Pegasus Mark I computer

Pegasus Mark I computer, made by Ferranti Ltd, Manchester, and delivered to Vickers Aircraft in 1957.

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

This particular Pegasus was sold to Vickers-Armstrong Aircraft in Weybridge in 1957, where it was used for aircraft design calculations. Later it was given to Brooklands Technical College where it was used for educational purposes.

Details

Category:
Computing & Data Processing
Object Number:
Y1969.46
Materials:
metal (unknown), plastic (unidentified) and glass
Measurements:
overall: Height = 2100 mm x Width = 3600 mm x Depth = 4000 mm, 250 kg
type:
valve computer
credit:
Purchased From Brooklands Technical College

Parts

Central Processing Unit of Pegasus with Spare Circuit Board Packages

Central processing unit with part of desk unit attached at front. From the Pegasus Mark I computer, made by Ferranti Ltd, West Gorton, Manchester, and delivered to Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd in 1957.

More

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

This particular Pegasus was sold to Vickers-Armstrong Aircraft in Weybridge in 1957, where it was used for aircraft design calculations. Later it was given to Brooklands Technical College where it was used for educational purposes.

Measurements:
Overall: 480 mm x 460 mm x 460 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) , plastic (unidentified) and glass
Object Number:
Y1969.46.1
type:
valve computer
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

circuit board

26 spare circuit boards for Pegasus Mark 1.

Manufactured by Ferranti Ltd, West Gorton, Manchester, and delivered to Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd in 1957.

More

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

Pegasus was designed with its electronics built into circuit boards like these, which were known as “packages.” This made the computer easier to test and assemble, and meant that faulty components could be easily simply replaced, making the machine easier to maintain.

Measurements:
Individual Board: 30 mm x 295 mm x 150 mm
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) , metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
Y1969.46.1.1
type:
circuit board
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
Y1969.46.1

cable

three spare cables, cable bolts, and some glass fragments, from Pegasus Mark 1.

Manufactured by Ferranti Ltd, West Gorton, Manchester, and delivered to Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd in 1957.

More

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

Measurements:
Overall: 60 mm x 370 mm x 310 mm
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) , copper (alloy) and steel (metal)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.1.2
type:
cable
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
Y1969.46.1

Left Hand Desk Unit for Pegasus Mark I Computer

Left hand desk unit from the Pegasus Mark I computer, with cable connector box and drawer, by Ferranti Ltd, West Gorton, Manchester, and delivered to Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd in 1957.

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This was part of the desk where the Pegasus computer operator sat and was used to hold the computers input and output equipment.

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

Object Number:
Y1969.46.14.1
type:
desk unit
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Power Supply Unit for the Pegasus Mark I Computer

Power supply unit from the Pegasus Mark I computer, made by Ferranti Ltd, West Gorton, Manchester, and delivered to Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd in 1957.

More

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

Measurements:
Overall: Height = 2080 mm x Width = 680 mm x Depth = 1700 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.2
type:
computer power supply unit
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Right Hand Desk Unit for Pegasus Mark I Computer

Right Hand Desk Unit for Pegasus Mark I Computer

Right hand desk unit from the Pegasus Mark I computer, with cables extruding fron side, and hole in top, by Ferranti Ltd, West Gorton, Manchester, and delivered to Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd in 1957.

More

This was part of the desk where the Pegasus computer operator sat and was used to hold the computers input and output equipment.

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

Object Number:
Y1969.46.14.2
type:
desk unit

Tape Reader from the Pegasus Mark I Computer

High speed optical tape reader from the Pegasus Mark I computer, made by Ferranti Ltd, West Gorton, Manchester, and delivered to Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd in 1957.

More

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

The standard method for programming a Pegasus was to encode the program by punching holes into a paper tape, which could then be fed into the computer using a paper tape reader like this one. The technology was developed from earlier teleprinter machines, which were used to send text messages over long distances by telegraph.

Measurements:
Overall: Height = 285 mm x Width = 230 mm x Depth = 290 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.3
type:
valve computer high speed optical tape reader
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Teletypewriter made by Creed & Co. from the Pegasus Mark I Computer

Teletypewriter, made by Creed & Co. Ltd, London, and used with a Pegasus Mark I computer, made by Ferranti Ltd, Manchester, and delivered to Vickers Aircraft in 1957.

More

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

The standard method for programming a Pegasus was to encode the program by punching holes into a paper tape, which could then be fed into the computer. The holes in the tape represented programming instructions and other pieces of data.

