From slide rules to Douglas Hartree's differential analyser and Ferranti's early computers, these objects trace the development of calculating and computing technology.
Computing & Data Processing
1946-1958
Main portion of short mercury delay tube from the electronic computer EDSAC 1, made at the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, England, 1946-1958.
1951-1960
LEO computer name plate from LEO I or II, made by J Lyons and Company Limited, England, 1951-1960
1910
Henry Babbage's analytical engine (incomplete), with various spare parts and patterns for casting
Short mercury delay tube from the electronic computer EDSAC 1, made at the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, England, 1946-1958
1983-1991
Keyboard amd mouse for Apple Lisa computer, Apple, United States, 1983-1991. Keyboard model no.A6MB101, serial no. 1007252
1968-1987
BESM-6 Supercomputer: Registers Cabinet type BRUS with two glass doors, control panel and desk; Control Unit type UU with two glass doors, control panel and desk; Arithmetic Unit type AU with two glass doors, control panel and desk; Peripheral Control Cabinet, type UVU with two glass doors, control panel and desk; possibly manufactured by Moscow Calculating Analytical Plant Machines, Russia, 1968-1987
2007-2011
'One Laptop per Child' Computer, manufactured by Quanta Computer, China, 2007-2012
1982-1985
Spectrum microcomputer with 48K RAM , serial number 148-455954, manufactured by Sinclair Research Limited, assembled in Portugal, 1982-1985
1986
The first Cisco AGS Router, made by Cisco Systems Inc, Palo Alto, California, United States, 1986
'Community' laserdisc, used as part of the BBC Domesday system, made by BBC Enterprises Limited, England, 1986.
2010-2013
Apple TV digital media player, made by Apple, 2010-2013
1958
Metal sub-unit containing valves and other electronic components mounted as presentation souvenir from LEO II, made by the English Electric Company, British, 1958
YouView set top box for delivery of digital television services over a broadband internet connection, made by British Telecom, unknown place, 2010-2013
1996
Pilot 5000 electronic organiser, made by Palm Inc (subsidiary of US Robotics Corps), Singapore, 1996.
1966-1970
Operators Console from PDP 10 (system 1050) mainframe computer, made by Digital Equipment Company Limited, Massachusetts, United States, 1966-1970
1978
Magnavox Odyssey 2 games console in original packaging, 1978. Second-generation video game console released by Magnavox (a subsidiary of Philips from 1974) using programmable ROM cartridges. Included a full alpha numeric keyboard as well as joystick console. Also known as the Philips Videopac G7000, the Odyssey 2 was a direct rival to the Atari 2600 and Mattel Intellivision in the early second generation of games consoles.
'National' laserdisc, used as part of the BBC Domesday system, made by BBC Enterprises Limited, England, 1986.
1977-1992
Atari CX-2600 video computer system with one original spectravideo joystick, mains adaptor, two control paddles, 1978.
1985
MATLAB Version 1.3 Disc, made by MathWorks, United Kingdom, 1985
2011-2012
Apple iPad 2, Black, 16GB, Wi-Fi, Model A1395, designed by Apple in California, assembled in China, 2011-2012
c.1987
IBM 4731 model BH2 Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) (supported by Woolwich Building Society)
1997
Maple V 5.0 Software, by Maplesoft, Canada, 1997
2001
Remote control for BSkyB 3000 Sky+ box personal television recorder and digital satellite receiver, made by Pace PLC, 2001
1963-1984
Module from SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment), the United States airforce early warning system computer, containing 5 valves and 7 printed circuit boards (P.C.B.s), and numbered 87583, made by IBM, United States, 1963-1984
1951
Relay-operated logic machine designed by Dr. Wolfe Mays and Dr. Dietrich Prinz at the University of Manchester and made by Ferranti Limited, British, 1951
1986; 1986
Stack assembly processor unit from S3L Estriel mainframe computer, made by ICL, West Gorton, Manchester, 1986.
1984
Oric Atmos computer, manufactured by Oric (previously Tangerine), Cambridgeshire, England, 1984
c.1990
Sega Mega Drive 16 Bit Intelligent Terminal video game console in original packaging, c.1990
1988
Book for Mathematica 1.0 Software, by Wolfram, U.S.A, 1988
1940-1945
Components from Colossus project (valve in holder; resistor; capacitor), designed by Tommy Flowers, made at the Post Office Research Station and used at the Government Code and Ciphers School at Bletchley Park, 1940-1945
C. 1870
Operation punch cards for Analytical Engine, nos. 22 - 29
1979
Sharp MZ-80K personal computer complete with floppy disc drive with instructions in original packaging, manufactured by Sharp Corporation in 1979.
1994
Guinevere, Random Number Selector and Name Plaque, used for drawing the British National Lottery, 1994
Control unit for Honeywell DDP 516 computer, designed by the Computer Control Company Inc and manufactured by Honeywell Computer Control Division, United States, 1966-1970
1999-2001
'Message Cam' mobile phone accessory with connector cable to enable mobile internet access using WAP and digital photo sharing, manufactured by Casio, Japan, 1999-2001. Sold for use with Siemens C35i mobile phone.
1991
Psion Series 3 personal organiser, made by Psion, British, 1991. Serial number EBA 111941
1972-1977
Closed Intel 8008 microprocessor chip, made by the Intel Corporation, United States, 1972-1977
2014
72 optical fibre cable used for television transmission in the exchange, with low smoke, zero halogen materials for fire safety, manufactured by Prysmian Group, British, 2014.
1983
Nintendo Entertainment system comprising two controller pads, light gun (zapper), six game catridges (Super Mario Bros, Gauntlet 2, Popeye, The Legend of Zelda, Duck Hunt, Super Mario Bros 3), 1983.
1978-1980
Silicon ingot, unknown maker, 1978-1980
NorthStar Horizon computer, made by North Star Computers, Berkeley, California, United States, 1979.
1989-2003
Intel 486 microprocessor, made by the Intel Corporation, 1989-2003
An example of the unit known as panel 1 from the electronic computer EDSAC 1, designed by Maurice Wilkes and built at the University of Cambridge Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge, England, 1946-1958.
2005
Silicon wafer signed by Gordon Moore for the 40th anniversary of Moore’s Law, with Pentium 4 processors, made by the Intel Corporation, United States, 2005. Complete with case.
Alcatel Minitel communications terminal, made by Alcatel Business Systems, France, 1983. Communications terminal distributed by the French Telecom system as part of their attempt at an internet, 1983.
Logic door from Ferranti Mark I valve computer, c.1951.
Lisa Profile 5Mb hard disk unit for Apple Lisa computer, Apple, United States, 1983-1991. Model no. A9M100S, serial no. 127936
1950
Slow-speed relay operated simulator of the National Physical Laboratory's automatic computing engine (ACE), by the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex, England and components by Bosch, Germany, 1950
Maple V 5.0 Software Manual, by Maplesoft, Canada, 1997
1982-1984
BBC model B microcomputer, designed by Acorn Computers Limited and manufactured by ASTEC Components Limited, British, 1982-1984. Serial number 1,000,000
