from 1981 -1987.
2. MP 1 Machine Preface-IBM: The information lists
machines currently in the product line dated 1980-1988.
3. MP2 Machine Preface: This is a listing of IBM
machines formerly in the product line during 1986-1988
and contains most IBM machines types 0001-9902, which
were introduced between the years of 1948-1988. It
contains information on machine name, the date withdrawn
from marketing, and maintenance.
4. U.S. Product Life Cycle Dates: The folder contains a
list of IBM machines introduced primarily during
1988-1995 with some dating as early as 1978. This folder
includes date of announcement, date available, date
withdrawn from marketing, and date withdrawn from
service.
5. Machines withdrawn from Maintenance: This has
machine description, and date withdrawn from
maintenance.
6. Product Summary/ Machine Preface: The data in this
folder explains each machine type, product name, and the
functions they perform.
7.
IBM Machines withdrawn: This information details what
IBM machines were withdrawn from marketing and
maintenance during the time of 1980-1986.
-
IBM Maintenance Availability (box 3, folder 4).
This folder contains data illustrating date of shipment,
and withdrawal for many important IBM products from
1953-1996.
- IBM
Pre-1965 Key Developments
(box 3, folder 12).
This is a summary of
key product introductions and early products. There are
3 articles titled; "Systems Testing at IBM” published in
1960, "IBM vs. Remrand” and "IBM's New System/360"
- IBM
Software Life Cycle Dates
(box 4, folder 3).
Within this folder is a listing of many IBM
software products announced in 1978-1995. It contains
program number, date announced, date available, date
withdrawn from marketing, date service was withdrawn and
replacement product information.
- IBM
Tape (box
4, folder 10). The contents of this folder is
an IBM brochure titled; “Celebrating
Forty Years of Tape 1952-1992”. It traces the
development of IBM’s major magnetic tape products,
including functional characteristics.
- CPU
Characteristics (box 7, folder 8). The majority
of information contained in this folder provides
information from a variety of major computer
manufacturers regarding processor performance and
functional characteristics plus special features,
including the date of introduction, and pricing. This
folder contains extensive data from the 1970-1990 time
periods.
- Capacity
Performance-Mips (box 6, folder 3). Information
provided in this folder is from a variety of major
computer manufacturers regarding processor performance
or Mips (millions of instructions per second). The
information covers a broad range of mainframes
introduced during the period of 1964-2000. The
manufacturers included are; Amdahl (AMD), Burroughs,
Control Data, Digital Equipment, Honeywell, Hitachi Data
Systems (HDS), IBM, Itel, National Advanced Systems
(NAS), NCR, Sperry-Univac, as well as other various
vendors.
Also included in this folder is
information on methods of calculating the effective
throughput (performance) of IBM’s magnetic tapes and
disk drives. In addition to performance data, many
records include a summary of major product functional
characteristics, date of introduction, and pricing.
- DEC
(Digital Equipment Corporation) (box 5, folders
1-2). This
information details the DEC Family Tree and includes a
chart illustrating the evolution of PDP-8, PDP-11, VAX
and DEC system families.
- Life
Cycles + Obsolescence (box 9, folder 3). This
information provides detailed charts illustrating the
life cycle from beginning of the date of first shipment
through the date of maintenance withdrawal. It
illustrates periods of rapid change or price
improvements, and providing reasons why and how products
become obsolete.
- Computer
Price Watch (CPW) 1981-1991
(box 8, folder 4-10).
CPW is a monthly publication and the files generally
contain all issues within a given year. Each issue
covers all mainframe processors, disk and tape storage
manufactured by the principal mainframe vendors. The
data provided includes manufacture’s list purchase
price, discounted net price, and used prices. The
information details relative performance of processors,
storage capacity of disk/tapes. The principal vendors
include IBM, Amdahl, Hitachi Data Systems, National
Advanced Systems, Itel, and other manufacturers.
- Technology
Futures Folder
(box 9, folder 7).
This folder contains two brochures that illustrate the
evolution of technology and its impact on products
available. The brochures are titled; “An Invitation to
the Future…Hitachi Data Systems” and "Eye on IBM", an
IBM Innovation Seminar handout.
- Celebrating
Forty Years of Tape 1952-1992
(box 4, folder 10).
This unusual well done IBM brochure traces the
development of IBM’s major magnetic tape products,
including functional characteristics.
