IBM 016
| Industry | Data processing equipment |
|---|---|
| Founded | June 16, 1911 |
| Founder | Herman Hollerith (as Tabulating Machine Company) |
| Headquarters | Armonk, New York , United States |
| Products | Keypunch machines, punched card equipment |
| Website | www |
A keypunch refers to a machine designed to create accurately positioned holes in rigid paper cards, with the hole placement determined by the keys pressed by an operator. Comparable devices include the gang punch, pantograph punch, and stamp. The term is also used for equipment that records data onto punched tape media.
In the context of Jacquard looms, punched cards were linked together to form a "chain" that contained a program directing the loom's functions.[1]
For Hollerith machines and similar unit record devices, punched cards served as carriers of data for processing tasks. In computer systems utilizing punched card input/output, these cards represented either data or software instructions controlling operations.
Early versions of Hollerith keypunches were manually operated; subsequent models incorporated electromechanical features combining several tasks. These machines resembled compact desks with typewriter-style keyboards, featuring hoppers for feeding blank cards and stackers for collecting punched cards. Certain models also printed characters above each column corresponding to the punched holes. The punched-out fragments—known as chad—were gathered in a chad container, or at IBM, referred to as a chip box or bit bucket.
In many data processing environments, punched cards underwent a two-stage verification process where data was re-entered to confirm accuracy. The role of keypunch operators was in high demand, predominantly filled by women,[2] who typically worked full-time within large-scale keypunch departments responsible for data input.
During the 1950s, Remington Rand launched the UNITYPER, which allowed direct data entry onto magnetic tape for use with UNIVAC systems. Later improvements in magnetic tape encoders by Mohawk Data Sciences in 1965 were promoted as alternatives to traditional keypunch machines. The emergence of microprocessors and affordable computer terminals encouraged the development of key-to-tape and key-to-disk solutions from manufacturers such as Inforex and Pertec.[3]
Although keypunches and punched cards were widely used through the 1970s, they were quickly replaced by cost-effective CRT computer terminals and video display terminals. This shift eliminated the requirement to transfer data from punched cards to tape or disk, thereby lowering expenses and enhancing error detection during data entry. The growth of interactive timeshared systems and eventually personal computers enabled users to input data and programs directly, reducing reliance on keypunch operators.
Stamping Jacquard cards, 1801 through 1890
Jacquard cards were created by stamping or cutting rather than punching holes. Initially, these cards were hand-stamped using guide plates. A later technique involved positioning the card between two hinged perforated metal plates; punches were inserted according to the desired pattern before pressing to cut the card. These manual approaches were eventually superseded by 'Piano machines,' which operated via keyboards similar to those on unit record keypunches and became the industry standard.
Hollerith and IBM Keypunch Machines, 1890s to 1930s
In the 1890s, Herman Hollerith developed an initial punch device that created circular holes near the edges of cards to facilitate easier handling. He later advanced this concept by inventing a more accurate Keyboard Punch, which utilized a pantograph mechanism connecting the punch to a pointer that moved over a 12 by 20 grid, allowing operators to manually punch holes aligned with one of the 20 columns.
By 1901, Hollerith secured a patent for a device where an operator could press any of 12 keys to punch holes, featuring automatic card feeding. This early model, known as the Type 001 keypunch, employed 45-column cards with round perforations. In 1923, The Tabulating Machine Company introduced the Type 011 Electric Keypunch—the first electrically powered keypunch—where keystrokes closed electrical contacts to activate solenoids that punched holes. The 80-column punched card standard was launched in 1928.
Subsequent Hollerith keypunch variants included the Type 016 Motor-Driven Electric Duplicating Keypunch (1929), Type 31 Alphabetical Duplicating Punch (1933), and Type 32 Alphabetical Printing Punch (1933).
