Gustav Tauschek’s light bulb burned out in 1932. He’s been thinking about a way to store data for a while and patented the magnetic drum. He couldn’t know it, but it became the basis for the development of modern computing.

There were several projects using this concept, including the IBM 650 RAMAC, the first mass-produced computer. There was a storage unit derived from that Tauschek concept, and that monster was so expensive it couldn’t even be sold: companies “subscribed” to IBM 650 and rented it for months.

What could you get for $3,200 a month in the 50s (back then)

The year was 1953 and IBM was doing it all: IBM introduced the 650 Magnetic Drum Calculator, although it wouldn’t be on the market until December 1954. This genius relied on a magnetic drum or cylinder and was based on decimal logicand not binary.

This big ibm 650 The console—900 kg—the IBM 655 power device—1,350 kg—consisted of a card reader and punch, and peripherals such as a query terminal or magnetic extract units.

One of its biggest features was: memory system based on a rotating drum It can store up to 4,000 10-digit words. Its operation required waiting for the header to be placed in the correct position, and in fact the programmer had to almost “guess” when an instruction was executed to place the next one so that the drum had quick access. And he didn’t have to wait any longer than necessary.

This machine has been successful in every field and has been applied, for example, to calculate risk premiums in insurance. structural calculations, accounting or in ballistic missile design. By 1957 there was already a FORTRAN compiler (although the first version FORTRAN to SOAP —Symbolyc Optimal Assembly Program— was compiled, the “native” assembly language of the 650), but other secret languages ​​such as RUNCIBLE or ADES II were also supported. .

The IBM 650’s memory drum was nothing short of sexy. Here #cableporn fans do wonders. Source: Wikipedia.

IBM was expected to install about 50 such systems, but demand was much higher than expected. IBM 650 was relatively compact for time (fits in a room, everything is fine) and was “friendly” – decimal arithmetic, reduced instruction set.

This seemed to have triggered its use: there were 75 machines installed and running in 1955, but that figure had risen to 300 by 1956. In 1962 the number rose to 2,000and they were discontinued at that time, although their components were supported until 1969.

Another surprising fact about the IBM 650 was its cost: it was around $500,000 at the time. will be equivalent to about $5.3 million todayThis meant that companies and organizations using this computer did not buy it, they “subscribed” by renting it.

The price of this rental was $3,200 at the time, so those who used it They would pay today’s $34,300 per month to enjoy this computational capacity.

Casting not counting the accessories: You can rent a card reader/piercer ($550/month) or a 60-word memory stick for $1,500 per month.

Some say that one of the factors in IBM’s success is a really intriguing one: there were too many flashing lightswhich allowed users to define what was happening at all times.

A curiosity: IBM 650 The first computer to arrive in Spain: Renfe bought it in 1959, and by that time its price had dropped significantly: it cost $250,000 then, the equivalent of 1.9 million euros today.