Cray-1A Supercomputer, serial number 11, by Cray Research

Cray-1A Supercomputer, serial number 11, by Cray Research Cray-1A Supercomputer, serial number 11, by Cray Research

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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Cray-1A Supercomputer, serial number 11, with accessories, by Cray Research Inc, Chippewa Falls, Chippewa county, Wisconsin, United States, 1976-1978

Seymour Cray founded the high-performance computing industry with machines like this 1976 Cray-1A. Each Cray-1 was hand wired and took nearly a year to assemble. Its cylindrical shape kept wires short, so signals arrived at their destination sooner, while the cushions ringing the unit covered the enormous power supplied at the base of each tower. With Freon cooling and pioneering processing systems, the machine achieved then-unrivalled operating speeds. The Cray-1 design suited it to many critical computational problems, such as cryptography, bomb simulation, and aircraft design. This Cray-1A cost £8 million in 1979 and operated at England’s Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Cray’s designs embodied innovative technology and a great aesthetic sense, but he like to work with simple tools – often a pencil and paper. It is said that when he was told that Apple had bought a Cray to simulate their next desktop machine he remarked, ‘Funny, I am using an Apple to simulate the Cray-3’.

Details

Category:
Computing & Data Processing
Object Number:
1991-159
Materials:
metal (unknown) and electronic components
type:
supercomputer
credit:
Cray Research (UK) Ltd.

Parts

Cray- 1A supercomputer S/n 11

Cray- 1A supercomputer S/n 11

Cray-1A Supercomputer, serial number 11, manufactured by Cray Research Inc., Chippewa Falls, Chippewa county, Wisconsin, United States, 1976-1978

More

Seymour Cray founded the high-performance computing industry with machines like this 1976 Cray-1A. Each Cray-1 was hand wired and took nearly a year to assemble. Its cylindrical shape kept wires short, so signals arrived at their destination sooner, while the cushions ringing the unit covered the enormous power supplied at the base of each tower. With Freon cooling and pioneering processing systems, the machine achieved then-unrivalled operating speeds. The Cray-1 design suited it to many critical computational problems, such as cryptography, bomb simulation, and aircraft design. This Cray-1A cost £8 million in 1979 and operated at England’s Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Cray’s designs embodied innovative technology and a great aesthetic sense, but he like to work with simple tools – often a pencil and paper. It is said that when he was told that Apple had bought a Cray to simulate their next desktop machine he remarked, ‘Funny, I am using an Apple to simulate the Cray-3’.

Materials:
aluminium alloy , metal (unknown) and electronic components
Object Number:
1991-159 Pt1
type:
supercomputer
Cray-1A Power Distribution Unit

Cray-1A Power Distribution Unit

Cray-1A Power Distribution Unit, manufactured by Cray Research Inc., Chippewa Falls, Chippewa county, Wisconsin, United States, 1976-1978

More

Seymour Cray founded the high-performance computing industry with machines like this 1976 Cray-1A. Each Cray-1 was hand wired and took nearly a year to assemble. Its cylindrical shape kept wires short, so signals arrived at their destination sooner, while the cushions ringing the unit covered the enormous power supplied at the base of each tower. With Freon cooling and pioneering processing systems, the machine achieved then-unrivalled operating speeds. The Cray-1 design suited it to many critical computational problems, such as cryptography, bomb simulation, and aircraft design. This Cray-1A cost £8 million in 1979 and operated at England’s Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Cray’s designs embodied innovative technology and a great aesthetic sense, but he like to work with simple tools – often a pencil and paper. It is said that when he was told that Apple had bought a Cray to simulate their next desktop machine he remarked, ‘Funny, I am using an Apple to simulate the Cray-3’.

Object Number:
1991-159 Pt2
type:
supercomputer
Cray-1A Power Distribution Unit

Cray-1A Power Distribution Unit

Cray-1A Power Distribution Unit, manufactured by Cray Research Inc., Chippewa Falls, Chippewa county, Wisconsin, United States, 1976-1978.

More

Seymour Cray founded the high-performance computing industry with machines like this 1976 Cray-1A. Each Cray-1 was hand wired and took nearly a year to assemble. Its cylindrical shape kept wires short, so signals arrived at their destination sooner, while the cushions ringing the unit covered the enormous power supplied at the base of each tower. With Freon cooling and pioneering processing systems, the machine achieved then-unrivalled operating speeds. The Cray-1 design suited it to many critical computational problems, such as cryptography, bomb simulation, and aircraft design. This Cray-1A cost £8 million in 1979 and operated at England’s Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Cray’s designs embodied innovative technology and a great aesthetic sense, but he like to work with simple tools – often a pencil and paper. It is said that when he was told that Apple had bought a Cray to simulate their next desktop machine he remarked, ‘Funny, I am using an Apple to simulate the Cray-3’.