Listed below are
computer history Web sites of note:
Charles
Babbage Institute: http://www.cbi.umn.edu/collections/index.html
Computer
History Links:
http://www.vii.org/afcomhis.htm
Computer
History: http://www.komkon.org/fms/comp/
Computer
Industry History: http://www.elsop.com/wrc/h_comput.htm
Computer History Association of
California:
http://www.chac.org/chhistpg.html#HistPg_TopicIdx
To provide better access to the
collection, following the container list is an index of
subject cross references.
William Husband
provided the description of the collection. |
|
Organization
|
|
The
collection is arranged in its original order. |
Container
list
|
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
|
1 |
1 |
|
1950-2000 |
|
1 |
2 |
Biographical Information |
n.d. |
|
1 |
3 |
IBM
Equipment Overview - Several sets of IBM sales
manual records organized by machine type |
1981 |
|
1 |
4-5 |
IBM
2064 - Product Announcements and Overviews |
2000 |
|
1 |
6-7 |
IBM
2100-2129 - Product Announcements, IBM Seminar
Material, Product Performance Data |
2000 |
|
1 |
8 |
IBM
3494 - IBM Product Announcements |
2001 |
|
1 |
9 |
IBM
3580-3589 - IBM Product Announcements |
2000 |
|
1 |
10 |
IBM
3590 - IBM Product Announcements |
1999 |
|
2 |
1 |
IBM
9390-9395 - IBM Product Announcements + IBM Direct
Sales Catalog |
1994 |
|
2 |
2 |
IBM
9393 |
1997 |
|
2 |
3 |
IBM
9401-9406 Overviews - Configuration Details and
Prices of all AS/400 Models; Performance
Characteristics and Benchmarks (RAMP-C, CPW) |
1995-1999 |
|
2 |
4 |
IBM
9401-9406 Catalogs - IBM Direct Catalogs + Price
Lists |
1999 |
|
2 |
5 |
IBM
9401-9406 Withdrawn Products |
1999 |
|
2 |
6 |
IBM
9672 - IBM Announcements |
1998 |
|
2 |
7 |
IBM
Multiprise 2000 |
1997 |
|
3 |
1 |
IBM
Multiprise 3000 |
1999 |
|
3 |
2 |
IBM
Personal Computer History - History of IBM Machine
Types, Models, Microprocessor, Date Shipped, Date
Withdrawn from Marketing, List PP, and Major
Features |
1984-1993 |
|
3 |
3 |
IBM
RS/6000 |
1992-1995 |
|
3 |
4 |
IBM
RS/6000 |
1997-1999 |
|
3 |
5 |
IBM
Series 1 - Summary of Major Products Announced |
n.d. |
|
3 |
6 |
IBM
System S/3 - Summary of Major Products Announced |
n.d. |
|
3 |
7 |
IBM
System 34, S/36, S/38 - Summary of Major Products
Announced |
n.d. |
|
3 |
8 |
IBM
System /360, S/370, S/390 Cost/MIP History -
Price/Performance History of Most Major Processors;
Includes Detailed Cost/MIP and Memory Costs by
Model; Summary of Disk Storage Cost/MB |
1990 |
|
3 |
9 |
IBM
S/360, S/370, S/390 History Evolution - Overviews |
1990 |
|
3 |
10 |
IBM
Disk Storage - Summary of Major Products Announced
and Specifications |
n.d. |
|
3 |
11 |
IBM
Maintenance Availability History - Tables
Illustrating Date of Shipment, and Withdrawal for
Many Important IBM Products |
n.d. |
|
3 |
12 |
IBM
Pre 1965 Key Developments - Summary of Key Products
Introductions; Various Early Products; Article:
”Systems Testing of IBM” Article: “IBM vs Remrand”
and Article; “IBM’s New System/360” |
1950-1964 |
|
3 |
13 |
IBM
Price List July 1966 - Pricing and Functional
Characteristics of Most IBM Products Introduced
Between 1950-1966; All of IBM’s 1401 and System/360
Processors and Peripherals and Some Older
70xx(7010/7040/7070) Series Peripherals |
1950-1966 |
|
3 |
14 |
IBM
Price Changes June 1969 |
1969 |
|
3 |
15 |
IBM
Price List |
1972 |
|
3 |
16 |
IBM
Price Changes Nov. 1973 |
1973 |
|
3 |
17 |
IBM
Price List Feb. 1974 part 1 - Rental, Purchase and
