From: "Rich Gauszka" 

 "Phil Payne"  wrote in message
news:43ff16fd{at}w3....
>> > And what, precisely, was wrong with the 1401?
>
>> Autocoder, last card read sense switch ........
>
> Autocoder was magic.
>
> It ran to completion and then asked if you wanted a loadable tape with the
> object code on it.
>
> If you just pressed start, it unloaded the tapes and ended.  If you set
> the
> sense switch for a loadable tape, it printed "Loadable tape on
Unit 1",
> unloaded the tapes and ended.
>
> But it didn't actually write anything on Unit 1 - it was a loadable tape
> all
> along.
>
> We had 1406 storage units - just the right height for playing cards during
> the night shift.
>
>

The only think that was enjoyable on a 1401 was a tape compile. It gave one
a breather from the millions of cards to be read. Unfortunately our storage
units were card cabinets. A portion of the 8th floor had to be reinforced
to accommodate all those cabinets.  In addition we had one of those
diabolical IBM 1404 bill-feed read units attached ( printer/punch card
feeder combo units )

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