IBM 032
| Industry | Data processing equipment |
|---|---|
| Founded | June 16, 1911 |
| Founder | Herman Hollerith (predecessor company) |
| Headquarters | Armonk , United States |
| Products | Keypunch machines, punched card equipment |
| Website | www |
A keypunch refers to a mechanism designed to create holes in rigid paper cards at precise spots dictated by the keys pressed by an operator. Comparable devices include the gang punch, pantograph punch, and stamp. The designation also extended to equipment that encoded information onto punched tape.
In the context of Jacquard looms, punched cards were linked together in a "chain" that contained a program guiding the loom's functions.[1]
Punched cards served as data carriers for Hollerith machines and other unit record devices, holding data for processing tasks. In computing systems utilizing punched card input/output, these cards stored either data or programs that controlled machine operations.
The earliest Hollerith keypunches operated manually; subsequent versions were electromechanical, integrating multiple functions into a single unit resembling a compact desk equipped with typewriter-style keyboards. These machines included hoppers for feeding blank cards and stackers for collecting punched cards. Certain models also printed the character corresponding to the punched holes at the top of each column. The punched-out pieces, known as chad, were collected in a chad box, or at IBM, referred to as a chip box or bit bucket.
Within numerous data processing environments, punched cards underwent verification by re-entering data to compare inputs (two pass verification). This process generated employment opportunities for keypunch operators, predominantly women,[2] who worked extensively in large-scale keypunch departments responsible for data input.
During the 1950s, Remington Rand introduced the UNITYPER, which allowed direct data entry onto magnetic tape for use with UNIVAC systems. This concept was further enhanced by Mohawk Data Sciences in 1965 through a magnetic tape encoder marketed as an alternative to traditional keypunches. The emergence of microprocessors and affordable computer terminals spurred development of additional key-to-tape and key-to-disk solutions from firms such as Inforex and Pertec.[3]
Although keypunches and punched cards remained widespread throughout the 1970s, they were rapidly supplanted by cost-effective CRT computer terminals. Removing the intermediate step of transferring data to tape or disk lowered expenses and enhanced error detection during data entry. The introduction of video display terminals, interactive timeshared systems, and eventually personal computers facilitated direct entry of data and programs by their originators, 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 manually stamped, occasionally employing a guide plate. A refinement involved sandwiching the card between two perforated metal plates, inserting punches following the design pattern, then pressing to cut the card. These manual approaches were eventually replaced by mechanized processes. 'Piano machines,' named for their keyboard-like keys and operated via keyboards, became predominant, functioning similarly to unit record keypunches.
Hollerith and IBM Keypunch Machines, 1890s to 1930s
During the 1890s, Herman Hollerith developed an initial card-punching apparatus utilizing a standard ticket punch that created round holes near the edges of punched cards. He subsequently advanced this concept by designing a more accurate Keyboard Punch that employed a pantograph connected to a guiding pointer, enabling precise hole placement within a 12 by 20 grid of positions.
In 1901, Hollerith secured a patent for a device where an operator pressed one of twelve keys to punch holes, with the card automatically advancing to the next column. This earliest model, known as the Type 001 keypunch, utilized 45-column cards with round holes. By 1923, The Tabulating Machine Company launched the first electric keypunch—the Type 011 Electric Keypunch—where each key press closed an electrical circuit that activated a solenoid to punch holes. The 80-column punched card format was introduced later in 1928.
Subsequent Hollerith keypunch models included the Type 016 Motor-Driven Electric Duplicating Keypunch (1929), the Type 31 Alphabetical Duplicating Punch (1933), and the Type 32 Alphabetical Printing Punch (1933).