Maintenance Costs and a Summary of the Functional
Characteristics of Each Product. Includes all of
IBM’s System/370 Processors and Peripherals
Introduced Between 1971-1974 and the Older S/360
Series Processors and Peripherals |
1974 |
|
3 |
18 |
IBM
Price List Feb. 1974 part 2 - Rental, Purchase and
Maintenance Costs and a Summary of the Functional
Characteristics of Each Product. Includes all of
IBM’s System/370 Processors and Peripherals
Introduced Between 1971-1974 and the Older S/360
Series Processors and Peripherals |
1974 |
|
3 |
19 |
IBM
Price Changes Sept. 1974 |
1975 |
|
3 |
20 |
IBM
Price Changes Sept. 1975 |
1975 |
|
4 |
1 |
IBM
Printers - Glossary of Terms; Historical Data,
Functional Characteristics, Various Analysis of
Economic Life, Cost of Operation |
1997 |
|
4 |
2 |
IBM/SAA - Articles + Charts Regarding System
Application Architecture: IBM’s First Effort at
Combining its Different Processor Architectures into
a Future Technology |
1990 |
|
4 |
3 |
IBM
Software Lifecycle Dates - Listing of Many IBM
Software Products Announced 1978-1995 (most are from
1998-1995): Program Number, Date Announced, Date
Available, Date Withdrawn from Marketing, Date
Service Withdrawn, and Replacement Product Program
With the Name Not Shown. |
1995-1997 |
|
4 |
4 |
IBM
Software OS SYS-AIX - Product Announcements and
Analysis |
2001 |
|
4 |
5 |
IBM
Software OS -0S/2 - Product Announcements and
Analysis |
1996 |
|
4 |
6 |
IBM
Software (os) VSE - History and Evolution of IBM's
Principal Mainframe OS: MVS/XA, V2, V3, V4, V5
Pamphlet: "S/390 Software Pricing Reference Guide";
IBM Announcement: "PSLC Level D Price
Announcement..." |
1989 |
|
4 |
7 |
IBM
Software (os) TPF - TPF was an Operating System used
by the Airlines, Banks, and Credit Card Companies
for High Speed Transaction and Passenger Reservation
Processing. Various Articles + History |
1990 |
|
4 |
8 |
IBM
Software VM |
1996 |
|
4 |
9 |
IBM Software (os) VSE -
Various
Life Cycle + Obsolescence Charts and Analysis |
1989 |
|
4 |
10 |
IBM Tape
Brochure -
“Celebrating Forty Years of Tape 1952-1992” (traces
the development of IBM’s major magnetic tape
products, including functional characteristics)
Charts and Analysis of Various IBM Mainframe Tapes |
1992 |
|
4 |
11 |
Amdahl Brochure - Corporate Background (1989),
Specifications for 5995 and Millennium (CMOS)
Servers and Disk Storage Products |
1997 |
|
4 |
12 |
Apple Computer - Macintosh Specifications; Events in
Corporate History |
1997 |
|
4 |
13 |
Auspex Systems - Specifications for NetServer (NS)
7000 NS 8000 |
1995 |
|
4 |
14 |
Bull, HN (formerly Honeywell) - DPS&000 DPX/20
Specifications |
1997 |
|
4 |
15 |
Burroughs (became Unisys) -
B8500
Announcement; B1955, B2900, B4955, B5900, B6900,
B7800 Specifications. A-Series Announcement |
1965 |
|
4 |
16 |
Control Data - 7600 Performance, Cyber 180, 910,
930, 960, 990 Announcements; Cyber Specifications |
1987 |
|
4 |
17 |
Cray Research - J90, SV1, T3E, T90, T94, T916, T932,
X-MP, Y-MP , 2S Overview/Specifications; SEC Form
10K 1995; First Ship History Various Models |
1988 |
|
4 |
18 |
Data General - Specifications: AViiON AV 20000
AV2200, 2300, 2700, 3700, 5900, 8600, 8700, 8900,
20000, 250000, MV1400 DC, MV 2000 DC |
1999 |
|
5 |
1 |
Digital Equipment - DEC Family Tree (1 page chart
illustrating evolution of PDP-8, PDP-11, VAX and DEC
system families); Four Years of Market Highlights
(1986-1990), Chart Summarizes Key Events/Product
