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May 1963 Radio-Electronics
 [Table of Contents]
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics.
See articles from Radio-Electronics,
published 1930-1988. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
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Computer Punched Cards
"Do not fold, spindle, or mutilate"
As were the majority of electronics-related
comics from the 1950s and 1960s, this set of four from a 1963 issue of
Radio-Electronics magazine had themes related to home entertainment devices
(radios, television, and stereos) and computers. Keep in mind that almost all
equipment used vacuum tubes rather than semiconductors. There was no such thing
as a home / personal computer then, either. The public was dealing with the
introduction and integration of computers into everyday life, so they
(computers) were subject to ridicule and criticism - legitimately. Those were
the days where programs consisted of cardboard "punched cards" that were placed in
a stack into the computer, which would "read" the presence or absence of
rectangular holes as "0"s or "1"s. Most used an 12 row by 80 column format,
accommodating 80 words of 6 or 8 bits each. That's where the original 80-column
computer display came to be.
Southern Senior High School, from which I graduated in 1976, had a small
computer which used punched cards.
Electronics-Themed Comics
"Let's put it this way: If your set were a building, it would
be condemned."
Page 51
"They say they're quite busy now and could we bring it down
to the shop."
Page 58
"Here's a prescription."
Page 82
"The shop downtown repaired it for nothing? Care to step over
here and repeat that?"
Page 92
Posted June 20, 2023
These Technically-Themed Comics Appeared in Vintage Electronics Magazines.
I personally scanned and posted every one from copies I own (and even colorized
some). 235 pages as of 6/28/2024
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