“Alphabetical duplicating keypunches enabled the recording of alphabetic data on tabulating cards so that entire words and names, alongside numerical information, could be printed by alphabetical accounting machines. IBM introduced the Type 31 Alphabetical Duplicating Punch in 1933; it featured automatic card ejection and feeding within 0.65 seconds. These devices incorporated separate keyboards for alphabetical and numerical input. The alphabetical keyboard resembled a manual typewriter but excluded keys such as shift, tab, backspace, and character keys, while adding skip, release, stacker, and '1' keys.” – IBM Archives
IBM Keypunches and Verifiers for 80-Column Cards After World War II
Following WWII, most IBM keypunches and verifiers shared a unified electro-mechanical keyboard design to capture keystrokes. When a key was pressed, it triggered a series of bails that closed electrical contacts encoding the character. A feedback loop activated magnets which reset the keystem and encoding bails while providing both tactile and audible feedback. Each unit developed a distinct operational "feel," influenced by wear and contact adjustments; however, no direct method existed to adjust this sensation beyond calibrating contacts. Special function keys operated solely through electrical means without mechanical linkages.
Models such as the IBM 024, 026, and 029 utilized program cards to manage features like tabbing and automatic duplication of fields. The subsequent IBM 129 incorporated electronic circuit cards enabling operators to write simple custom programs.
IBM Models 024 and 026 Card Punches
Launched in 1949, the IBM 024 Card Punch and IBM 026 Printing Card Punch were nearly identical except for the addition of a printing mechanism in the latter. Both machines employed twelve finely crafted punches—one per card row—powered to create holes column-by-column across multiple card formats including 51-, 60-, 66-, and 80-column types. The punching operation produced a characteristic sound during use.
The IBM 026 printed characters above each punched column. By 1964, ten different versions supported various character sets; scientific models replaced less commonly used commercial characters with symbols such as parentheses and plus signs.
The logic circuitry integrated components like diodes, 25L6 vacuum tubes, and relays. Vacuum tubes operated at approximately 150 VDC primarily to power the punch-clutch magnet; most other circuits ran on a lower voltage of about 48 VDC.
Character printing was accomplished through a 5 × 7 dot matrix wire array controlled by a metal "code plate" containing up to 1960 pins (35 pins × 56 characters). Pins corresponding to unprinted dots were machined away. When pressed against the wire array, this plate selectively activated wires that imprinted characters onto ribbons and cards. This printing system was intricate to maintain; broken wires within narrow tubes were frequent issues requiring meticulous repairs. Additionally, non-standard punch patterns could damage the code plate’s positioning mechanism even when printing was disabled since the plate remained mechanically engaged.
The external design of IBM’s 024/026 Card Punches was crafted by industrial designer Raymond Loewy, renowned for his streamlined aesthetics in early to mid-20th-century railway cars. His design featured durable steel construction with rounded corners embodying an industrial Art Deco style.
IBM 056 Card Verifier
Serving as the verification counterpart to the 024 Card Punch and 026 Printing Card Punch, the IBM 056 closely resembled the 026 keypunch but was distinguished by a red error indicator lens on its cover. The verifier operator duplicated the data entry performed by the keypunch operator, allowing the device to perform a two-pass check to ensure the punched data matched. Cards that successfully passed verification were marked with a small notch along the right edge.
Mechanically and electrically, the IBM 056 shared most components with the 024 and 026 keypunch machines, differing primarily in its punch unit and print head. Instead of punches, its punch assembly was fitted with sensing pins designed to detect existing holes; any discrepancy caused the card feed to stop immediately and activated a red error light. The notching mechanism replaced the print head found in the 026, utilizing solenoids to create either a top-edge notch or an end-of-card notch.
Operators were allowed up to three attempts to resolve errors during verification. If errors persisted after three tries, an error notch was punched over the problematic column, and the final "OK" notch at the card’s edge was disabled to prevent false approval. Although this system reduced repeated mistakes, some operators would guess previous errors rather than accurately verifying them, which compromised reliability. To address this issue, certain machines were modified to permit only a single entry attempt before error notching occurred.
Cards marked with error notches were corrected by re-punching on an 024 or 026 machine. This involved duplicating all data up to the error column onto a blank card without punching beyond that point until corrections were made. Once fixed, these cards underwent re-verification and were then marked with an "OK" notch.
Typewriter Card Punches
The initial integration of a typewriter with a card punch—allowing direct punching of typed characters—was pioneered by Powers in 1925. IBM later introduced the 824 Typewriter Card Punch, which replaced the 024’s keyboard with an IBM electric typewriter for enhanced input capabilities. Similarly, the IBM 826 combined an IBM 026 Keypunch with a typewriter keyboard, streamlining data entry processes.
