IBM 1440
| Company type | Computer system |
|---|---|
| Industry | Data processing |
| Founded | October 11, 1962 |
| Defunct | February 8, 1971 |
| Products | IBM 1440 computer system, peripherals (IBM 1442 card reader/punch, IBM 1443 printer, IBM 1311 disk drive, IBM 7335 tape drive) |
The IBM 1440 was introduced by IBM on October 11, 1962. As a member of the IBM 1400 series, it was marketed as a more affordable alternative to the 1401, with software compatibility between the two models. Although IBM highlighted its "special features" designed to address immediate data processing requirements and future expansion, the 1440 did not reach the commercial popularity of the 1401 and was discontinued on February 8, 1971.
According to author Emerson Pugh, the initial market performance of the 1440 suffered due to the absence of magnetic tape unit attachments, which made it less attractive compared to rivals that offered both tape and disk storage capabilities.
System configuration
The central processing unit (CPU) of the IBM 1441 contained arithmetic and logic circuits along with magnetic-core memory capable of storing up to 16,000 alphanumeric characters. Operators could choose between two console options: Model 1 or Model 2, the latter featuring an electric typewriter.
Peripherals
The system supported various peripheral devices:
- IBM 1442 card reader/punch:
- Model 1: capable of reading up to 300 cards per minute and punching up to 80 columns per second
- Model 2: reads up to 400 cards per minute and punches up to 160 columns per second
- Model 4: read-only unit that processes up to 400 cards per minute
It was possible to pair a Model 4 with either a Model 1 or Model 2 as a secondary unit.
- IBM 1443 flying typebar printer:
- Printing speeds ranged from 150 to 430 lines per minute depending on the installed typebar
- Interchangeable typebars allowed for character sets containing 13, 39, 52, or 63 characters
- IBM 1311 disk drive:
- Each removable disk pack held up to two million characters, with an optional upgrade increasing capacity close to three million
- Disk packs weighed less than 10 pounds (approximately 5 kilograms)
- Up to five disk drives could be connected within a single system
- Tape drives:
- The IBM 7335 tape drive became available in October 1963, providing expanded storage possibilities beyond those initially offered
These peripheral devices broadened the IBM 1440’s data handling capabilities, catering to organizations requiring adaptable input/output setups and scalable storage.
Software
The system's assembly language was known as IBM 1440 Autocoder. Additionally, it included an IOCS along with a collection of "Disk File Organization Routines."
Pricing
The pricing framework for the IBM 1440 was as follows:
- Purchase prices started at $90,000, depending on configuration options.
- Rental rates began at $1,500 monthly, varying according to system specifications.
Installations
One notable deployment involved a top-tier IBM 1440 at the Chicago Police Department during the early 1960s under superintendent Orlando Winfield Wilson, who was known for reform efforts.
During the same decade, Polish company ZOWAR (ZETO Warszawa) became IBM’s first client in Poland after World War II despite Cold War restrictions.
In 2012, the TechWorks! Prototype Workshop at the Center for Technology & Innovation (CT&I) in Binghamton, New York successfully restored an IBM 1440 system complete with CPU, console, an IBM 1311 disk drive, and an IBM 1442 card reader/punch.
A more comprehensively equipped IBM 1440 reported in use in 1964 included:
- Five disk drives
- Two magnetic tape drives
- Two card reader-punch units
- One high-speed printer
- An optical reader designed for transferring coded medical data forms onto magnetic tape