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IBM 056

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IBM Keypunch
IndustryData processing equipment
Founded1890s
FounderHerman Hollerith
Headquarters
United States
ProductsKeypunch machines, card punches, card verifiers
ParentIBM

A keypunch refers to a machine designed to create holes in rigid paper cards at designated spots, determined by the keys pressed by an operator. Comparable devices include the gang punch, pantograph punch, and stamp. The term also extends to equipment that records data onto punched tape media.

In the context of Jacquard looms, punched cards served as a continuous paper tape "chain" that contained a program controlling the loom’s functions.[1]

For Hollerith machines and similar unit record devices, punched cards held data processed by these systems. In computer systems utilizing punched card input/output devices, the cards carried either data or programs that directed the computer’s operations.

The earliest Hollerith keypunches were hand-operated; subsequent versions became electromechanical, resembling compact desks outfitted with keyboards akin to typewriters, including hoppers for blank cards and stackers for punched ones. Certain models also printed the character represented by the punched holes atop each column. The discarded punched bits fell into a chad box, or at IBM, were collected in a chip box or bit bucket.

Many data processing tasks involved verifying punched cards by re-entering data to confirm accuracy, a method known as two pass verification. There was significant demand for keypunch operators, frequently women,[2] who typically worked full-time within large keypunch departments responsible for data input.

In the 1950s, Remington Rand launched the UNITYPER, which allowed direct data entry onto magnetic tape for use with UNIVAC systems. By 1965, Mohawk Data Sciences introduced an enhanced magnetic tape encoder marketed as a replacement for keypunches. The emergence of microprocessors and affordable computer terminals motivated smaller firms such as Inforex and Pertec to create additional key-to-tape and key-to-disk solutions.[3]

Throughout the 1970s, keypunches and punched cards remained widely used for entering data and programs but were swiftly supplanted by cost-effective CRT computer terminals. Removing the need for card-to-tape or disk conversion lowered expenses and enhanced opportunities for immediate data validation and correction during entry. The rise of video display terminals, interactive timeshared systems, and subsequently personal computers enabled users to input data or programs directly rather than relying on keypunch operators.

Stamping Jacquard cards, 1801 through 1890

Unlike punching, Jacquard cards were either stamped or cut. Initially, stamping was performed manually, occasionally assisted by a guide plate. A later advancement involved sandwiching the card between two perforated metal plates; punches were inserted according to the design before pressing the assembly to cut the card. These manual techniques were eventually replaced by mechanized processes. The so-called 'Piano machines,' named for their keyboard-like keys resembling those on unit record keypunches, became the predominant method.

Hollerith and IBM Keypunch Machines, 1890s to 1930s

During the 1890s, Herman Hollerith developed an initial punch device that utilized a conventional ticket punch creating circular holes near the edges of cards. He soon advanced this design by inventing a more accurate Keyboard Punch, which incorporated a pantograph mechanism connecting a punch to a guiding pointer over a 12 by 20 grid, allowing manual alignment of punches.

In 1901, Hollerith secured a patent for a device where operators pressed one of twelve keys to create holes, with the card automatically advancing afterward. This first-generation Type 001 keypunch operated on 45-column cards with round holes. The Tabulating Machine Company introduced the first electric keypunch in 1923, named the Type 011 Electric Keypunch, where each key press engaged a solenoid to punch holes. The 80-column punched card format was launched 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 enabled recording of alphabetic data on tabulating cards so that full words and names, alongside numerical information, could later be printed by an alphabetical accounting machine. IBM introduced the Type 31 Alphabetical Duplicating Punch in 1933; it automatically ejected one card and fed another within 0.65 seconds. These devices featured separate keyboards for alphabetic and numeric 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

Most IBM keypunches and verifiers shared an electro-mechanical keyboard design where keystrokes were encoded through interconnected bails that closed electrical contacts. Each key press energized magnets that mechanically reset the keystem and encoding bails while providing tactile feedback. The overall "feel" of the machine depended on wear and contact adjustments, although no specific mechanism existed to fine-tune this sensation. Special function keys operated solely via electrical contacts without mechanical encoding components.

Models such as the IBM 024, 026, and 029 supported program cards that controlled features like tabbing and automatic duplication of fields. Later, the IBM 129 utilized electronic circuit cards enabling operators to create simple custom programs.

IBM 024 and 026 Card Punch Machines

Launched in 1949, the IBM 024 Card Punch and IBM 026 Printing Card Punch were nearly identical except for the printing function. Both contained twelve precise punches—one for each card row—that activated sequentially as cards advanced column by column, producing a characteristic punching noise. These machines handled cards with 51, 60, 66, and 80 columns.

The IBM 026 printed characters above each punched column; by 1964, ten variants supported different character sets. Versions designed for scientific use replaced some commercial symbols with parentheses, equal signs, and plus signs.

The internal logic employed diodes, 25L6 vacuum tubes, and relays. Tube circuits operated at 150VDC primarily to power punch-clutch magnets; most other circuits ran on 48VDC.