IBM 029 Card Punch
Launched alongside System/360 in 1964, the IBM 029 incorporated new character codes for symbols such as parentheses, equal signs, and plus signs within the EBCDIC character set. While mechanically akin to the IBM 026, it featured a larger code plate accommodating 2240 printing-pin positions to handle EBCDIC’s expanded symbol range, printing characters along the top edge of punched cards.
The logic circuitry in later IBM 029 models employed wire contact relays, whereas early versions used reed relays combined with diodes on SMS cards. Due to reliability concerns with reed relays, IBM reverted to wire-contact relay designs. Operating at 48 volts DC, this eliminated reliance on vacuum tubes present in earlier models like the 024 and 026. An optional "Left-Zero" function allowed automatic punching of leading zeros in right-justified fields, improving efficiency during data input.
IBM 5924 Key Punch
The IBM 5924 Key Punch was a variant of the IBM 029 (model T01) featuring a specialized keyboard introduced during IBM's 1971 announcement of the IBM Kanji System. Designed for East Asian language data entry, it enabled operators to select one of fifteen shift keys with their left hand alongside one of 240 Kanji characters with their right hand. This facilitated processing of extensive character sets exceeding ten thousand symbols essential for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean computing applications.
IBM 059 Card Verifier
The IBM 059 Verifier was designed to work alongside the IBM 029 Card Punch and marked a departure from the earlier 056 verifier by utilizing optical sensing technology instead of mechanical pins. This advancement significantly diminished operational noise compared to the louder 056 model. The device featured a single light source that transmitted illumination through fiber-optic lightpipes integrated within the mechanism. Despite this technological enhancement, its functional operation closely resembled that of the 056.
Notably, some users favored the audible feedback provided by the older verifier and, in response to the quieter IBM 059, would press keys more forcefully, which sometimes led to accelerated wear on the keyboard components.
IBM 129 Card Data Recorder
Released in conjunction with the System/370 in 1971, the IBM 129 merged punching, verifying, and supplementary on-line reading/punching capabilities for 80-column cards. Operators could switch between punch and verify modes using a keyboard toggle.
The transistor-based IBM 129 introduced an electronic buffer capable of storing an entire 80-column card image. Unlike previous keypunch models where errors necessitated ejecting and manually correcting cards, this device allowed mistakes to be erased using the Backspace key and corrected before automatic punching was initiated by pressing Release.
Its logic circuits were built with SLT modules mounted on a swing-out wire-wrapped backplane. The punching speed no longer depended on column-by-column processing.
Six distinct programs could be stored and selected via a rotary switch. These programs were loaded into memory through the standard card-feed path, replacing earlier mechanical program drums. Duplication was achieved by using the stored image of the preceding card instead of relying on a separate read station. Additionally, cards could be optically read through an integrated reading unit.
Program card
The IBM 024, 026, and 029 keypunches along with verifiers such as the 056 and 059 utilized Program Cards (also known as drum cards) for limited automation—streamlining tasks like field positioning, default character insertion, and duplication. These program cards represented an evolution beyond earlier Skip Bars.
Program cards were punched on any keypunch and wrapped around a rotating drum synchronized with card movement. Starwheels detected holes encoding programming instructions in the upper six rows [12,11,0,1,2,3]; an optional Second Program feature made use of the lower six rows [4–9]. Operators chose desired programs via a selector switch; drums were designed for easy removal and replacement.
Codes on program cards governed operations such as defining fields, initiating automatic skips or duplications, alphabetic shifts, printing leading zeros, and suppressing print output:
| Function | #1 | Char. | #2 | Char. | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Definition | 12 | & | 4 | 4 | Punch every column except first in a field |
| Start Automatic Skip | 11 | - | 5 | 5 | Punch first column of fields to skip |
| Start Automatic Duplication | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | Punch first column of fields to duplicate |
| Alphabetic Shift | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Shift keyboard into Alphabetic mode |
| Left Zero Print | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | Force printing of leading zeros or signs |
| Print Suppression | 3 | 3 | 9 | 9 | Prevent printing in column |
Programming languages such as FORTRAN, RPG, and IBM Assembly language designated specific card columns for particular functions. Program cards automated tabbing between fields and specified numeric or alphabetic shift zones.