Introductions; Advertisement for Introduction of
PDP-5, PDP-7, PDP-8. Specifications/Overviews for
Various DEC Processors 1964-2000 (1 of 2) |
1989 |
|
5 |
2 |
Digital Equipment - DEC Family Tree (1 page chart
illustrating evolution of PDP-8, PDP-11, VAX and DEC
system families); Four Years of Market Highlights
(1986-1990) Chart Summarizes Key Events/Product
Introductions; Advertisement for Introduction of
PDP-5, PDP-7, PDP-8. Specifications/Overviews for
Various DEC Processors 1964-2000 (2 of 2) |
1989 |
|
5 |
3 |
General Electric - Announcement Brief GE 625, 635;
Article Titled: "Computer Characteristics Chart” for
Additional Information. |
1964 |
|
5 |
4 |
Hewlett-Packard HP 3000 - Processor Announcements,
Specifications, and Overviews; see also HP-9000
Folder |
1997 |
|
5 |
5 |
Hewlett-Packard HP 9000 - Processor Announcements,
Specifications, and Overviews: A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, K, J, N, T , V Class Servers and Workstations;
HP-9000 Model 300, 400, 700, 800 and 900 Series
Servers and Workstations |
1998 |
|
5 |
6 |
Hewlett-Packard HP 9000 - Processor Announcements,
Specifications, and Overviews: A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, K, J, N, T , V Class Servers and Workstations;
HP-9000 Model 300, 400, 700, 800 and 900 Series
Servers and Workstations |
1998 |
|
5 |
7 |
Hitachi Data Systems HDS-EX Series
-Specifications/Overviews: EX Series |
1991 |
|
5 |
8 |
Hitachi Data Systems/HD Skyline + Pilot
-Specifications/Overviews: Skyline + Pilot Series |
1999 |
|
5 |
9 |
Hitachi Data Systems/HDS 7700 -
Specifications/Overviews: 7700 Disk |
1997 |
|
5 |
10 |
Honeywell - Honeywell 2200 Introduction |
1964 |
|
5 |
11 |
Intel Brochures: "Defining Intel: 25 Years/25
Events", "Intel: Architect of the Microcomputer
Revolution"; Intel Processor Overviews |
1997 |
|
6 |
1 |
Memorex (Sutmyn) - Memorex (subsequently Sutmyn)
Automated Tape Library 5200, 5300, 5400, 5600, 5700;
Vendor Brochures, Product Overviews +
Specifications; Sutmyn Corporate Overview; Customer
Tests and Performance Studies |
1995 |
|
6 |
2 |
Microsoft Article -"How Bill Gates Usurped Big
Blue's Empire/Inside the Disaster at IBM" (story of
the outcome of a 1989 meeting between Bill Gates and
Jim Cannavino of IBM that led to the domination of
Microsoft Windows over IBM's competing OS/2). There
are several other interesting histories on the
founding of Microsoft. |
2005 |
|
6 |
3 |
Mips Computer Systems - Various News Articles and
Product Announcements |
1988-1993 |
|
6 |
4 |
N-Cube |
1994 |
|
6 |
5 |
National Advanced Systems - Mainframe Developments;
National Semiconductor Corporation 1988 Annual
Report |
1987 |
|
6 |
6 |
NCR
- Corporate Overviews; Product Information: 315;
Teradata DBC/1012 3300-3599; 3600; 4100-5100;
7xxx/8xxx,9xxx; Tower |
1988 |
|
6 |
7 |
Netframe Systems - Product Announcements |
1996 |
|
6 |
8 |
Parallan Computer - Parallan Server 290 Series
Overview |
1994 |
|
6 |
9 |
Pick Systems - Product News and History; Richard
Pick developed the Pick Operating System having an
integrated database. The software was licensed to
Microdata, and Prime Computer, and eventually became
heavily used on IBM's RS/6000. |
1993 |
|
6 |
10 |
Prime Computer - News, Articles and Processor
Overviews + Specifications |
1987-1990 |
|
6 |
11 |
RCA
Article: "RCA's New Spectra 70 Series" (Mainframe)
The Spectra-70 was the first computer advertised as