Character printing was achieved using a 5×7 dot matrix array driven by a metal "code plate" containing up to 1960 pins (35 pins × 56 characters). Pins were selectively removed to form character patterns; pressing the plate against printing wires forced appropriate pins through an ink ribbon onto the card. This printing assembly was complex and susceptible to wire breakage within narrow tubes between the code plate and ribbon, making maintenance challenging. Non-standard punch configurations could damage the code-plate positioning mechanism even when printing was disabled since it remained mechanically linked to the punch unit.

Renowned industrial designer Raymond Loewy, celebrated for streamlined aesthetics and railway car designs, created the award-winning exterior styling of the IBM 024/026 Card Punches. Their robust steel construction with rounded edges exemplified industrial Art Deco design principles.

IBM 056 Card Verifier

Serving as the verification counterpart to the IBM 024 Card Punch and 026 Printing Card Punch, the IBM 056 operated similarly to the 026 keypunch and included a distinctive red error indicator on its cover. During operation, the verifier operator re-entered the data keyed in by the punch operator, and the machine performed a comparison to ensure accuracy. Cards that passed verification were marked with a small notch along their right edge.

Mechanically and electrically, the IBM 056 shared most components with the 024 and 026 keypunch models, differing primarily in the punch unit and print head. Instead of punching holes, it used sensing pins to detect existing holes; if any discrepancies were found, a contact bail was triggered to stop card feeding and illuminate a red error light. The area where the 026 printed was replaced by a notching mechanism controlled by solenoids, which selected either a notch at the top edge or at the card's end.

Operators were allowed up to three attempts to rectify errors during verification. If unsuccessful, an error notch was applied above the faulty column on the card’s top edge, and no “OK” notch was made at the card’s end. While flagged errors did not always indicate incorrect data, repeated attempts helped minimize mistakes. Some operators tried to circumvent this process by guessing errors, prompting IBM to modify machines so that only one verification attempt was permitted before notching occurred.

Cards bearing error notches were typically re-punched by duplicating columns up to the error point using an IBM 024 or 026 and then correcting erroneous data as necessary. The duplication process involved passing cards through sensing pins that transferred hole patterns onto blank cards; only columns containing errors were altered. Corrected cards were subjected to another verification cycle to confirm accuracy and receive an “OK” notch.

Typewriter Card Punches

The first device combining a card punch with a typewriter mechanism—allowing selective typing and punching of text—was introduced by Powers in 1925. IBM later developed the 824 Typewriter Card Punch, which replaced the standard 024 keyboard with an IBM electric typewriter. Similarly, the IBM 826 model was based on the IBM 026 Keypunch design.

IBM 029 Card Punch

Launched alongside the 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 encoding scheme. Although mechanically akin to the IBM 026, it featured an expanded code plate with 2,240 printing-pin positions to support EBCDIC’s broader character set by printing punched characters on top of cards.

The logic circuitry of later IBM 029 models utilized wire contact relays, while earlier versions employed reed relays combined with diodes mounted on IBM Standard Modular System (SMS) cards. Due to reliability concerns with reed relays, IBM reverted to wire-contact relay technology. Operating at 48 volts DC, this design eliminated the need for vacuum tubes required by earlier models like the 024 and 026. An optional "Left-Zero" feature—implemented via four additional SMS cards—enabled automatic punching of leading zeros for right-justified numeric fields, streamlining data entry processes.

IBM 5924 Key Punch

The IBM 5924 Key Punch represented a specialized adaptation of the IBM 029 model T01 tailored for IBM’s 1971 launch of the Kanji System. Equipped with a unique keyboard featuring fifteen shift keys and selection options for up to 240 characters, it allowed operators to input complex Kanji character sets exceeding 10,000 symbols used across Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages. This development facilitated computer handling of extensive East Asian character sets.

IBM 059 Card Verifier

The IBM 059 functioned as the verification device paired with the IBM 029 Card Punch. Differing from the earlier IBM 056, it utilized optical detection to read card holes instead of mechanical pins, which greatly diminished operational noise levels. This optical mechanism incorporated a single light source that was distributed across the machine through fiber-optic lightpipes. Despite this advancement in technology, the fundamental verification methodology remained aligned with previous models.

Interestingly, some operators of the verifier missed the louder sound cues produced by the older 056 when working alongside the quieter 029 keypunch units, occasionally pressing keys more forcefully to compensate—sometimes resulting in accelerated wear on keyboard parts.

IBM 129 Card Data Recorder

Launched alongside the System/370 in 1971, the IBM 129 combined functions of punching, verifying, and on-line reading/punching of 80-column cards for certain computer systems. A toggle switch located on the keyboard console allowed users to select between punch and verify modes.

The transistorized IBM 129's primary innovation over previous IBM keypunch models was its electronic buffer capable of storing an entire 80-column card image. Earlier machines required ejecting and manually correcting cards when keystroke errors occurred. In contrast, the 129 enabled error correction by using the Backspace key to erase mistakes and re-enter data before automatic punching was triggered by pressing the Release key.

Its internal logic was built with SLT modules mounted on a wire-wrapped backplane that swung out for access. Punching speed was no longer constrained by column-by-column processing.

