General Information

Serial #

254

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

GLASS ENVELOPE/ SYNTHETIC & METAL BASE & WORKING PARTS

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

48.0 cm

Width

15.5 cm

Height

N/A

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Computing Technology

Category

Digital computing devices

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

General Electric

Country

England

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

1952-1958 by University of Toronto/ 1958-? by Crystallographic Group in Ottawa

Canada

Memory device from first operational electronic computer in Canada & possibly 2nd to be sold anywhere in world (after Univac to U.S. census bureau). It was used for calculations for St. Lawrence Seaway, design of Avro Aero, and other scientific & engineering projects.

Function

A random-access-memory device for a main frame digital computer, used to store data & programming to enable the computer to perform large scale scientific & engineering calculations. Ferut/Manchester Mark I computer contained several Williams tubes to form its primary memory.

Technical

Williams tube was invented by F.C. Williams of Manchester University, England, in 1947. A modified CRT (hence inexpensive), it was both first random-access memory device & most reliable of era. It was superseded in 1954 by magnetic core. Ferranti's Manchester Mark ! was first fully electronic stored-program computer in operation. Ferut was 1st Mark I sold.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

PAPER LABEL READING 'G.E.C./ REGD. TRADE MARK/', 'CATHODE/ RAY/ TUBE/ MADE IN ENGLAND' & 'TYPE VCRX266/ SERIAL NO. 534'/ BLACK LETTERED PAPER LABEL READING 'DEVELOPMENTAL CATHODE RAY TUBE/ Type VCRX266 Ser. No. 524/ This Cathode Ray Tube is supplied by the Research/ Laboratories of the General Electric Co., Ltd. for/ Laboratory and experimental purposes, without any/obligation as to further supplies or manufacture.'/ PAPER LABEL READING 'VCRX266/ 534' ADHESIVE LABEL READING '297-1' IN PEN/ SYNTHETIC BASE PLATE EMBOSSED 'MADE IN/ ENGLAND'

Missing

none apparent

Finish

COLOURLESS TRANSPARENT GLASS WITH WHITE TOP & CONICAL SECTION OF TUBE COLOURED WHITE & SILVER/ BLACK BASE WITH METALLIC PARTS/ PLATED WORKING PARTS

Decoration

NONE