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Browsing by Subject "Magnetic drums -- History"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Oral history interview with Dean Babcock
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1986-09-12) Babcock, Dean Frank
    After Babcock describes his early life, education and communications work in the Navy during World War II, the focus of the interview shifts to his work with Engineering Research Associates (ERA). Topics include: various ERA projects including Project Lime; the design of equipment at ERA; magnetic drum designs and capabilities; the work of Sidney Rubens and William Field on magnetic drums; and ERA's interaction with the Navy, especially during the Korean War.
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    Oral history interview with H. Dick Clover
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1986-06-05) Clover, H. Dick
    After briefly discussing his early life and education, Clover focuses on his work with Engineering Research Associates (ERA). Topics include: the work of C. B. Tompkins; Clover's association with Communication Supplementary Activities-Washington (CSAW); the relationship between CSAW and ERA; the formation of ERA; the roles of Howard Engstrom, Ralph Meader, John Parker, and John Howard in ERA; research on magnetic drums and disks; the relationship between Northwestern Aeronautical Corporation and ERA; and Clover's administrative work with the Navy contracts at ERA. Clover concludes the interview with a brief description of ERA under Remington Rand and Sperry Rand.
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    Oral history interview with William W. Butler
    (Charles Babbage Institute, 1984) Butler, William W., 1919-
    Butler begins with a brief description of his early life and education. He discusses his work on radar and sonar with RCA during World War II. He describes his decision to obtain a graduate degree in electrical engineering after the war and his subsequent employment with Douglas Aircraft. The focus of the interview then shifts to Butler's work with Engineering Research Associates (ERA). He recounts his start with ERA in sales under William C. Norris and his contribution to High Speed Computing Devices, and his work with John L. Hill and Arnold A. Cohen. Butler recalls the difficulty of selling the idea of the magnetic drum and his later engineering work on several ERA projects. He discusses product planning at ERA, including the 1103 computer, and later at Remington Rand. Butler describes the competition and cooperation between Eckert-Mauchly and ERA when both were divisions of Remington Rand and Remington Rand's corporate structure. He concludes the interview with a brief mention of Engineering Products Associates, Technical Systems, Inc., and Commbase, three firms he founded after leaving Sperry Rand.