The machine could hold up to six distinct programs, selectable via a rotary switch. Unlike its predecessors, program cards were loaded into memory through the standard card feed path rather than being wrapped around a dedicated program drum.

Thanks to electronic memory storage, duplication processes relied on stored images instead of requiring a separate reading station equipped with pin-sensing units. Additionally, cards could be optically read using an integrated unit within the punch station.

Program card

IBM keypunches such as the 024, 026, and 029 models—as well as verifiers like the 056 and 059—could be programmed through a Program Card or drum card. This innovation enabled features such as automatic field advancement, default character settings, duplication of fields from previous cards, and more—offering improvements over earlier Skip Bar techniques.

Program cards were punched on any keypunch and wrapped around a rotating drum synchronized with card feeding. Starwheels detected holes to engage electrical contacts encoding programs within the top six rows [12,11,0,1,2,3]. An optional Second Program utilized bottom rows [4–9], selectable via a switch. The drum could be easily removed using a locking lever for replacement.

Key program functions included:

Function #1 Char. #2 Char. Purpose
Field Definition 12 & 4 4 Punch all columns except first within 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 Enable Alphabetic mode on keyboard at column
Left Zero Print 2 2 8 8 Force printing of leading zeros or signs
Print Suppression 3 3 9 9 Suppress printing in specified column

Programming languages such as FORTRAN, RPG, and IBM Assembly language designated specific columns for operations (e.g., columns 1,10,16,36,72). Program cards automated tabbing and field definitions accordingly.

For instance: 

1.......10........20........30........40........50........60........70........80  
1AAAAAAAA1AAAAA1AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA1AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA &&&&&&&&

In this example, activating skip would move the cursor to column 10; columns 72–80 might define a Numeric Shift field used for special characters or sequence numbering.

Note that "Field Definition" (12) and "Alphabetic Shift" (1) print as A.

Using program codes from set 2 could produce invalid characters that might cause damage to printers.

Program cards facilitated automation tasks like "gang punching," which involved inserting constant fields across multiple decks. They also allowed inventive applications such as creating music by punching rhythmic patterns of noisy characters.

IBM 5496 Data Recorder for 96-Column Cards

In 1969, IBM introduced the System/3 series of entry-level business computers that utilized a more compact 96-column punched card. To support these cards, IBM developed the 5496 Data Recorder, a keypunch device featuring print and verification capabilities, alongside the IBM 5486 Card Sorter.

Powers and Remington Rand (UNIVAC) Keypunch Machines

Around 1906, James Powers of the United States Census Bureau created the Powers Keypunch, equipped with 240 keys specifically for census data processing. He later established the Powers Accounting Machine Company in 1911, which was acquired by Remington Rand in 1927. The UNIVAC division of Remington Rand manufactured keypunches designed for their 90-column punched cards as well as compatible equipment for IBM’s 80-column cards. Their mechanical designs circumvented IBM’s patents until the acquisition of Eckert–Mauchly Computer Corporation. UNIVAC keypunch machines captured all card data before punching holes in a single operation, allowing error correction and minimizing card waste.

Remington Rand offered various keypunch models including: UNIVAC Card Code Punch Type 306-5 (90 Column Alphabetical), Types 306-2 and 306-3, Types 204-2 and 204-3 (90 Column Numerical), Portable Electric Punch Type 202, Spot Punch Type 301, and Automatic Verifying Machine Type 313.

The Type 306-2 model enabled verification by reprocessing cards through the keypunch; accurate data produced elongated perforations whereas errors showed as round holes, which were mechanically detected by the Automatic Verifying Machine.

In 1969, the UNIVAC 1710 Verifying Interpreting Punch was introduced to the market.

To Keypunch as a Verb

The expression keypunched—derived from keypunch—has evolved to signify general data entry rather than referring solely to the original mechanical device. This transformation reflects how "keypunch" shifted from denoting manual punched card input to encompassing broader digital data entry methods. Initially, pressing a key on a keypunch simultaneously printed a character on the card and punched corresponding holes readable by computer card readers.

Shift Toward Direct Data Entry

During the 1950s, Remington Rand launched the UNITYPER, an input tool that permitted direct data recording onto magnetic tape for UNIVAC computers. Subsequently, Mohawk Data Sciences introduced an enhanced magnetic tape encoder in 1965 marketed as a substitute for traditional keypunch machines. By the mid-1970s, advancements in microprocessors and affordable computer terminals led to new key-to-tape and key-to-disk systems created by companies such as Inforex and Pertec.

Although punched cards remained widely used for data input and programming through the mid-1980s, bypassing intermediate transfers from punched cards to tape or disk reduced expenses and improved error detection during entry. The emergence of video display terminals, interactive timeshared systems, and eventually personal computers enabled users to input data directly at the source, streamlining processes and diminishing dependence on specialized data entry personnel.

See also

Additional resources

External resources

  1. ↑ Bell, T.F. (1895) Jacquard Weaving and Designing, Longmans, Green And Co.
  2. ↑ IBM Archive: Keypunch operators, 1934, Stockholm
  3. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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