Information on computers from the 1970s and earlier
A collection of links to sources of hardware and software related information from the 1970s and earlier.
Computers and Automation, a monthly journal published between 1954 and 1978, by far and away the best source of detailed information from this period. The June issue contained an extensive computer directory and buyers guide, including a census of installed computers. The collected census for 1962-1974 must rank in the top ten of pdf files that need to be reliably converted to text.
Computer characteristics quarterly, the title says it all; the stories about the weird and wonderful computers that used to be on sale really are true. Only a couple of issues available online at the moment.
Bitsavers huge collection of scanned computer manuals. The directory listing of computer companies is a resource in its own right.
DTIC (Defense Technical Information Center). A treasure trove of work sponsored by the US military from the time of Rome and late.
Ed Thelan’s computer history: note his contains material that can be hard to find via the main page, e.g., the BRL 1961 report.
“Inventory of Automatic data processing equipment in the Federal Government”: There are all sorts of interesting documents lurking in pdfs waiting to be found by the right search query.
Books
“Software Reliability” by Thayer, Lipow and Nelson is now available online.
“The Economics of Computers” by William F. Sharpe contains lots of analysis and data on computer purchase/leasing and usage/performace details from the mid-1960s.
“Data processing technology and economics” by Montgomery Phister is still only available in dead tree form (and uses up a substantial amount of tree).
“Handbook of Automation Computation and Control Volume 2”
“Foundations of computer programming in Britain, 1945-55”, M. Campbell-Kelly’s PhD thesis (freely downloadable from the British Library; registration required).
Reports
Computers in Spaceflight The NASA Experience covers computers used in spacecraft up to the mid 1980s.
History of NSA General-Purpose Electronic Digital Computers (written in 1964, declassified in 2004).
Missing in Action
“A Study of Technological Innovation: The Evolution of Digital Computers”, Kenneth Knight’s PhD thesis at Carnegie Institute of Technology, published in 1963. Given Knight’s later work, this will probably be a very interesting read.
“Computer Survey”, compiled by Mr Peddar, was a quarterly list of computers installed in the UK. It relied on readers (paper) mailing in details of computers in use. There are a handful of references and that’s all I can find.
What have I missed? Suggests and links very welcome.
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