A rare film clip from IBM gives a close-up look at the first electronic data processing computer in IBM's large mainframe family. Original 1953 footage with unusual clarity. The 701 was a stored-program vacuum tube computer designed primarily to solve large problems in scientific and engineering computation at high speed. Originally a silent film, we added some narration with a little help from AI software. Hope you enjoy the historic content. Thank you!

EDPM = "Electronic Data Processing Machine" this term was used by IBM for many of its very early computers, until the terms "computer" and "mainframe" became synonymous with the early giant "big iron" computers from IBM and others.

Interesting elements in the 701 history, include:
High speed electrostatic memory
Magnetic drum and magnetic tape storage
Punch card reader/recorder and line printer
4,000 vacuum tubes, 13,000 germanium diodes
Monthly lease cost $12,000 to $15,00
Total system weight: 20,000 to 28,000 pounds
First computer of this kind to be produced in quantity. 19 systems were made. First in the IBM 700 series of large electronic computers.
Power requirements 208 volt, 3-phase, 4 wire, 60 cycle using 88 kva. System is air-cooled.
Modular design permits easy installation and maintenance.

05:10 Note: the photo at 05:10 of Thomas J. Watson, Sr., the man standing behind Mr. Watson is
Cuthbert C. Hurd, IBM’s first Director of Applied Science, who toured around the USA with Jim Birkenstock drumming orders for the IBM 701.

Edited and uploaded by the Computer History Archives Project (CHAP) for historical review and comment only. CHAP is an independent educational research project.

Courtesy of IBM Archives

For more information on the IBM701 computer see:
https://bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/701/Buc...
and
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/computingh...