This color educational film is about data processing. This was made in 1972 by Coronet. It introduces the field of Data Processing, with scenes of electric adding machines, IBM System/360 model 65 mainframe system, IBM 2401 magnetic tape machines, Control Data Corporation (CDC) image scanner; Burroughs Punch Tape Reader and MICR/OCR, CDC 160 computer and much more.
Guide to many of the vintage machines we identified in this film:
00:10 Burroughs adding machine
00:24 Paper filing methods
00:37 IBM Selectric Typewriter
00:47 ADDO-X paper tape calculator (by AB Addo)
00:50 Automatic Page Collating Machine
00:57 Xerox 2400 Photocopier
01:07 IBM 029 Keypunch Machine (card punch)
02:06 IBM Card Sorter
02:38 IBM Model 188 Collator of 1961
03:20 IBM 602A Calculating Punch Machine
04:28 IBM Accounting Machine Model 407 ?
05:24 IBM System/360 model 65 mainframe
05:38 IBM 2401 Magnetic tape machine; disk unit, printer
05:54 IBM High Speed Card Reader
06:30 Computer Memory (inside computer)
07:01 IBM Plug Board Panel (Hardwired Program)
07:14 Rack of multiple Plug Board Programs Pre-wired for use
07:43 IBM 2401 Mag Tape Machine
07:49 Computer Light Panel (blinking)
07:58 Operator adjusting IBM tape machines
08:05 Computer Room view (tapes, disks)
08:14 IBM keyboard input to system
08:20 IBM typewriter Type ball in operation
08:33 IBM High Speed Card Reader
09:29 Disc Pack Unit
09:57 High Speed Printer
10:21 CDC Optical Scanner
10:33 Paper Tape Punch/Reader (Burroughs)
10:44 Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) (Burroughs Corporation)
10:57 Remote Access Terminals
11:17 Views of the Data Center and Personnel
12:19 Electrical Power Station Control Center
12:23 {possibly a wave or signal monitoring station ?}
12:28 IBM Tape Units and input keyboard
12:32 CDC 160A Console and tape drives
12:36 (possibly telecommunications tracking/reporting center?)
Summary: Opening titles (:06-:07). Data processing is gaining more employees. Various machines exist – typewriter, copier, etc. (:08-1:06). A woman punches holes in each card on her key punch machine. This is a hard machine to learn but well worth it. Sorting data on a machine is much easier than be hand (1:07-2:36). A collating machine saves time. Calculating cards takes time to set up in the machine but can do multiple functions once set up. Accounting machines like the Addo X assist in converting machine talk to people talk (2:37-5:01). Unit record accounting records are fast and reliable and explains why it is widely used. An electronic IBM computer is best for computing data, all of which is done within the system. Data is stored electronically within the computers memory (5:02-6:50). Punch card devices (machines) are explained and information provided. Programming a computer may require days of preparation (6:51-8:31). A card reader converts card punches into electrical impulses which can be placed into a computers memory. Other ways of using a computer is explained. Magnetic tape and magnetic discs are explained (8:32-10:04). Other units for feeding data into and out of computers include optical scanners, paper tape punchers and readers, magnetic character recognition devices, etc. Women type data into computers (10:05-11:15). A paper tape punch reader is shown at 10:34. Many jobs have to do with operating this equipment and being able to manage it. Computer programmers are in high demand (11:16-12:00). People work all around the computer office. Data processing is a rapidly growing and changing field and qualified people are needed to navigate these changing times (12:01-12:34) End credits (12:35-12:49).
End
Some of the punch card scenes were filmed at the Statistical Tabulating Corporation (“STC”) a large computer data processing service bureau during the 1960’s-1970’s. STC later sold its business to Automatic Data Processing (“ADP”) in 1980.
Motion picture films don’t last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we’ve worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies — including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you’d like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
