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Steadying block for manual paper tape editing equipment used by Joan Travis for programming the Ferranti Mark 1 and Mark 1* computers. Made of brass and Perspex with five-character holes and one smaller sprocket hole. Made in 1953 in Moston, Manchester by Ferranti Limited.

steadying block

1953
Manual paper tape editing equipment for programming the Ferranti Mark 1 and Mark 1* computers, 1953. Used by pioneering computer programmer Joan Travis (née Kaye). Includes one steadying block made of brass and Perspex with five-character holes and one smaller sprocket hole; three ‘bodgers’ made of brass used to punch holes through the paper; two pieces of 5-track punched paper tape with original instructions for the Ferranti Mark 1 computer; and an ornate wooden box with floral motif and hidden opening mechanism used by Joan Travis to store the equipment.

Manual paper tape editing equipment for programming the Ferranti Mark 1 and Mark 1* computers

1953
One of three ‘bodgers’ used by Joan Travis for programming the Ferranti Mark 1 and Mark 1* computers. Made of brass and used to punch holes through the paper. Made in 1953 in Moston, Manchester by Ferranti Limited.

Manual paper tape editing equipment for programming the Ferranti Mark 1 and Mark 1* computers

1953
One of two pieces of 5-track punched paper tape with original instructions for the Ferranti Mark 1 computer. Made by Joan Travis for Ferranti in Moston, Manchester, 1953.

Manual paper tape editing equipment for programming the Ferranti Mark 1 and Mark 1* computers

1953
One of two pieces of 5-track punched paper tape with original instructions for the Ferranti Mark 1 computer. Annotated in pencil "end of tape", "this end first" and "this end goes first through PTR". Made by Joan Travis for Ferranti in Moston, Manchester, 1953.

Manual paper tape editing equipment for programming the Ferranti Mark 1 and Mark 1* computers

1953
Ornate wooden box with floral motif and hidden opening mechanism, used by Joan Travis to store the manual paper tape editing equipment for programming the Ferranti Mark 1 and Mark 1* computers.

ornate box

1940-1990
One of three ‘bodgers’ used by Joan Travis for programming the Ferranti Mark 1 and Mark 1* computers. Made of brass and used to punch holes through the paper. Made in 1953 in Moston, Manchester by Ferranti Limited.

Manual paper tape editing equipment for programming the Ferranti Mark 1 and Mark 1* computers

1953
One of three ‘bodgers’ used by Joan Travis for programming the Ferranti Mark 1 and Mark 1* computers. Made of brass and used to punch holes through the paper tape. Made in 1953 in Moston, Manchester by Ferranti Limited.

Manual paper tape editing equipment for programming the Ferranti Mark 1 and Mark 1* computers

1953