Ferranti Mark II High Speed Tape Reader
date: label: date made
content: ca 1953
name: label: maker
content: Ferranti Limited
notes: label: Description
content: This instrument consists of electronic components arranged in a heavy metal box with a black crackle finish. A tape feed sits atop this box and has a gray casing. The device read punched paper tape for computer input, operating at a speed of up to 200 characters per minute. It includes a tape feed mechanism, an optical projection system, reading and tape location photocells with associated circuits, and a squaring circuit for the location photocell. There is a clear plastic plate which can be attached to the bottom of the reader for light alignment.
label: Description
content: The six screws around the edge of the black lid of the machine and the four screws holding the gray case to the lid are substitutes added in 2011.
label: Description
content: A metal tag on the front of the box reads: HIGH SPEED (/) TAPE READER (/) MARK II (/) 230/115 VOLTS 50/60 ~ (/) SER. No. 58. A mark on the case of the tape drive reads: F (/) FERRANTI.
label: Description
content: Object 1983.3001.50 is the tape reader, objects 1983.3001.38 through 1983.3001.45 and 1983.3001.51 are related parts.
label: Description
content: There are numerous associated spare - or non-assembled - parts. These have been assigned number 1983.3001.51.
label: Description
content: Reference:
label: Description
content: Ferranti Limited, Instruction Manual Ferranti High Speed Tape Reader Mk. II, 1953.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United Kingdom
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Computers
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Carnegie Mellon University
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1983.3001.50
label: catalog number
content: 1983.3001.50
label: nonaccession number
content: 1983.3001
objectType: label: Object Name
content: mainframe computer component
label: Object Name
content: mainframe computer peripheral
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 29 cm x 29.5 cm x 23 cm; 11 13/32 in x 11 5/8 in x 9 1/16 in
label: Measurements
content: plate: 4 cm x 14 cm x 21.5 cm; 1 9/16 in x 5 1/2 in x 8 15/32 in