Components of the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2)

Core Store, Printed Circuit Boards and Magnetic Tape from the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), developed by Ferranti and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

This collection of objects; core store, printed circuit boards (PCBs) and magnetic tape are from the Titan Computer. Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1963 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

As with the Atlas Computer, Titan used germanium transistors and ‘hearing-aid’-style triode valves in the printed circuit boards. Titan’s main memory was implemented using ferrite core store, rather than the part core, part rotating drum-store used on the Atlas. Titan also had two large hard-disk drives and several magnetic tape decks.

Details

Category:
Computing & Data Processing
Object Number:
2021-646
type:
computer component
credit:
Cambridge Museum of Technology

Parts

Plessey Core Store from Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), 1963

Plessey Core Store, serial number 1263, by Plessey Co. Plc., c. 1960-1963. From the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), developed by Ferranti and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

More

Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required. Titan’s main memory had 128K of 48-bit words and was implemented using this ferrite core store, rather than the part core, part rotating drum-store used on the Atlas.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1965 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

Materials:
metal (unknown) , copper (alloy) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
2021-646/1
type:
computer component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Magnetic Tape for Titan Computer, 1960s

Magnetic Tape, by Ilford, UK, c. 1960s. Used by the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), developed by Ferranti and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

More

Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required. Titan has two large hard-disk drives and several magnetic tape desks. This magnetic tape was used to store digital information.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1965 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

Measurements:
overall: 40 mm 290 mm,
Materials:
plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
2021-646/2
type:
magnetic tape
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Magnetic Tape for Titan Computer, 1960s

Magnetic Tape, by Ilford, UK, c. 1960s. Used by the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), developed by Ferranti and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

More

Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required. Titan has two large hard-disk drives and several magnetic tape desks. This magnetic tape was used to store digital information.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1965 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

Measurements:
overall: 40 mm 290 mm,
Materials:
plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
2021-646/3
type:
magnetic tape
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer, 1963

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), manufactured by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

More

Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required. Titan has two large hard-disk drives and several magnetic tape desks. As with the Atlas Computer, Titan used germanium transistors and ‘hearing-aid’-style triode valves in the printed circuit boards.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1965 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

Measurements:
overall: 125 mm x 115 mm x 13 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
2021-646/4
type:
circuit board
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer, 1963

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), manufactured by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

More

Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required. Titan has two large hard-disk drives and several magnetic tape desks. As with the Atlas Computer, Titan used germanium transistors and ‘hearing-aid’-style triode valves in the printed circuit boards.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1965 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

Measurements:
overall: 125 mm x 115 mm x 13 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
2021-646/5
type:
circuit board
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer, 1963

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), manufactured by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

More

Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required. Titan has two large hard-disk drives and several magnetic tape desks. As with the Atlas Computer, Titan used germanium transistors and ‘hearing-aid’-style triode valves in the printed circuit boards.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1965 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

Measurements:
overall: 125 mm x 115 mm x 13 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
2021-646/6
type:
circuit board
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer, 1963

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), manufactured by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

More

Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required. Titan has two large hard-disk drives and several magnetic tape desks. As with the Atlas Computer, Titan used germanium transistors and ‘hearing-aid’-style triode valves in the printed circuit boards.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1965 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

Measurements:
overall: 125 mm x 115 mm x 13 mm,
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
2021-646/7
type:
circuit board
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer, 1963

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), manufactured by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

More

Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required. Titan has two large hard-disk drives and several magnetic tape desks. As with the Atlas Computer, Titan used germanium transistors and ‘hearing-aid’-style triode valves in the printed circuit boards.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1965 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

Measurements:
overall: 125 mm x 115 mm x 13 mm,
Materials:
metal plated (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
2021-646/8
type:
circuit board
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer, 1963

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), manufactured by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

More

Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required. Titan has two large hard-disk drives and several magnetic tape desks. As with the Atlas Computer, Titan used germanium transistors and ‘hearing-aid’-style triode valves in the printed circuit boards.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1965 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

Measurements:
overall: 125 mm x 115 mm x 13 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
2021-646/9
type:
circuit board

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer, 1963

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), manufactured by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

More

Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required. Titan has two large hard-disk drives and several magnetic tape desks. As with the Atlas Computer, Titan used germanium transistors and ‘hearing-aid’-style triode valves in the printed circuit boards.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1965 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

Measurements:
overall: 125 mm x 115 mm x 13 mm,
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
2021-646/10
type:
circuit board

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer, 1963

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), manufactured by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

More

Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required. Titan has two large hard-disk drives and several magnetic tape desks. As with the Atlas Computer, Titan used germanium transistors and ‘hearing-aid’-style triode valves in the printed circuit boards.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1965 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

Measurements:
overall: 125 mm x 115 mm x 13 mm,
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
2021-646/11
type:
circuit board

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer, 1963

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), manufactured by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

More

Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required. Titan has two large hard-disk drives and several magnetic tape desks. As with the Atlas Computer, Titan used germanium transistors and ‘hearing-aid’-style triode valves in the printed circuit boards.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1965 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

Measurements:
overall: 125 mm x 115 mm x 13 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
2021-646/12
type:
circuit board

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer, 1963

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from the Titan Computer (prototype Atlas 2), manufactured by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, 1963.

More

Titan was the prototype of the Atlas 2 computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. and the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory. Work began in 1963 and Titan was operational between 1964 and 1973. This collaboration emerged at a time when industry, threatened by international competition, looked to academia to support business interests. At the same time universities and research establishments needed more powerful computers, which were very expensive, so were willing to work with industry to gain access to technology required. Titan has two large hard-disk drives and several magnetic tape desks. As with the Atlas Computer, Titan used germanium transistors and ‘hearing-aid’-style triode valves in the printed circuit boards.

The Titan project’s objective was to develop a batch-processing, multi-processing computer in which users would load their programs using either cards or tape and return later to collect the results. The machine was optimised to handle a variety of jobs of different sizes and complexities concurrently. The Director of the Mathematical Laboratory was computing pioneer Maurice Wilkes. Wilkes visited the USA where he used MIT's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) and in 1965 changed the design of Titan to accommodate time-sharing. From 1967 Titan operated as a multiple-access system, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the whole of the University community. One of Titan's most intensive uses was to compute the inverse Fourier Transforms of data from the One-Mile Radio Telescope.

Measurements:
overall: 125 mm x 115 mm x 13 mm,
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
2021-646/13
type:
circuit board