Alphabetical duplicating keypunches recorded alphabetic data on tabulating cards so that full words and names, along with numerical information, could be printed by an alphabetical accounting machine. IBM introduced the Type 31 Alphabetical Duplicating Punch in 1933, which automatically ejected one card and fed another within 0.65 seconds. These machines featured separate alphabetical and numerical keyboards; the alphabetical keyboard resembled a manual typewriter but excluded shift, tab, backspace, and character keys, instead incorporating skip, release, stacker, and '1' keys. – IBM Archives
IBM Keypunches and Verifiers for 80-Column Cards after World War II
Most IBM keypunch and verifier models employed an electromechanical keyboard design where keystrokes were encoded through a system of bails and electrical contacts. When a key was pressed, corresponding bails were triggered to close contacts that electrically encoded the character. A feedback mechanism then energized magnets that mechanically returned the keystem to its original position and reset the encoding bails, providing operators with tactile and audible confirmation. Each unit developed its own distinctive "feel," shaped by wear and contact adjustments; however, no direct tuning of this "feel" was possible beyond calibrating contact points. Certain special function keys operated solely through electrical means without mechanical connections.
IBM models such as the 024, 026, and 029 supported program cards enabling automated functions like tabbing and field duplication. The later 129 model incorporated electronic circuit cards allowing operators to write simple programs.
IBM Models 024 and 026 Card Punches
Released in 1949, the IBM 024 Card Punch and IBM 026 Printing Card Punch were nearly identical except that the latter included printing capabilities. Both machines housed twelve precision punches—one for each card row—powered to punch holes sequentially by column, producing a characteristic operational sound. They could process cards with 51, 60, 66, or 80 columns.
The IBM 026 added printing above each punched column and offered ten different character sets by 1964. Specialized scientific versions replaced four commercial characters with parentheses, equal sign, and plus sign.
The logic circuitry combined diodes, 25L6 vacuum tubes, and relays. Tubes operated at approximately 150VDC primarily for driving the punch-clutch magnet; most other circuits ran on 48VDC.
Printing was accomplished using 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. This code plate positioned wires against both ribbon and card to form characters. The printing mechanism was known for maintenance difficulties including wire breakage within narrow tubes and damage caused by non-standard punch patterns that misaligned the code plate. Disabling printing prevented pins from pressing but did not disengage the code plate itself, leaving potential for damage.
The external styling of the IBM 024/026 was designed by famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy, whose streamlined aesthetic incorporated industrial Art Deco influences featuring robust steel construction with rounded edges.
IBM 056 Card Verifier
The IBM 056 functioned as a verification device complementing the 024 Card Punch and 026 Printing Card Punch. While it operated similarly to the 026 keypunch, it was distinguished by a red error lens mounted on its cover. During verification, the operator re-entered the data originally punched by the keypunch operator, allowing the machine to compare and confirm matching information. Cards that passed verification were marked with a small notch along the right edge.
In terms of mechanics and electronics, the IBM 056 shared most components with the 024 and 026 keypunch models, differing primarily in its punch unit and printing assembly. Instead of punching holes, its punch unit contained sensing pins designed to detect existing hole patterns. If any discrepancy arose, a contact bail was activated, halting card feed and illuminating a red error signal. The notching mechanism, which replaced the print head found on the 026, was powered by a solenoid that applied either a notch near the top edge or at the card’s end.
Operators were allowed up to three attempts to fix errors during verification. Should all three attempts fail, an error notch was punched above the column with the issue, and the "OK" notch at the card’s end was disabled. Although mistakes could be attributed to either operator involved, this system aimed to reduce repeated errors. Some operators bypassed this by guessing corrections, leading certain machines to limit verification attempts to a single entry before applying an error notch.
Cards marked with error notches underwent re-punching—usually on an 024 or 026—by duplicating correct columns up to the error point and entering corrected data beyond it. Duplication involved sensing existing holes and replicating them onto a blank card. Once corrected, these cards were re-verified and assigned an "OK" notch.
Typewriter Card Punches
The earliest device combining card punching with typewriter input was developed by Powers in 1925. IBM later introduced comparable models: the IBM 824 Typewriter Card Punch replaced the 024 keyboard with an IBM electric typewriter, while the IBM 826 merged IBM’s 026 Keypunch with typewriter capabilities. These advancements enhanced data entry efficiency by integrating typing and punching into one operation.
