Honeywell computer front panel
Date: 1960-1980
Inventory Number: 1998-1-0579
Classification: Computer
Subject:
Maker: Honeywell (1885-present)
User: Harvard Computation Laboratory (1944 - 1997)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
9.6 x 48.3 x 13.3 cm (3 3/4 x 19 x 5 1/4 in.)
DescriptionThe control panel from a Honeywell Computer. The front of the panel is a rectangular sheet of metal, painted blue. The panel has two notches cut out of each of the two short side edges.
A row of sixteen round metal buttons is centered near the top of the panel. The leftmost of these buttons is labeled "OVERFLOW" below in white letters. The remaining fifteen buttons are labeled "CONVERSION COUNTER" above in white letters. To the right of this row of buttons is a round dark red button with a metal bolt base. It is labeled "CLEAR" below in white letters. Below this top row is a second row of eight, slightly smaller round metal buttons. They are labeled "CYCLE COUNTER" above in white letters. Below this row is a third row of six round metal buttons. They are labeled "CYCLE COUNT" above in white letters. Below each of these buttons is a two-state metal flip switch with a metal bolt base. Each switch is labeled 0 below in white. The switches are also labeled above in white as follows, from left to right: 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, and 1. Next to the row of switches is a small, round, dark red button with a metal bolt base. The button is labeled "INSERT".
To the left of the central rows of buttons, near the bottom of the panel, is another row of three round metal buttons. They are labeled "MULTIPLEXER / ADDRESS" above in white letters. Below each button is a two state metal flip switch with a metal bolt base. The switches are labeled above in white, from left to right 4, 2, and 1. Each switch is also labeled with a 0 below in white. To the right of these rows is another round dark red button with a metal bolt base labeled "INSERT".
At the top of the right side of the panel is a two-state metal switch with a metal bolt base next to a round brass connection jack. These two attachments are labeled "TEST" below in white. Beneath them is a row of attachments consisting of a two-state metal switch with a metal bolt base, a brass connection jack, and a round hole cut through the panel. These are labeled, from left to right, "TEST START", "CHANNEL 0 / TEST INPUT", and "POWER".
The back of the panel is unpainted metal. The various connection cords, jacks, and wires that connect the buttons and switches on the front to the computer that would have been behind, are visible. Behind each of the two top central rows of buttons (labeled CONVERSION COUNTER and CYCLE COUNTER), attached with three screws, is a thin brass rectangular plate that extends perpendicularly behind the panel. Each of these plates has a smaller rectangle cut out of its center. A second, smaller rectangular brass plate is suspended from each of the larger ones, by four short metal posts. These smaller plates are solid, and so visible through the hole cut in the one above. On the top panel of the smaller plates are several brass wires that are each connected to one of the buttons. At the backmost edge of these two plate sets is a blue plastic rectangular jack with twenty-two brass pins emerging from the back. These pins would have been inserted into a bus or appropriate "female" jack in the computer, to communicate the information from the buttons.
The central bottom row of buttons and accompanying switches (labeled CYCLE COUNT) attach to a brass plate with a 90° bend on the back of the panel. One half of the plate is attached flat against the back of the panel. There are two horizontal black metal plates through which wires connected to the buttons and switches pass. Certain of these wires attach to the wires on the brass plates above, such that all three central rows of buttons are in communication. The rest of the wires are collected in a bundle that would have been variously attached to the computer. The second half of this plate sticks perpendicularly out behind the panel. There are seven white plastic cylinders along the edge of this half, each with a metal pin in the center.
The leftmost row of buttons and accompanying switches (labeled MULTIPLEXER ADDRESS) attach to two small black plates through which wires connected to the buttons and switches pass. One of these wires is attached to the central row of buttons. The rest are collected in a bundle that would have been attached to the computer.
Each of the remaining buttons and switches is attached to a wire or set of wires that emerge from the back of the panel. All of the wires are insulated in some color of plastic.
