Wang 360SE calculator system, central electronic package
Date: circa 1970
Inventory Number: 2001-1-0033b
Classification: Electronic Calculator
Subject:
Maker: Wang Laboratories, Inc. (1951 - 1992)
User: Harvard College Observatory (founded 1839)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
without cord: 26 × 63.8 × 14.5 cm (10 1/4 × 25 1/8 × 5 11/16 in.)
Accessories: accompanies WANG 360SE calculator (2001-1-0033a);
two page hand-written note from Peter L. Smith, Research associate, Harvard College Observatory, regarding the donation of the calculator, dated 10 December, 2001 (original and copy in instrument file); photocopy of operation instructions from the bottom panel of calculator unit (in instrument file); printed document on the history of the Wang 360SE by Rick Bensene (in instrument file); printed document on the history of the Want 360SE from Geocity (in instrument file); printed document on the Orbiting Solar Observatories (in instrument file)
DescriptionThe WANG 300 series of calculators consists of a central electronics package and a keyboard/display unit. This is the central electronic package of a WANG system that accompanies 2001-1-0033a.
The central electronics package is housed in a rectangular steel case. There are ventilation slits cut along each of the long edges of the case on four sides. There are four mesh circles, likely speakers, on each of the side edges of the unit. A grey power cord emerges from the edge of the package, providing the electricity to the package and the keyboard/display unit(s) to which it is attached.
There is a steel handle attached to the center of the top edge of the package for transportation. At the right side of the top edge are three controls. The leftmost is a round red button labeled PRIME in white letters above. The central is a rotating black knob labeled AMP in white letters above. The rightmost is a two-state metal switch labeled ON in white letters above.
On the left side of the top panel are four jacks, each lined with blue plastic, and protected by a bendable black rubber piece. One such jack is used to attach the keyboard/display unit to the electronic package.
The central electronics package is housed in a rectangular steel case. There are ventilation slits cut along each of the long edges of the case on four sides. There are four mesh circles, likely speakers, on each of the side edges of the unit. A grey power cord emerges from the edge of the package, providing the electricity to the package and the keyboard/display unit(s) to which it is attached.
There is a steel handle attached to the center of the top edge of the package for transportation. At the right side of the top edge are three controls. The leftmost is a round red button labeled PRIME in white letters above. The central is a rotating black knob labeled AMP in white letters above. The rightmost is a two-state metal switch labeled ON in white letters above.
On the left side of the top panel are four jacks, each lined with blue plastic, and protected by a bendable black rubber piece. One such jack is used to attach the keyboard/display unit to the electronic package.
Signedprinted in white at left end of black plastic strip on top edge of unit: WANG CALCULATOR / ELECTRONIC PACKAGE / MANUFACTURED BY / WANG LABORATORIES, INC. / TEWKSBURY, MASS. U.S.A.
Inscribedhand-written in pencil on white piece of paper scotch taped to the top edge of unit: CHO-P242 / CH1-P246 248 / CH2-P232 + Noyes 333 / CH3-P247 + P238 _PLS_
hand-written in black felt pen on green piece of paper masking taped to the top edge of unit: DO NOT / MOVE
hand-written in red pen on white piece of paper taped to side edge of unit: ATTENTION!! / TURN OFF POWER / OF THIS UNIT _AND_ ALL / INDIVIDUAL UNITS BEFORE / MAKING ANY DISCONNECTION
engraved in side edge of unit: H.C.O.-495-3967
hand-written in black felt pen on green piece of paper masking taped to the top edge of unit: DO NOT / MOVE
hand-written in red pen on white piece of paper taped to side edge of unit: ATTENTION!! / TURN OFF POWER / OF THIS UNIT _AND_ ALL / INDIVIDUAL UNITS BEFORE / MAKING ANY DISCONNECTION
engraved in side edge of unit: H.C.O.-495-3967
FunctionThis is the calculation unit for the WANG 300 calculator series. It could be attached to more than one keyboard/display unit at a time. The central electronic package is equipped with the hardware and software required to perform the operations on given input values users input into the keyboard/display unit.
This particular WANG electronic calculator was used by the Harvard College Observatory. The calculator was specifically used to run experiments on the Orbiting Solar Observatories designed to study the Sun.
A discussion of the WANG 300 model calculators, including photographs of the internal mechanisms, is available here and another here.
This particular WANG electronic calculator was used by the Harvard College Observatory. The calculator was specifically used to run experiments on the Orbiting Solar Observatories designed to study the Sun.
A discussion of the WANG 300 model calculators, including photographs of the internal mechanisms, is available here and another here.
Historical AttributesThis calculator system was purchased by the Solar Satellite Project at the Harvard College Observatory, which was responsible for experiments run on OSO's (Orbiting Solar Observatories) numbers 4 and 6 from 1965 to 1971. These projects culmiated in Skylab. The Orbiting Solar Observatories were the earliest set of satellites designed to study the Sun. They arose from even earlier sounding rockets flights that showed the importance of getting above the Earth's atmosphere to observe the Sun.
ProvenanceFrom Peter L. Smith, Ph.D., Harvard College Observatory, 60 Garden St., Cambridge, MA 20138 in December 2001.