Lindy This may help.
http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/701/701_1415bx11.html The 701 system appears to incorporate a 711 card reader. There's a hint as to where the 2 x 36 = 72 comes from so that only 72 columns can be read. Maybe Fred was so relieved that he had more than 72 columns, if only 8 more[1], that he called column "73" magic. Paul Gilmartin's post suggested that Fred Brook's "speech" can be "read", would that be online? If so perhaps I could see whence the stardust emanates. If you like the history - this explains why you lurk in this list I expect <g> - you may find the generic site: http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/ interesting if you haven't explored it already. Chris Mason [1] Some funny system with ancestry between the S/360 Model 20 and the iSeries of today (that is, the "RPG range") used diddy 96 column cards I seem to remember. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lindy Mayfield" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Newsgroups: bit.listserv.ibm-main To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, 12 October, 2006 9:04 AM Subject: Re: What's a "programming language" (was: Google ... ) > Chris, > > That's what Fred Brooks, Jr. who was in charge of the IBM 360 project said in a speech. I just tried to transcribe it because I thought it was so interesting. He has a nice way of talking about things which may explain his use of the word "magic". > > I understand your point. I always thought those extra spaces were for sequence numbers, too. I don't know what a 701 card reader is or what Fred is talking about with 36+36. Maybe it started that way and then later they had the extra after 72 to use as sequence numbers? I dunno. I love the history of this though. > > Regards, > Lindy ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
