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IBM 360-67 at CIT

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This page continues the documentation of the computers at Carnegie-Mellon University  in the 1960's. You can click on the links above to learn about some of the other computers.

Hi All,

These are to my knowledge the only photos I ever took of the 1108 and 360.  When they were moved to Wean, summer 1971, they were placed with the consoles right next to each other.  The three photos in this email are kind of a pan, from left to right(although the photographer, me, did move a bit between photos).  The first one shows the 1108 tape drives, the second one the 1108 and its console and the third one the 360 (with the DAT unit open) although you can still see the 1108 console in the leftof this photo.  I have no idea who were the two young men operating the machines.  Both at the time I made the photographs were attending the 360 and although you can see tapes mounted on the 1108, it did not appear to be doing anything while I was there.

I hope you've all enjoyed this little trip down memory lane (is that core memory ;-)

While searching for these slides, I came across another surprise.  For some forgotten reason, I had acquired a single roll of Anscochrome film and exposed it likely in spring 1969, but I could be off a year either way.  I know its spring because the shots at the end of the roll are of the midway at spring carnival and some buggy race shots as well.  Why, as my father worked for Eastman Kodak (and I worked there summers at that time as well) and I was religious about using Kodak film, I don't know.  Further, I didn't get the roll processed until 1975.  This I do remember as I recall finding it and almost throwing it out but having completely forgotten what was on it finally deciding to get it processed.  Once again it was forgotten until I just went slide mining.  This is the first time I've ventured to look at these slides in over 20 years.  Nothing really interesting in this one roll except the early construction (actually more destruction, lots of holes being dug in the ground) of Wean Hall. That's why I'm assuming it was spring 1969 as I believe the project was underway by that time, but again I could be a year off either way.  Do any of you have better information about the timing of the construction of Wean?  Anyway, I have not yet scanned any of these slides.  Are any of you interested in seeing a few of them? 

My next scanning project is likely to be of some of those Tri-X negatives I took in 66 and 67.  I believe I know where they are. I haven't looked at those since I rescued (most of) them from a flood in the early 70's.  I don't know how much if any of them will be of interest to you all.  We shall see...

73,
Chris Hausler

The 1108 tape drives

The 1108 and its console

The 360 (with the DAT unit open) although you can still see the 1108 console in the left of this photo

emails


From:    "Stan  King" <skingp390.com>
Subject:    CIT - 1966
Date:    Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:52:33 +0000

Good Morning Mark:

I came upon your web site after Googling the IBM 360-67 looking for photos of the front panel.  I was quite amazed when I came across the photos from Hammerschlag Hall and the old data center.  Wow did it bring back memories.

In 1965 I was an 8th grader at St. Bede's grade school in Point Breeze. At some point late in the semester some graduate students and a doctoral candidate from CIT came over to the school to pitch an idea to the science teacher.  They were conducting some research to see if children could easily adapt to using computers. The objective was to see if us young science types could comprehend the complexities of entry level computer programming. They selected a couple of us willing volunteers and for the next six weeks we spent every weekend at CIT deep in the bowels of Hammerschlag.  Our first computer system was the venerable Bendix G-15 and all of the wonderful paper tape. My how simple everything was back in those days.  It was a whirlwind of exciting technology and provided me with the incentive to continue my future into the world of computer science.

I have always wanted to thank those fine students for the direction and motivation into what has become a phenomenal personal success story, as they deserve all the credit for showing me the way.  Some of the names escape me with the exception of one. I believe he was the doctoral candidate and the leader of the study. I believe his last name was Hitt.  Although my memory could have faded over the years.  Do you recall anyone by that name or perhaps any recollection for these studies?

I owe everything to that beginning introduction into computer science.  CIT and later CMU would become the central focal point for all of my career advancement. It was and still is one of the finest citadels of education in the world.

Thank you.

Stan H. King
CEO
Information Technology Company, LLC
Falls Church, VA
Stan,

I've forwarded your email to our informal group of ex-CIT computer nerds.

I don't recall anyone named Hitt but I was a lowly undergrad not particularly inclined to interact with grad students.

CIT was good at giving kids a chance. I was in a program there between my Junior and Senior years in high school. As with you, it was intrumental in getting me into computers (I grew up in a steel mill town and who knew a computer from hole in the wall?).

May I use your email on my web page. Maybe someone else may see it who knows more about the program you were in.

Mark
Absolutely.  Feel free.  I have a strong affection for CIT in all regards, obviously.

After grade school I was at Central Catholic High and in our senior year (1969-1970) we were offered, for the first time in Pittsburgh, an elective course for computer science.  Our science teacher taught the course but all computer usage was at CMU using the IBM 360 and the Univac 1108.  Gosh how I loved watching those Fastrand drum storage units spin.  I learned so much from CIT/CMU that it is hard for me to believe that the current state of education could match the experiences of those halcyon days of my youth.

Share away McDuff!

SHK



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