2026-07-31 16:36 UTC
This module was part of IBM's 604 Electronic Calculating Punch. It read 100 punch cards a minute, performed calculations that were specified by a wiring panel, and punched the results on cards. In the lower left, you can see rows of tube modules with their handles sticking out.
Replies (1)
-
@kenshirriff@oldbytes.space 2026-07-31 16:37
Before transistors, vacuum tubes were widely used as switches and amplifiers. A heater heats up the cathode, which emits electrons. They are attracted to the plate, causing current to flow. A negative voltage on the grid blocks the electrons, controlling the current flow.