page_title: IBM CPC
hierarchical_section_title: IBM CPC
caption_attribution_description: English: Seattle City Light worker with office machine, 1954. According to discussion on the Wikipedia reference desk, it's an accounting machine closely resembling the IBM 407, which was used as a component of a calculator system called an IBM CPC. More specifically, it could be an IBM 402, 403, 412, or 418 -- they were all essentially identical in outward appearance, as shown on this page. Item 78662, City Light Photographic Negatives (Record Series 1204-01), Seattle Municipal Archives.
context_page_description: The IBM Card-Programmed Electronic Calculator or CPC was announced by IBM in May 1949. Later that year an improved machine, the CPC-II was also announced.
  The original CPC Calculator had the following units interconnected by cables:
  Electronic Calculating Punch
  IBM 604 with reader/punch unit IBM 521
  Accounting Machine
  IBM 402 or
  IBM 417
  The CPC-II Calculator had the following units interconnected by cables:
  Electronic Calculating Punch
  IBM 605 with punch unit IBM 527
  Accounting Machine
  IBM 407 or
  IBM 412 or
  IBM 418
  Optional Auxiliary Storage Units
  IBM 941, each could store 16 decimal numbers with ten digits plus sign.
  From the IBM Archives:
  The IBM Card-Programmed Electronic Calculator was announced in May 1949 as a versatile general purpose computer designed to perform any predetermined sequence of arithmetical operations coded on standard 80-column punched cards. It was also capable of selecting and following one of several sequences of instructions as a result of operations already performed, and it could store instructions for self-programmed operation. The Calculator consisted of a Type 605 Electronic Calculating Punch and a Type 412 or 418 Accounting Machine.
context_section_description: The IBM Card-Programmed Electronic Calculator or CPC was announced by IBM in May 1949. Later that year an improved machine, the CPC-II was also announced.
  The original CPC Calculator had the following units interconnected by cables:
  Electronic Calculating Punch
  IBM 604 with reader/punch unit IBM 521
  Accounting Machine
  IBM 402 or
  IBM 417
  The CPC-II Calculator had the following units interconnected by cables:
  Electronic Calculating Punch
  IBM 605 with punch unit IBM 527
  Accounting Machine
  IBM 407 or
  IBM 412 or
  IBM 418
  Optional Auxiliary Storage Units (up to 3)
  IBM 941, each could store 16 decimal numbers with ten digits plus sign.
  From the IBM Archives :
  The IBM Card-Programmed Electronic Calculator was announced in May 1949 as a versatile general purpose computer designed to perform any predetermined sequence of arithmetical operations coded on standard 80-column punched cards. It was also capable of selecting and following one of several sequences of instructions as a result of operations already performed, and it could store instructions for self-programmed operation. The Calculator consisted of a Type 605 Electronic Calculating Punch and a Type 412 or 418 Accounting Machine. A Type 941 Auxiliary Storage Unit was available as an optional feature. All units composing the Calculator were interconnected by flexible cables. If desired, the Type 412 or 418, with or without the Type 941, could be operated independently of the other machines. The Type 605 could be used as a Calculating Punch and the punch unit (Type 527) could be operated as an independent gang punch.
  Customer deliveries of the CPC began in late 1949, at which time more than 20 had been ordered by government agencies and laboratories and aircraft manufacturers. Nearly 700 CPC systems were delivered during the first-half of the 1950s.
caption: IBM CPC in 1954
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