This teletypewriter was used by a computer operator to prepare a Pegasus program. To use it, the operator entered their program using the keyboard, which simultaneously typed a paper copy for the operator to see what they had typed, and punched the program into a paper tape which could be fed into the computer.

Measurements:
Overall: 310 mm x 375 mm x 380 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.4
type:
computer teletypewriter
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

ribbon

Ribbon from Pegasus teletype printer.

manufactured by Ferranti Limited

Measurements:
Overall: 25 mm x 60 mm x 60 mm,
Object Number:
Y1969.46.4.1
type:
ribbon
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Part of:
Y1969.46.4

Tape Punch made by Creed & Co. from the Pegasus Mark I Computer

Tape punch, made by Creed & Co. Ltd, London and used with a Pegasus Mark I computer, made by Ferranti Ltd, Manchester, and delivered to Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd, Weybridge, Surrey, in 1957.

More

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

The standard method for programming a Pegasus was to encode the program by punching holes into a paper tape, which could then be fed into the computer. The holes in the tape represented programming instructions and other pieces of data.

This tape punch allowed the computer to punch its own paper tape with the result of a program, the data on the tape could then be fed back into the computer at a later point, or fed into a printer. The technology was developed from earlier teleprinter machines, which were used to send text messages over long distances by telegraph.

Measurements:
Overall: Height = 260 mm x Width = 280 mm x Depth = 315 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.5
type:
valve computer tape punch
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Tape Reader (Transmitter), made by Creed & Co from the Pegasus Mark I Computer

Low speed tape reader, (transmitter), made by Creed & Co. Ltd, London, and used with a Pegasus Mark I computer, made by Ferranti Ltd, Manchester, and delivered to Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd, Weybridge, Surrey, in 1957.

More

This tape reader was used to control a Pegasus computer printer.

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

Pegasus punched the output of its programs onto a paper tape with the holes representing data. The tape was then fed into this tape reader, which was attached to a teletype printer that could print the program results onto paper.

Measurements:
Overall: Height = 200 mm x Width = 190 mm x Depth = 400 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.6
type:
valve computer low speed tape reader transmitter
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Teleprinter machine made by Creed & Co. from the Pegasus Mark I Computer

Teleprinter machine from Pegasus Mark I computer, made by Ferranti Ltd, Manchester, and delivered to Vickers Aircraft in 1957.

More

This teleprinter was used on a Pegasus computer to allow it to print the results of its programs.

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

The teleprinter worked like an electric typewriter that hammered small printing-block letters against an ink ribbon to print onto a roll of paper. The technology was developed from earlier teleprinter machines, which were used to send text messages over long distances by telegraph.

Measurements:
Overall: Height = 330 mm x Width = 540 mm x Depth = 580 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.7
type:
teleprinter
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pegasus Computer Drum Store

Pegasus computer drum store, made by Ferranti Ltd, Oldham, c. 1956.

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This magnetic drum was used for data storage on the Ferranti Pegasus Computer.

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

Pegasus had two sorts of data storage: a fast, but small, small nickel delay line store, used as the main memory; and a larger, but slower, drum memory used for longer term data storage. The drum worked by storing data magnetically on the surface of the drum, where it could be read and written by a row of tiny electro-magnetic read/write heads. It stored about 25 kilobytes of data, tiny by modern standards.

Measurements:
Overall: 420 mm x 410 mm x 540 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.8
type:
valve computer drum
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Tape Keyboard Perforator Machine for Pegasus Computer

Tape Keyboard Perforator Machine for Pegasus Computer

Creed & Co Ltd tape keyboard perforator machine, and 4 rolls of tape. Part of Pegasus computer made by Ferranti Ltd, Oldham, c. 1956.

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This perforator machine was likely used to prepare programs for a Pegasus computer.

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

The standard method for programming a Pegasus was to encode the program by punching holes into a paper tape, which could then be fed into the computer. The holes in the tape represented programming instructions and other pieces of data.

This perforator was used by a computer operator to prepare a Pegasus program. To use it, the operator entered their program using the keyboard and the machine punched the program into a paper tape which could be fed into the computer. Unlike the similar teletypewriter, a perforator did not type a paper copy for the operator to see, just a tape for the computer.

Measurements:
overall: 370 mm x 560 mm x 355 mm,
Materials:
iron and paper (fibre product)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.9
type:
valve computer part
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Transmitter with 9 Pin Plug for Pegasus Computer

Transmitter with 9 Pin Plug for Pegasus Computer

Creed & Co Ltd transmitter, with a 9 pin plug. Part of Pegasus computer made by Ferranti Ltd, Oldham, c. 1956.

