UNIVAC 1050
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The UNIVAC 1050 was a variable wordlength (1 to 16 characters) decimal and binary computer.
Instructions were fixed length (30 bits – 5 characters), consisting of a 5 bit "op code", a 3 bit index register specifier, one reserved bit, a 15 bit address, and a 6 bit "detail field" whose function varies with each instruction.
The memory was up to 32K of 6-bit characters.
Like the IBM 1401, the 1050 was commonly used as an off-line peripheral controller in many installations of both large "Scientific Computer"s and large "Business Computer"s. In these installations the big computer (e.g., a UNIVAC III) did all of its input-output on magnetic tapes and the 1050 was used to format input data from other peripherals (e.g., punch card readers) on the tapes and transfer output data from the tapes to other peripherals (e.g., punch card punches or the lineprinter).
A version used by the U.S. Air Force, the U1050-II real-time system, had some extra peripherals. The most significant of these was the FASTRAND 1 Drum Storage Unit. This physically large device had 2 contra-rotating drums mounted horizontally, one above the other in a pressurised cabinet. Read-write heads were mounted on a horizontally moving beam between the drums, driven by a voice coil servo external to the pressurised cabinet. This high speed access subsystem allowed the real-time operation. Another feature was the communications subsystem with modem links to remote sites. A Uniservo VI-C tape drive provided an audit trail for the transactions. Other Peripherals were the card reader and punch, and printer. The operator's console had the 'stop and go' buttons(!) and a ASR33 teleprinter for communication and control.
