paper punch-tape reader
Date: circa 1974
Inventory Number: 1998-1-0017
Classification: Tape Reader
Subject:
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
13.3 × 47.8 × 25 cm (5 1/4 × 18 13/16 × 9 13/16 in.)
Accessories: paper punch-tape program stored in a plastic bag with the instrument
DescriptionThe front of the instrument consists of two brown metal rectangular boxes with black metal plate end-pieces, one on top of each other, attached to a brown metal rectangular face plate with two screw holes at each end. The top box is slightly shorter than the bottom box. The boxes are flush at the rightmost end leaving a gap over the bottom box at the rightmost end of the top box. This gap is filled with a black metal plate, framing the operation switch. The switch is a black pin that can be in an up and a down position. Next to the pin, in vertical white letters, is written LOAD. Above the switch, denoting the up position is written "RUN" in white letters. Beneath the switch, denoting the down position is written "OFF" in white letters. There is a second switch in the center of the bottom edge of the top box. It consists of a metal pin emerging from a rectangular slit in the box. "LOAD" is written in black letters above the slit. Punched paper tape is inserted in between the two boxes (that house components of the reading mechanism) on the left hand side (by the black switch plate) and it emerges from the right hand side.
The back of the instrument is exposed revealing central mechanisms of the reader. When attached to another device for use (computer or calculator), these mechanisms would not usually be visible. The large rectangular faceplate is divided into three sections in the back. The leftmost panel hosts no mechanical parts but displays maker and instrument information. A metal cylinder, whose axle is perpendicular to both the long and short edges of the face plate, emerges from the rightmost panel. A pale green cutout circuit board is fixed to the backend of the cylinder. Various small circuit components and resistors are soldered to the board and labeled with engraved white letters.
Centered on the back of face plate is a plastic, hollow cylinder whose axle is parallel to that of the metal cylinder to the right. There is a four-spoked wheel attached to the back end of the cylinder. Two smaller, differently sized metal cylinders, also parallel to the metal cylinder on the left, are placed to the right of the grey cylinder. A large bundle of loosely coiled orange and grey wires is attached to the mechanisms on the back and to a metal rectangular box at the very back of the instrument. A thick, insulated brown wire is also attached to the back of the device and loosely coiled. Several small connections are made with three or four variously colored wires. These wires connect the various parts of the reader and connect the reader to computers or other devices for which the punch tape is meant to store and communicate data.
The accompanying punch tape consists of a thin, very long, accordion folded white paper tape. Each section of the tape is punched through with small, variously placed, round holes. There is a strip of equally spaced holes the full length of both edges of the tape and a row of smaller holes, used for feeding the tape through the reader, is punched the full length of the tape, slightly off center.
The back of the instrument is exposed revealing central mechanisms of the reader. When attached to another device for use (computer or calculator), these mechanisms would not usually be visible. The large rectangular faceplate is divided into three sections in the back. The leftmost panel hosts no mechanical parts but displays maker and instrument information. A metal cylinder, whose axle is perpendicular to both the long and short edges of the face plate, emerges from the rightmost panel. A pale green cutout circuit board is fixed to the backend of the cylinder. Various small circuit components and resistors are soldered to the board and labeled with engraved white letters.
Centered on the back of face plate is a plastic, hollow cylinder whose axle is parallel to that of the metal cylinder to the right. There is a four-spoked wheel attached to the back end of the cylinder. Two smaller, differently sized metal cylinders, also parallel to the metal cylinder on the left, are placed to the right of the grey cylinder. A large bundle of loosely coiled orange and grey wires is attached to the mechanisms on the back and to a metal rectangular box at the very back of the instrument. A thick, insulated brown wire is also attached to the back of the device and loosely coiled. Several small connections are made with three or four variously colored wires. These wires connect the various parts of the reader and connect the reader to computers or other devices for which the punch tape is meant to store and communicate data.
The accompanying punch tape consists of a thin, very long, accordion folded white paper tape. Each section of the tape is punched through with small, variously placed, round holes. There is a strip of equally spaced holes the full length of both edges of the tape and a row of smaller holes, used for feeding the tape through the reader, is punched the full length of the tape, slightly off center.
Signedin blue and black printed letters on the center panel of front instrument casing: iomec inc [maker's logo, two "i"s made to look like punched holes] / Digitronics / Divison
in white printed lettering on blue label on leftmost panel of instrument back followed by punched lettering on white strips: iomec inc. [maker's logo, two "i"s made to look like punched holes] / MODEL 2540 / SERIAL / 07411007 / M.S. 2540 - A1B2B5 / D7E402F8H1H2JIJ3 / J4J5L1 / CUST [blank] / VOLTS 220 PHASE 1 / FREQ. 50/60 WATTS 135 / Digitronics Division, 58 John Street, Cumberland, Rhode Island 02864
in white printed lettering on blue label on leftmost panel of instrument back followed by punched lettering on white strips: iomec inc. [maker's logo, two "i"s made to look like punched holes] / MODEL 2540 / SERIAL / 07411007 / M.S. 2540 - A1B2B5 / D7E402F8H1H2JIJ3 / J4J5L1 / CUST [blank] / VOLTS 220 PHASE 1 / FREQ. 50/60 WATTS 135 / Digitronics Division, 58 John Street, Cumberland, Rhode Island 02864
Inscribedstamped in black ink on instrument back: DATE SHIPPED / MAR 11 1974
stamped in black inside a black square outline: FINAL / INSP. / 27
punched in black lettering along bottom of central panel on instrument back: 504653 301
stamped in black inside a black square outline: FINAL / INSP. / 27
punched in black lettering along bottom of central panel on instrument back: 504653 301
FunctionPunch tapes were used to store and communicate computationally relevant data for various types of computers and calculators. Program code, inputs, and generated data were stored in this way. Data is represented in a binary format using the presence and absence of holes. The tape shown here is 7-bit tape, meaning there are seven columns where a hole either is or is not punched. This does not include the column of smaller holes with which the tape is fed (propelled by a spoked gear whose teeth fit the smaller holes) and the two columns of holes at the edges of the tape. This reader propels the tape in between the two boxes attached to the front of the faceplate and communicates the stored data to an attached device.
A discussion of punch tape data storage is available here.
A discussion of punch tape data storage is available here.