Re: AS/400

[Neil Palmer <neilp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Of course the MFCM had a different name.  Mother something Card Mangler.

We used to have a library of glossy magazines that the CE's visited 
frequently.

...Neil





Rob Dixon <rob.dixon@erros.co.uk>
Sent by: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
2001/07/31 04:35
Please respond to MIDRANGE-L

 
        To:     MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
        cc: 
        Subject:        Re: AS/400


Neil

> That was a common trick with card machines.  I believe the 2560 card
> readers (S/360 Mod 20 I worked on back in early 70's

I ran a 360/20 installation in the late 60's for a short while before we 
upgraded
to a proper /360, but we had an MFCM (Multi function card machine).

> - and possible even
> the 5424 card readers on the S/3) had a hidden switch under the covers
> that doubled their speed (and greatly increased the cost and monthly
> maintenance charge).

The 421 and 444 tabulators at least looked different and there was no 
switch I
believe.

> Once you "found" this switch you could flip it and
> run the thing at the higher speed.  If you needed maintenance, or if the
> CE was due for Preventive Maintenance (remember that !  ;-)

Indeed.  When we move up to a /360 Model 30 (as you will remember, the 
only thing
that it had in common with the Model 20 was the /360 name), we kept a 
small
office with desk and telephone for the IBM CE, so that if he had nothing 
to do he
would come back to us for a coffee, and, when the system went down, there 
was a
chance that he would already be on site.  However, it was a pretty 
reliable
system even if not up to AS/400 standards.

> ) you would flip the switch back.  When he left, you'd change it back 
again.
> Someone told me an early Burroughs computer  (1800 ???) had a switch you 
could
> flip to make it run faster too.

Best wishes

Rob




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