On Wed, 27 May 2009 08:45:06 -0500, Eric Bielefeld <eric- [email protected]> wrote:
>... >By the way, for the 96 column card, did each row go from left to >right, or on one row did the columns go from right to left? I was >just thinking that when you punched a 96 column card in a >keypunch, it would be easier to move >the card left to right for >the first row, and then back up for the 2nd row, etc. >... Ok. This has nothing to do with mainframes, but ... I don't remember the keypunch for the 96 column card, but by that time IBM already had th 129 for 80 column cards. The 129 buffered the keyed input and punched the card from the buffer when RELEASE was hit. I assume the 96 column keypunch did the same thing. That allowed it to punch (and interpret) all 3 tiers at once. Regarding dropped decks, I don't remember if there was a high speed sorter for the 96 column cards. (There probably was one, but I don't think I ever saw it.) There was a card sort/merge program for the MOd 20 + MFCM so I assume there was also one for the S/3 + MFCU. This kind of sort was actually a pretty interesting process. A pass through the program would result in a set of sorted sequences of cards in multiple stackers. Each pass through the program resulted in fewer but longer sequesnces. (Put the cards from stacker 1 followed by cards from stacker 2 in hopper 1, the cards from stackers 4 & 5 in hopper 2, and press START. You have approximately 14 more passes.) Put the cards in the wrong hoppers and you might increase the number of passes by one or two but do no great harm. This process externalized sort behavior that is hidden in disk and tape sorts. Good for inspiring "I wonder how that works" kind of questions in inquisitive minds. (Some of us got inspiration in our 20s that others got in grade school. Better late than never.) Pat O'Keefe ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
