IBM 1401 System 50th Anniversary

[Recorded: November 10, 2009]
Announced in 1959, the IBM 1401 was widely adopted by business and institutions around the world. By the mid 1960s, half of all computers were 1401s or members of its family. The 1401 was one of IBMs earliest transistorized computers and introduced thousands of businesses to stored-program computing while its tape and disk systems freed them from the decades-long practice of storing data on punched cards.

Known as a small-scale computer, a 1401 system weighed between 2-to-4 tons, dissipated 12,000 watts, and was built out of over half a million parts. In today's dollars, a typical system rented for $ 45,000 a month or could be purchased for $ 3.4 million. The 1401's popularity was due in part to its legendary peripherals, including its chain-based 1403 printer whose fast speed and outstanding print quality made it into an industry workhorse.
This lecture at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA, hosted by Jon Iwata, IBM Senior VP, Marketing & Communications, brought together a distinguished panel of key players in the creation of the IBM 1401 system:
- Francis Underwood, IBM 1401 Chief Architect, 1957 - 1960
- Charles Branscomb, IBM 1401 Program Manager, 1957 - 1960
- Sheldon Jacobs, IBM 1401 Marketing Lead, 1958 - 1960
In addition to celebrating the anniversary of the 1401, the Computer History Museum also honors a dedicated team of volunteers, lead by Robert Garner who have successfully restored to full operation two 48-year-old IBM 1401 magnetic-tape systems.