IBM 029 Card Punch
Released alongside System/360 in 1964, the IBM 029 incorporated new character codes for symbols such as parentheses, equal signs, plus signs, and others within the EBCDIC character set. Mechanically akin to the IBM 026, it printed punched characters directly on top of cards using an expanded code plate featuring 2,240 printing-pin positions to support EBCDIC’s broader range of characters.
The logic circuitry in later IBM 029 models utilized wire contact relays, whereas earlier versions employed reed relays combined with diodes mounted on SMS cards. Due to reliability challenges associated with reed relays, IBM reverted to wire-contact relay designs. Operating at 48 volts DC, it eliminated reliance on vacuum tubes found in predecessors like the 024 and 026. An optional "Left-Zero" feature—activated via four extra SMS cards programmed through a program card—automatically punched leading zeros to right-justify numeric fields, improving data entry speed.
IBM 5924 Key Punch
The IBM 5924 Key Punch was a T01 variant of the IBM 029 model equipped with a specialized keyboard introduced as part of IBM’s 1971 IBM Kanji System. Operators used one hand to select from fifteen shift keys while using the other hand to choose among 240 Kanji characters per shift setting. This design facilitated computer processing of complex East Asian scripts—Chinese, Japanese, and Korean—each requiring extensive character sets numbering over ten thousand symbols.
IBM 059 Card Verifier
The IBM 059 functioned as the verification counterpart to the IBM 029 keypunch. Differing from the earlier 056 verifier, it utilized optical sensors to detect card holes rather than mechanical pins, which led to a much quieter operation. This optical detection was facilitated by a single light source distributed through fiber-optic lightpipes, while preserving the fundamental verification method used in the 056.
Although the quieter mechanism improved the work environment, some operators missed the audible confirmation provided by the louder "thunk" of the previous model. This absence sometimes caused users to press keys more forcefully, which occasionally accelerated wear on the keyboard components.
IBM 129 Card Data Recorder
Launched alongside the System/370 in 1971, the IBM 129 combined functions of punching, verifying, and supplementary online reading and punching of 80-column cards for compatible systems. A toggle switch on the keyboard allowed users to switch between punch and verify modes.
This transistorized IBM 129 featured an electronic buffer capable of storing the entire card image for all 80 columns. Unlike older IBM keypunches where errors required manual ejection and correction of cards, the 129 enabled users to erase mistakes using the Backspace key and re-enter data before punching. The Release key then initiated high-speed automatic punching of the entire card.
Its internal logic was constructed from SLT modules mounted on a swing-out wire-wrapped backplane. The keying speed was not limited by sequential column punching.
The machine could hold six programs selected via a rotary dial. Rather than relying on a wrapped "program drum" as in earlier models, program cards were read into memory through the standard card-feed mechanism. Duplication was managed by stored images instead of a separate reading station, and optical reading at the punch station was also possible.
Program Card
IBM keypunches such as the 024, 026, and 029, along with verifiers like the 056 and 059, employed Program Cards (also known as drum cards) for basic automation tasks—such as advancing fields automatically, setting default character types, or duplicating fields from preceding cards. These program cards represented an advancement over older Skip Bars.
Program cards contained control characters punched around a rotating drum; starwheels detected holes to engage electrical contacts encoding instructions across rows [12,11,0,1,2,3]. An optional "Second Program" feature allowed a secondary set of instructions in rows [4,5,6,7,8,9], selectable via a switch. The drum could be removed for replacement using a locking lever.