being compatible w/the IBM 360. Selected CPU
Announcements; Corporate Announcements |
1965 |
|
6 |
12 |
Sequent Computer Systems - Corporate Information;
Product Overview: NUMA-Q 1000/20000, Symmetry,
Balance Series, S27/S/81/250/450/75/5000 |
1999 |
|
6 |
13 |
Sequoia Systems - Product Announcements; (Sequoia
400 Series was remarketed by HP as the HP-1240 and
1245) |
1995 |
|
6 |
14 |
Siemens Pyramid - Product Announcements Including
Pyramid |
1996 |
|
6 |
15 |
Silicon Graphics - Corporate History; Chip
Technology "Roadmaps"; Product Overview/Technical
Specifications: Challenge, Indigo, Octane, Onyx,
Origin |
1998 |
|
6 |
16 |
Storage Computer - MacroStorage RAID 7 Product
Information |
1997 |
|
6 |
17 |
Storage Technology Corp (STK) - Tape and Disk
Product Overviews |
1992 |
|
6 |
18 |
Stratus Computer - Processor Announcements |
1998 |
|
6 |
19 |
Sun
Microcomputers - Product Overviews + History; 3500,
4000, 4500, 5500, 6500 and 10000 Server Overviews |
1997 |
|
7 |
1 |
Tandem Computers - Product History + Specifications;
Acquired by Compaq, and then Became Hewlett Packard. |
1999 |
|
7 |
2 |
Thinking Machines - News and Product Announcements |
1994 |
|
7 |
3 |
Tricord Systems - Corporate + Overview |
1996 |
|
7 |
4 |
Unisys/Univac (formerly Burroughs/Sperry/Univac)
Information. |
1965 |
|
7 |
5 |
Wang Laboratories - Product Overviews +
Specifications |
1993 |
|
7 |
6-7 |
Computer Acquisition and Disposition
Planning - Book; Chapters:
IBM Marketing Policies, Technology and Residual
Values, Operating and Conversion Costs, Financial
Analysis (of purchase and lease), Disposition
Planning (and financial considerations), Electrical
Operating costs (typical EDP equipment), Contracts
|
1987 |
|
7 |
8 |
CPU
Characteristics - Processor Performance,
Configurations/Features, Prices, Date Shipped and
Purchase Price (data varies depending on source) |
1965-1990 |
|
7 |
9 |
CPU
Performance-Dhrystone - Processor Performance
Benchmarks + CPU Clock Speeds |
1987 |
|
7 |
10 |
CPU
Performance Intel iComp - Intel Benchmark
Information Various Processors |
1999 |
|
7 |
11 |
CPU
Performance-Mips - Principally Mainframe Performance
and Processor Characteristics; Amdahl, Autonetics,
Bendix, Burroughs, Control Data, Digital Equipment,
GE, Hitachi, Honeywell, IBM, Monrobot, NAS, Itel,
NCR, Packard-Bell, Philco, RCA, Scientific Data
Systems, Univac and Others. Contains an Interesting
Document in Japanese. |
2000 |
|
8 |
1 |
CPU
Performance/SPEC - SPEC Benchmark Information + CPU
Clock Speed Various Processors |
1998 |
|
8 |
2 |
CPU
Performance-TPC A,B,C,D - Transaction Processing
Council Benchmarks + CPU Clock Speeds |
1997 |
|
8 |
3 |
CPU
Performance-VUPs - Article "How many VUPS is that
Alpha in the Window?" |
n.d. |
|
8 |
4 |
CPW
1981 |
1981 |
|
8 |
5 |
CPW
1982 |
1982 |
|
8 |
6 |
CPW
1983 |
1983 |
|
8 |
7 |
CPW
1988 |
1988 |
|
8 |
8 |
CPW
1989 |
1989 |
|
8 |
9 |
CPW
1990 |
1990 |
|
8 |
10 |
CPW
1991 |
1991 |
|
8 |
11 |
Daley 1991 |
1991 |
|
8 |
12 |
Disk Storage Glossary |
1998 |
|
8 |
13 |
Disk Storage Cost Trends |
1999 |
|
8 |
14 |
Disk Storage History + Trends |
1990 |
|
9 |
1 |
IT
Budgets Great Ideas to Save Millions - Total Cost
Ownership; Seminar Slides |
1998 |
|
9 |
2 |
IT
Industry Growth + Vendor Market Shares - Salomon
Bros “Server and Enterprise Hardware Issues 1994,
1996, 1999 |
1996 |
|
9 |
3 |
Life Cycles + Obsolescence - Seminar Slides
Illustrate Various Methods Causing Obsolescence+
L | |