For instance:
1.......10........20........30........40........50........60........70........80 1AAAAAAAA1AAAAA1AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA1AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA &&&&&&&&
In this example, tabs are automatically directed to column 10; columns 72–80 might be configured as a Numeric Shift field for special characters or sequence numbers.
It is important to note that "Field Definition" (12) and "Alphabetic Shift" (1) codes print as A. Program code 2 could generate characters that were invalid or potentially harmful to printers.
Program cards facilitated automation such as gang punching constant data across multiple decks and could even be programmed to produce rhythmic patterns by punching noisy characters in musical sequences.
IBM 5496 Data Recorder for 96-Column Cards
In 1969, IBM introduced the System/3 series, a range of entry-level business computers that utilized a novel, more compact 96-column punched card. The IBM 5496 Data Recorder, a keypunch device equipped with print and verification capabilities, along with the IBM 5486 Card Sorter, were specifically engineered to handle these 96-column cards.
Powers and Remington Rand (UNIVAC) Keypunch Machines
Around 1906, James Powers of the United States Census Bureau developed the Powers Keypunch designed explicitly for census data processing. In 1911, he established the Powers Accounting Machine Company, which was later acquired by Remington Rand in 1927. Remington Rand’s UNIVAC division manufactured keypunch machines compatible with their 90-column cards as well as equipment suitable for IBM’s 80-column cards. Their mechanical design circumvented IBM’s patent restrictions prior to the acquisition of Eckert–Mauchly Computer Corporation. UNIVAC keypunches processed the entire card's information before punching holes in a single operation, allowing error correction and minimizing wasted cards.
Remington Rand’s product line featured models such as the UNIVAC Card Code Punch Type 306-5 (90 Column Alphabetical), Types 306-2 and 306-3 (Alphabetical), Types 204-2 and 204-3 (Numerical), Portable Electric Punch Type 202, Spot Punch Type 301, and Automatic Verifying Machine Type 313.
The Type 306-2 model supported verification by re-feeding punched cards through the keypunch to identify errors through mechanical detection of elongated or circular holes. The UNIVAC 1710 Verifying Interpreting Punch was launched in 1969.
To Keypunch: The Verb Form
The expression keypunched—derived from the verb to keypunch—initially described the act of encoding data onto punched cards via a keypunch device. Although the physical keypunch has become obsolete, the term remains in use within business environments as a synonym for data entry. This evolution mirrors the progression from mechanical data input methods to contemporary digital techniques.
Shift Toward Direct Data Entry
During the 1950s, Remington Rand introduced the UNITYPER, an input apparatus that allowed direct data recording onto magnetic tape for use with UNIVAC systems. In 1965, Mohawk Data Sciences developed an enhanced magnetic tape encoder marketed as an alternative to traditional keypunch machines. By the mid-1970s, advancements in microprocessor technology and cost-effective terminals led companies like Inforex and Pertec to produce new key-to-tape and key-to-disk solutions.
While punched cards remained prevalent for data entry and programming tasks into the mid-1980s, eliminating intermediary steps such as transferring punched cards to tape or disk reduced expenses and improved accuracy during data capture. The emergence of video display terminals, interactive timeshared systems, and eventually personal computers facilitated direct data input by originators themselves, optimizing workflows and decreasing dependence on specialized data entry personnel.
See also
- Punched card
- Punched card input/output
- Hollerith code
- Unit record equipment
- Computer programming in the punched card era
- List of IBM products
- Chad (paper)
Additional resources
External resources
- Columbia University Computing History: IBM Key Punch Machines
- IBM Archives: IBM 029 — Card Punch Equipment
- IBM Archives: Railroad Applications (001 Keypunch)
- IBM Punched Card Accounting Machines (1955)
- ↑ Bell, T.F. (1895) Jacquard Weaving and Designing, Longmans, Green And Co.
- ↑ IBM Archive: Keypunch operators, 1934, Stockholm
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).