Computing History Collection

IBM 5110 and Omnibot 2000 robot, holding a packet of crisps, on display at the Computer History Museum, USA. The IBM (International Business Machines) 5110 was released in 1975 for $14, 000

Enigma encryption machine used in World War 2

Pilot ACE computer, 1950
Pilot ACE computer. Control panel of the Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model. This was a preliminary version of the full ACE design

Xerox Alto computer, at the Computer History Museum, USA. Developed by Xerox in 1972 as a research computer, they cost $32, 000 each. Its monitor was designed to display a whole page of text

DEC PDP-1 computer, on display at the Computer History Museum, USA, with take-away food and drink. Developed by DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) in 1960, this 18-bit computer cost $120, 000

Heathkit H-1 analog computer
Heathkit H-1 home-build computer, on display at the Computer History Museum, USA. The H-1 was the first home-build computer, it was an analogue computer, which used valves (across upper centre)

Pilot ACE computer components, 1950s C013 / 7166
Pilot ACE computer components. Chassis and components of the Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model. This was a preliminary version of the full ACE design

Pilot ACE computer components, 1950 C013 / 7164
Pilot ACE computer components. View of short delay lines for the Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model. This was a preliminary version of the full ACE design

Pilot ACE computer components, 1950 C013 / 7163
Pilot ACE computer components. Rear view of the resistance tree box (over upper section) of the Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model

Pilot ACE computer components, 1954 C013 / 7165
Pilot ACE computer components. Magnetic drum forming part of the memory and data storage for the Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model

Pilot ACE computer components, 1950s C013 / 7162
Pilot ACE computer components. Chassis and components of the Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model. This was a preliminary version of the full ACE design

Home-made 8080 computer

Johnniac computer

Honeywell Kitchen Computer (H316), magazine advertisement. This was first sold in 1965 for $10, 600. The model seen, is the free-standing pedestal version

Apple I computer. This was released in April 1976 at the Homebrew Computer Club, USA. It cost $666.66 and was sold as a circuit board, the wooden case needed to be home-made

Heathkit computer wires
Heathkit H-1 computer wires, on display at the Computer History Museum, USA. The H-1 was the first home-build analogue computer. The museums collection includes over 3000 artefacts from 1945 to 1990

Apple II computer and monitor. This was released in 1977 and included a number of revolutionary features, including its plastic casing and the ability to display colour on a monitor

ENIAC, the second electronic calculator
ENIAC digital calculator. Technicians connecting the wiring of the ENIAC device built in Pennsylvania in 1943-46. ENIAC stood for the Electronic Numeric Integrator And Calculator

Hubot robot, being held from behind. Released in 1981 by the Hubotics Corporation, it was sold as a home servant. Hubot included a monitor that would display messages as well as television signals

Minuteman. NS-10Q missile guidance system from a Minuteman ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic missile), which carried a nuclear warhead

SAGE station and light gun, on display at the Computer History Museum, USA. The SAGE (semi- automatic ground environment) system went into operation in 1963

DEUCE computer, 1956
DEUCE computer. Operator using the Digital Electronic Universal Computing Engine (DEUCE) computer. This was a commercial version of the Pilot ACE (Automatic Computing Engine) design

Differential analyser, 1954
Differential analyser. This part of the differential analyser equipment is called a double function table. Differential analysers were used to carry out mathematical calculations

Pilot ACE computer, 1952
Pilot ACE computer. Controller operating the Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) pilot model. This was a preliminary version of the full ACE design

Early computers, 1952
Early computers. Clockwise from upper left, these are: the Frieden STW-10, the Marchant Fa-10, the Brinsviga 20, the Monroe Ca-10, and the Facit LX

Electronic simulator, 1954
Electronic simulator. This is the enlarged version of this machine, which was an early form of computing hardware used to carry out simulations

Psion II Organiser. This electronic handheld device is an early example of a digital personal assistant. It was manufactured by the British company Psion, and was first launched in 1986

Sinclair ZX80 personal computer
Sinclair ZX80 computer, computer artwork. The ZX80 was produced in 1980 by Sinclair Research. The computer was equipped with 1KB (kilobyte) of RAM (random access memory)

Analogue computer. These machines were the precursor of modern digital computers. This is an EAI (Electronics Associates Incorporated) Pace 231-R computer, a US model produced in 1961

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Computing history is a fascinating journey through time, unveiling the remarkable advancements that have shaped our modern world. From the Enigma encryption machine used in World War 2 to the cutting-edge Pilot ACE computer of the 1950s, each milestone has propelled us further into an era of innovation and limitless possibilities. During World War 2, the Enigma encryption machine played a pivotal role in cryptography. Its complex mechanism baffled even the brightest minds, until mathematician Alan Turing cracked its code, forever changing the course of computing history. In 1950, another groundbreaking invention emerged - the Pilot ACE computer. This marvel of technology showcased incredible computational power and laid down foundations for future computers to come. It was a stepping stone towards automation and revolutionized various industries with its capabilities. The IBM 5110 and Omnibot 2000 robot were also significant contributors to computing history. The IBM 5110 brought forth portability and versatility while paving the way for personal computers as we know them today. Meanwhile, Omnibot 2000 introduced robotics into households, captivating imaginations with its interactive features. One cannot overlook Xerox Alto's impact on computing either. Introduced in 1973, it was one of the first computers to feature a graphical user interface (GUI) along with Ethernet connectivity – innovations that would later become fundamental components of modern-day computing systems. Analog computers like Heathkit H-1 offered unique solutions before digital dominance took over. These machines utilized physical quantities rather than binary digits to perform calculations swiftly and efficiently. The DEC PDP-1 computer made waves as one of the earliest minicomputers available commercially during the early '60s. Its introduction marked a shift towards more accessible computing devices outside large corporations or research institutions. As we delve deeper into this captivating timeline, we encounter various iterations and improvements upon existing technologies such as different versions of Pilot ACE computer components from C013 /7166 to C013 /7163.