£800
A rare English Electric magnetic drum storage unit for the DEUCE computer, 1957, on substantial cream enamelled oblong iron base with chromium plated carrying handles, Perspex cover, 40.5cm high including cover, base 26.5 x 56cm, maker’s enamelled labels ENGLISH ELECTRIC/NELSON RESEARCH LABORATORIES NW101/1333 Ns 1296
Provenance: GEC (Successor to English Electric Co) by whom presented to Dr Peter Wakely on his retirement.
Futuristic and awe inspiring, the magnetic storage drum of the DEUCE, an early British computer that symbolises the "white heat" of technological development in Britain between the end of WWII and Harold Wilson's memorable speech of 1963.
Based on a design by Alan Turing (1912-1954) the DEUCE (Digital Electronic Universal Computing Engine) 1955, was a first generation or vacuum tube computer. The magnetic memory drum held 32 kB and the machine required a great deal of electricity to power its 1450 thermionic valves.
Another example of the DEUCE memory drum is in the Science Museum, London (1967-1979).
According to the late Dr Wakely, the original cost of the memory drum was £5000, the equivalent of about £135,000 today.
A probable total of 33 DEUCE computers were built and supplied between February 1955 and 1960. Customers included the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston, Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Admiralty Research Establishment, National Physical Laboratory and several universities. Two were supplied in February 1958 to the English Electric Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, Whetstone, Leicester, where Dr Wakely was employed 1955-1970.
Asked what he felt would be an appropriate gift to mark his retirement, he suggested "an English Electric nameplate" [lot 364]. Instead, to his surprise, he was also presented with the DEUCE magnetic drum, a singularly apt choice since Peter Wakely, a mathematician had been closely involved with the DEUCE computer from its arrival at the laboratory until decommissioning in about 1964
Dusty but complete and in entirely original condition as when presented to Dr Wakely
Fees apply to the hammer price:
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28.80% inc VAT*
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30.6% inc VAT*