A row of sixteen round metal buttons is centered near the top of the panel. The leftmost of these buttons is labeled "OVERFLOW" below in white letters. The remaining fifteen buttons are labeled "CONVERSION COUNTER" above in white letters. To the right of this row of buttons is a round dark red button with a metal bolt base. It is labeled "CLEAR" below in white letters. Below this top row is a second row of eight, slightly smaller round metal buttons. They are labeled "CYCLE COUNTER" above in white letters. Below this row is a third row of six round metal buttons. They are labeled "CYCLE COUNT" above in white letters. Below each of these buttons is a two-state metal flip switch with a metal bolt base. Each switch is labeled 0 below in white. The switches are also labeled above in white as follows, from left to right: 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, and 1. Next to the row of switches is a small, round, dark red button with a metal bolt base. The button is labeled "INSERT".
To the left of the central rows of buttons, near the bottom of the panel, is another row of three round metal buttons. They are labeled "MULTIPLEXER / ADDRESS" above in white letters. Below each button is a two state metal flip switch with a metal bolt base. The switches are labeled above in white, from left to right 4, 2, and 1. Each switch is also labeled with a 0 below in white. To the right of these rows is another round dark red button with a metal bolt base labeled "INSERT".
At the top of the right side of the panel is a two-state metal switch with a metal bolt base next to a round brass connection jack. These two attachments are labeled "TEST" below in white. Beneath them is a row of attachments consisting of a two-state metal switch with a metal bolt base, a brass connection jack, and a round hole cut through the panel. These are labeled, from left to right, "TEST START", "CHANNEL 0 / TEST INPUT", and "POWER".
The back of the panel is unpainted metal. The various connection cords, jacks, and wires that connect the buttons and switches on the front to the computer that would have been behind, are visible. Behind each of the two top central rows of buttons (labeled CONVERSION COUNTER and CYCLE COUNTER), attached with three screws, is a thin brass rectangular plate that extends perpendicularly behind the panel. Each of these plates has a smaller rectangle cut out of its center. A second, smaller rectangular brass plate is suspended from each of the larger ones, by four short metal posts. These smaller plates are solid, and so visible through the hole cut in the one above. On the top panel of the smaller plates are several brass wires that are each connected to one of the buttons. At the backmost edge of these two plate sets is a blue plastic rectangular jack with twenty-two brass pins emerging from the back. These pins would have been inserted into a bus or appropriate "female" jack in the computer, to communicate the information from the buttons.
The central bottom row of buttons and accompanying switches (labeled CYCLE COUNT) attach to a brass plate with a 90° bend on the back of the panel. One half of the plate is attached flat against the back of the panel. There are two horizontal black metal plates through which wires connected to the buttons and switches pass. Certain of these wires attach to the wires on the brass plates above, such that all three central rows of buttons are in communication. The rest of the wires are collected in a bundle that would have been variously attached to the computer. The second half of this plate sticks perpendicularly out behind the panel. There are seven white plastic cylinders along the edge of this half, each with a metal pin in the center.
The leftmost row of buttons and accompanying switches (labeled MULTIPLEXER ADDRESS) attach to two small black plates through which wires connected to the buttons and switches pass. One of these wires is attached to the central row of buttons. The rest are collected in a bundle that would have been attached to the computer.
Each of the remaining buttons and switches is attached to a wire or set of wires that emerge from the back of the panel. All of the wires are insulated in some color of plastic.
Signedunsigned
FunctionThe panel acted as both a protective encasing and as a user interface for an early Honeywell computer. Users input numerical data by setting the various switches to the desired position and pressing the "INSERT" buttons. This process inputs data to the address registers of the computer system.
This particular Honeywell computer was used in the Aiken Computation Laboratory at Harvard University. Although its specific purpose is unknown, the Aiken Lab worked, among other things, on solving complicated engineering equations for the American effort during the Second World War, on solving difficult differential equations for research in physics, and on the development and improvement of computing technologies.
This particular Honeywell computer was used in the Aiken Computation Laboratory at Harvard University. Although its specific purpose is unknown, the Aiken Lab worked, among other things, on solving complicated engineering equations for the American effort during the Second World War, on solving difficult differential equations for research in physics, and on the development and improvement of computing technologies.
Historical AttributesThis was the front panel for a computer used in the Aiken Computation Laboratory.
ProvenanceFound in the Aiken Computation Laboratory, Harvard University, in 1995.