Object Number:
1991-159 Pt3
type:
supercomputer
Cray-1A Supercomputer disk drives

Cray-1A Supercomputer disk drives

Four Cray-1A Disk Drives manufactured by Control Data Corporation

More

Seymour Cray founded the high-performance computing industry with machines like this 1976 Cray-1A. Each Cray-1 was hand wired and took nearly a year to assemble. Its cylindrical shape kept wires short, so signals arrived at their destination sooner, while the cushions ringing the unit covered the enormous power supplied at the base of each tower. With Freon cooling and pioneering processing systems, the machine achieved then-unrivalled operating speeds. The Cray-1 design suited it to many critical computational problems, such as cryptography, bomb simulation, and aircraft design. This Cray-1A cost £8 million in 1979 and operated at England’s Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Cray’s designs embodied innovative technology and a great aesthetic sense, but he like to work with simple tools – often a pencil and paper. It is said that when he was told that Apple had bought a Cray to simulate their next desktop machine he remarked, ‘Funny, I am using an Apple to simulate the Cray-3’.

Object Number:
1991-159 Pt4
type:
disk drives
Cray-1A Supercomputer Interface Unit

Cray-1A Supercomputer Interface Unit

Cray-1A Interface Unit, manufactured by Cray Research Inc., Chippewa Falls, Chippewa county, Wisconsin, United States, 1976-1978

More

Seymour Cray founded the high-performance computing industry with machines like this 1976 Cray-1A. Each Cray-1 was hand wired and took nearly a year to assemble. Its cylindrical shape kept wires short, so signals arrived at their destination sooner, while the cushions ringing the unit covered the enormous power supplied at the base of each tower. With Freon cooling and pioneering processing systems, the machine achieved then-unrivalled operating speeds. The Cray-1 design suited it to many critical computational problems, such as cryptography, bomb simulation, and aircraft design. This Cray-1A cost £8 million in 1979 and operated at England’s Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Cray’s designs embodied innovative technology and a great aesthetic sense, but he like to work with simple tools – often a pencil and paper. It is said that when he was told that Apple had bought a Cray to simulate their next desktop machine he remarked, ‘Funny, I am using an Apple to simulate the Cray-3’.

Object Number:
1991-159 Pt5
type:
interface unit
Eclipse Disc Drive manufactured by Data General

Eclipse Disc Drive manufactured by Data General

Eclipse Disc Drive manufactured by Data General, used as part of Cray-1A Maintenance Control Unit

Object Number:
1991-159 Pt7
type:
computer component
Gould 5000 line printer manufactured by Gould

Gould 5000 line printer manufactured by Gould

Gould 5000 line printer manufactured by Gould, used as part of Cray-1A Maintenance Control Unit

Object Number:
1991-159 Pt8
type:
printer
Tec 455 and Tec 1440 terminals manufactured by Tele-Tec

Tec 455 and Tec 1440 terminals manufactured by Tele-Tec

Tec 455 and Tec 1440 terminals manufactured by Tele-Tec, used as part of Cray-1A Maintenance Control Unit

Object Number:
1991-159 Pt9
type:
computer component
Desk and chair used as part of a Cray-1A Maintenance Control Unit

Desk and chair used as part of a Cray-1A Maintenance Control Unit

Desk and chair used as part of a Cray-1A Maintenance Control Unit

Object Number:
1991-159 Pt10
type:
furniture
Cray-1A Test Station for testing circuit boards

Cray-1A Test Station for testing circuit boards

Cray-1A Test Station for testing circuit boards

Object Number:
1991-159 Pt11
type:
test station
Accessories consisting of attaching nuts and bolts and transportation cases and equipment

Accessories consisting of attaching nuts and bolts and transportation cases and equipment

Accessories consisting of attaching nuts and bolts and transportation cases and equipment

Object Number:
1991-159 Pt12
type:
accessories
Cray-1A Supercomputer frame, serial number 11, by Cray Research

Cray-1A Supercomputer frame, serial number 11, by Cray Research

Additional Cray-1A Supercomputer frame, with 12 panels, for Cray-1A by Cray Research Inc, Chippewa Falls, Chippewa county, Wisconsin, United States, 1976-1978

More

Seymour Cray founded the high-performance computing industry with machines like this 1976 Cray-1A. Each Cray-1 was hand wired and took nearly a year to assemble. Its cylindrical shape kept wires short, so signals arrived at their destination sooner, while the cushions ringing the unit covered the enormous power supplied at the base of each tower. With Freon cooling and pioneering processing systems, the machine achieved then-unrivalled operating speeds. The Cray-1 design suited it to many critical computational problems, such as cryptography, bomb simulation, and aircraft design. This Cray-1A cost £8 million in 1979 and operated at England’s Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Cray’s designs embodied innovative technology and a great aesthetic sense, but he like to work with simple tools – often a pencil and paper. It is said that when he was told that Apple had bought a Cray to simulate their next desktop machine he remarked, ‘Funny, I am using an Apple to simulate the Cray-3’.

Object Number:
1991-159 Pt13
type:
supercomputer