IBM 603
Encyclopedia
The IBM 603 Electronic Multiplier was the first mass-produced commercial electronic calculating device; it used vacuum tube
s to perform multiplication and addition. The IBM 603 was adapted as the arithmetic unit
in the IBM Selective Sequence Electronic Calculator. It was designed by James W. Bryce
, and included circuits patented by A. Halsey Dickenson in 1937.
The IBM 603 was developed in Endicott, New York
, and announced on September 27, 1946.
Only about 20 were built since the bulky tubes made it hard to manufacture, but the demand showed that the product was filling a need.
The IBM 603 was the predecessor of the IBM 604
, a programmable device with more complex capabilities. The 604 used a patented technique of using pluggable modules, which made the product more easily manufactured and serviced.
Vacuum tube
In electronics, a vacuum tube, electron tube , or thermionic valve , reduced to simply "tube" or "valve" in everyday parlance, is a device that relies on the flow of electric current through a vacuum...
s to perform multiplication and addition. The IBM 603 was adapted as the arithmetic unit
Arithmetic logic unit
In computing, an arithmetic logic unit is a digital circuit that performs arithmetic and logical operations.The ALU is a fundamental building block of the central processing unit of a computer, and even the simplest microprocessors contain one for purposes such as maintaining timers...
in the IBM Selective Sequence Electronic Calculator. It was designed by James W. Bryce
James W. Bryce
James Wares Bryce was an American engineer and inventor. In 1936, on the centenary of the United States Patent Office, he was honored as one of the country’s 10 greatest living inventors....
, and included circuits patented by A. Halsey Dickenson in 1937.
The IBM 603 was developed in Endicott, New York
Endicott, New York
Endicott is a village in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 13,038 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Binghamton Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village is named after Henry B...
, and announced on September 27, 1946.
Only about 20 were built since the bulky tubes made it hard to manufacture, but the demand showed that the product was filling a need.
The IBM 603 was the predecessor of the IBM 604
IBM 604
The IBM 604 was a control panel programmable Electronic Calculating Punch introduced in 1948, and was a machine on which considerable expectations for the future of IBM were pinned and in which a corresponding amount of planning talent was invested...
, a programmable device with more complex capabilities. The 604 used a patented technique of using pluggable modules, which made the product more easily manufactured and serviced.
External links
- Columbia University Computing History: The IBM 603
- IBM Archives: IBM 603 electronic multiplier US patent 2641408, filed October 26, 1951, issued June 9, 1953, Russel A. Rowley and Delmar C. Newcomb