punch card reader, "CR-11"
Date: 1976
Inventory Number: 1998-1-0600
Classification: Punch Card Reader
Subject:
Maker: Digital Equipment Corporation (1957 - 1998)
User: Harvard University (Faculty of Arts and Sciences) (founded 1636)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
29.1 x 50.2 x 37.6 cm (11 7/16 x 19 3/4 x 14 13/16 in.)
Accessories: stack of punched cards
DescriptionThe punch card reader is encased in a large, rectangular metal box. The two sides and the bottom of the machine consist of a large metal sheet folded into three sections. The front, top, and back sides consist of black metal panels.
The top of the front panel inclines backwards slightly. At the rightmost end of the backwardly inclined panel is the upper "input" bin for the card reader. It consists of a depression in the case lined with shiny metal. Users place stacks of punched cards in the bin. There is a stack guard -- a metal lip folded over -- to hold the stack in place and prevent users from placing too many cards in the bin.
At the leftmost end of the backwardly inclined upper front panel is a plastic strip with three buttons. At the rightmost end of the strip is a round green button labeled "RESET" above in black letters. To the left of it is a round red button labeled "STOP" above in black letters. At the leftmost end of the strip is marked "POWER" in black letters.
Beneath the button panel is a second card bin. The bin consists of a black metal panel inclined outward from the front panel. It creates an inclined plane to "catch" the punched cards. Cards are taken into the machine from the "input" bin and "ejected" into this receiver bin.
A stack of manila colored cardboard punched cards accompanies the reader. Some are displayed in the input bin; others are displayed in the receiver bin.
Inside the case, concealed from view, is the reader system of the machine.
A video of the CR-11 punched card reader in operation is available here.
The top of the front panel inclines backwards slightly. At the rightmost end of the backwardly inclined panel is the upper "input" bin for the card reader. It consists of a depression in the case lined with shiny metal. Users place stacks of punched cards in the bin. There is a stack guard -- a metal lip folded over -- to hold the stack in place and prevent users from placing too many cards in the bin.
At the leftmost end of the backwardly inclined upper front panel is a plastic strip with three buttons. At the rightmost end of the strip is a round green button labeled "RESET" above in black letters. To the left of it is a round red button labeled "STOP" above in black letters. At the leftmost end of the strip is marked "POWER" in black letters.
Beneath the button panel is a second card bin. The bin consists of a black metal panel inclined outward from the front panel. It creates an inclined plane to "catch" the punched cards. Cards are taken into the machine from the "input" bin and "ejected" into this receiver bin.
A stack of manila colored cardboard punched cards accompanies the reader. Some are displayed in the input bin; others are displayed in the receiver bin.
Inside the case, concealed from view, is the reader system of the machine.
A video of the CR-11 punched card reader in operation is available here.
Signedprinted in white letters, each in a purple box, on a white label on the front of the machine: digital
in purple letters on white label on front of the machine: digital equipment corporation
in purple letters on white label on front of the machine: digital equipment corporation
FunctionA machine for reading and registering information from punched cards. Information would be recorded by punching holes in the cards, using binary principles, e.g. hole = 1, no hole = 0. The cards are then fed from the upper bin through the reader system, and then deposited in the lower bin for retrieval by the user. The reader tabulates, records, or otherwise processes the information stored on the cards.
This particular unit was used in the Science Center until 1991. It was used annually by the Harvard Registrar to process student enrollment forms. It was also used on earlier systems, such as the PDP-11, to input user programs and data.
This particular unit was used in the Science Center until 1991. It was used annually by the Harvard Registrar to process student enrollment forms. It was also used on earlier systems, such as the PDP-11, to input user programs and data.