Encoded control functions included defining fields, initiating automatic skips or duplications, alphabetic shifting, left zero printing, and suppressing printing:
| Function | #1 | Char. | #2 | Char. | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Definition | 12 | & | 4 | 4 | Punch all columns except first within field |
| Start Automatic Skip | 11 | - | 5 | 5 | Skip first column(s) of specified field(s) |
| Start Automatic Duplication | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | Duplicate first column(s) of specified field(s) |
| Alphabetic Shift | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Switch keyboard into Alphabetic mode |
| Left Zero Print | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | Enforce printing of leading zeros or signs |
| Print Suppression | 3 | 3 | 9 | 9 | Prevent printing in designated column(s) |
Programming languages such as FORTRAN, RPG, and IBM Assembly language assigned specific columns for operations (for instance: columns 1,10,16,36,72). Program cards automated tabbing to these columns and designated fields as numeric or alphabetic accordingly.
For example:
1.......10........20........30........40........50........60........70........80 1AAAAAAAA1AAAAA1AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA1AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA &&&&&&&&
In this example, using skip after initial input tabs directly to column 10; columns 72–80 might be defined as numeric shift fields for special characters or sequence numbers.
Note that "Field Definition" (12) and "Alphabetic Shift" (1) control codes print as A.
Employing program 2 codes could generate invalid printer characters or potentially damage equipment.
Program cards facilitated automated operations such as "gang punching," where constant fields were inserted across multiple card decks. Some users even programmed rhythmic sequences to produce musical tones by varying punched characters.
IBM 5496 Data Recorder Designed for 96-Column Cards
In 1969, IBM introduced the System/3 line of entry-level business computers, which utilized a compact 96-column punched card. To support these cards, IBM developed the 5496 Data Recorder, a keypunch machine equipped with print and verification capabilities, alongside the IBM 5486 Card Sorter specifically tailored for the 96-column format.
Powers and Remington Rand (UNIVAC) Keypunch Machines
Circa 1906, James Powers from the United States Census Bureau created the Powers Keypunch intended for census data processing, featuring a keyboard with 240 keys. Powers established the Powers Accounting Machine Company in 1911, which was later acquired by Remington Rand in 1927. Under Remington Rand’s UNIVAC division, keypunch machines were produced for their proprietary 90-column cards as well as compatible models for IBM’s 80-column standard. These 90-column keypunches utilized a mechanical design to avoid infringing on IBM’s patents. Notably, UNIVAC keypunches buffered an entire card’s character data before punching all holes in a single operation, allowing for error detection and minimizing wasted cards.
Remington Rand’s product lineup featured models such as the UNIVAC Card Code Punch Type 306-5 (including alphabetical Types 306-2 and 306-3), numerical 90-column punches (Types 204-2, 204-3), the Portable Electric Punch Type 202, Spot Punch Type 301, and the Automatic Verifying Machine Type 313.
The Type 306-2 model supported verification by running cards through the keypunch twice; accurate entries resulted in elongated holes while mistakes appeared as round perforations. The Automatic Verifying Machine rapidly identified errors through mechanical means.
In 1969, the UNIVAC 1710 Verifying Interpreting Punch was introduced.
Keypunch as a Verb
The expression keypunched—derived from the act of entering data using keypunch machines—has become obsolete alongside the decline of these devices. Presently, it is used more generally to denote data entry activities. This evolution mirrors the shift from mechanical punched-card input methods to contemporary digital data entry techniques.
Shift Toward Direct Data Entry
During the 1950s, Remington Rand developed the UNITYPER, an input device that enabled direct data recording onto magnetic tape for UNIVAC computers. Subsequently, in 1965, Mohawk Data Sciences introduced an enhanced magnetic tape encoder marketed as an alternative to traditional keypunch machines. By the mid-1970s, technological progress in microprocessors and cost-effective computer terminals encouraged smaller firms like Inforex and Pertec to produce systems capable of direct key-to-tape or key-to-disk data entry.
While punched cards remained prevalent for programming and data input until approximately the mid-1980s, eliminating the intermediate step of transferring punched cards to tape or disk reduced expenses and improved error detection during entry. The adoption of video display terminals, interactive timeshared systems, and eventually personal computers allowed users to input data directly at its source. This advancement streamlined workflows and diminished dependence on specialized data entry clerk roles.
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).