Punched card input/output

An IBM 650 computer, introduced in 1953, came with the IBM 533 Card Reader/Punch, right. At many IBM 650 installations, punched cards were the only input and output medium.
IBM 711 card reader on an IBM 704 computer at NASA in 1957
The popular IBM 1401, introduced in 1959 featured a fast card reader/punch, the IBM 1402, left and a fast line printer, the IBM 1403, right
IBM 711 card readers, far left and foreground, attached to dual IBM 7090s at NASA Mission Control in 1962.
An IBM 2540 Card Reader Punch at the University of Michigan computer center in 1968
Punched card reader on an IBM System/360 Model 20
IBM System/3, announced in 1969 introduced a new, smaller punched card and a combined reader/punch/sorter, right
IBM 7070 with IBM 7501 Console Card Reader, right, based in the IBM 026 keypunch

A punched card reader or just card reader is a computer input device used to read executable computer programs, source code, and data from punched cards. A card punch is an output device that punches holes in cards under computer control. Sometimes card readers were combined with card punches and, later, other devices to form multifunction machines.

Most early computers, such as the ENIAC, and the IBM NORC, provided for punched card input/output.[1] Card readers and punches, either connected to computers or in off-line card to/from magnetic tape configurations, were ubiquitous through the mid-1970s.

Punched cards had been in use since the 1890s; their technology was mature and reliable. Card readers and punches developed for punched card machines were readily adaptable for computer use.[2] Businesses were familiar with storing data on punched cards, and keypunch machines and their operators were widely employed. Punched cards were a better fit than other 1950s technologies, such as paper tape, for many computer applications as individual cards could easily be updated without having to reproduce entire files.

Card readers/punches

CDC

Documation

Documation Inc., of Melbourne, Florida, made card readers for minicomputers in the 1970s:

IBM

See List of IBM products

References

  1. ↑ Stern, Nancy (1981). From ENIAC to UNIVAC: An Appraisal of the Eckert-Mauchly Computers. Digital Press. p. 50. ISBN 0-932376-14-2.
  2. ↑ The IBM 711 Punched Card Reader's card-feeding mechanism was similar to the IBM 402's card-feeding mechanism
  3. ↑ Documation M-200 Card Reader Manual, 1972
  4. ↑ Documation M-200 photo
  5. ↑ Documation M1000L Card Reader

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Punch card readers.