More

This tape reader was used to control a Pegasus computer printer.

The standard method for programming a Pegasus was to encode the program by punching holes into a paper tape, which could then be fed into the computer. The holes in the tape represented programming instructions and other pieces of data. This tape punch allowed the computer to punch its own paper tape with the result of a program, the data on the tape could then be fed back into the computer at a later point or fed into a printer. The technology was developed from earlier teleprinter machines, which were used to send text messages over long distances by telegraph.

Pegasus punched the output of its programs onto a paper tape with the holes representing data. The tape was then fed into this tape reader, which was attached to a teletype printer that could print the program results onto paper.

Measurements:
overall: 205 mm x 190 mm x 390 mm,
Materials:
iron and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.10
type:
transmitter
Teleprinter for Pegasus Computer

Teleprinter for Pegasus Computer

Creed & Co teleprinter, part of a Pegasus computer made by Ferranti Ltd, Oldham, c. 1956.

More

This teleprinter was likely used on a Pegasus computer for data input or output.

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

The Pegasus used teleprinters similar to this one for its input systems, to type a program onto a punched paper tape, and its output system, to print the results of a program onto paper. This does not appear to be one of the standard types of teleprinter used with a Pegasus, making it likely that it was a spare teleprinter that had been adapted for this purpose.

Measurements:
overall: 370 mm x 550 mm x 670 mm,
Materials:
iron , paper (fibre product) and plastic
Object Number:
Y1969.46.11
type:
teleprinter
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Switchboard for Pegasus Computer

Switchboard for Pegasus Computer

Switchboard for Pegasus Computer. 5 switch gears on metal board. Black, red, blue, and yellow cables are attached.

More

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

Measurements:
overall: 2170 mm x 1225 mm x 230 mm, 180 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.12
type:
pegasus switchboard
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Motor Alternator for Pegasus I Computer

Motor Alternator for Pegasus I Computer

Large motor alternator; 12kVA to power Pegasus I computer. Manufactured by Lancashire Dynamo & Crypto Ltd.

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This motor alternator was part of the power system on a Ferranti Pegasus computer.

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

Measurements:
overall: 714 kg
Materials:
steel (metal)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.13
type:
motor alternator

Tape Bin from the Pegasus Mark I Computer

Tape bin from the Pegasus Mark I computer, made by Ferranti Ltd, West Gorton, Manchester, and delivered to Vickers-Armstrong (Aircraft) Ltd in 1957.

More

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

The standard method for programming a Pegasus was to encode the program by punching holes into a paper tape, which could then be fed into the computer. This bin was used to hold punched paper tape after it had been fed through the Ferranti Pegasus computer’s tape reader.

Measurements:
Overall: 480 mm x 460 mm x 460 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.15
type:
container
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Small Parts From Pegasus Mark I Computer

Small Parts From Pegasus Mark I Computer

9 sealed plastic bags containing small parts from Pegasus computer, including a broken bulb, screws, and other components. All contained in a small cardboard archive box.

More

The Ferranti Pegasus was a 1950s computer, built using electronic valve circuitry, with nickel delay lines and a magnetic drum used for memory and data storage. It was designed in London by a team led by William Elliott, with Christopher Strachey making significant contributions to the software development. The computers were manufactured in Ferranti’s factories in Manchester and around forty were sold to universities, businesses, and research establishments. Pegasus had a modular design that was convenient to maintain, and the machines were easy to program by the standards of the day.

Materials:
metal (unknown) , glass and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1969.46.16
type:
component - object
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
Pieces of 5-hole punched paper tape

Pieces of 5-hole punched paper tape

Pieces of 5-hole punched paper tape, tape supplied by Creed & Co, used on the Pegasus Computer, 1955-1965.

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This 5-hole punched paper tape stored output data from the Pegasus Computer owned by Vickers aircraft from 1957. People interpreted pattern of holes on the paper tape as corresponding to specific letters and numbers, a system that had been borrowed from telegraph code developed in the nineteenth century. For digital computers like the Pegasus, those patterns of holes were processed as binary values, a hole meant 1 and an absence of a hole meant 0.

Materials:
paper tape
Object Number:
Y1969.46/17
type:
paper tape
9-Pin thermionic valve leg straightener

9-Pin thermionic valve leg straightener

9-Pin thermionic valve leg straightener, 1940-1969.

More

Used to straighten the metal pins that protrude from the bottom of a thermionic valve.

Measurements:
overall: 10 mm 20 mm,
Materials:
plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
Y1969.46/18
type:
valve computer