[GreenKeys] Creed equipment for the Ferranti Mercury computers, 1960

Thu May 2 18:51:02 EDT 2013

On 02/05/2013 19:08, Javier Albinarrate wrote:
> Hi Dave,
>
> Actually it is the other way around, the Mercury is the predecessor to 
> the Pegasus ;)

Oddly thats not what Wikipedia says, but they look almost contemporary

> I have seen extensively all what is available on Internet about the 
> Pegasus both at the Science Museum in London as well as the MOSI.
> In fact, my next step was precisely to get in contact with the MOSI, 
> because they are the ones who have the Ferranti Archives, and they 
> seem to have extensive information locked in those manuals.
> I will contact you off list about it.
>
I'll pass you some e-mail addresses when you do...

> As for the tape readers, you're right about the optical reader, 
> however in the pictures we have seen from the Buenos Aires computer, 
> there is an extra 6S on the input side (left), that's why I said 
> two... I guess they had it as a backup for the computer input (a 
> guess, as it doesn't seem likely, the optical reader was totally a 
> custom thing), or simply because the 54 didn't have a tape input they 
> kept a spare one.
> In any case it is not that I am "asking" for 2 of those ;) as it would 
> be a miracle that I could find just one hahaha
>
I would have expected two optical readers. One was used for the program, 
and the other for subroutines, library or data tapes...

> As for the puncher 25, the truth is that any puncher would help, 
> because again there are nearly no chances of getting one anywhere in 
> the world.
>
I would think you can pick up and ex CNC punch fairly cheaply and adapt 
it to 5-level work...

> While it is not an utter priority, the optical reader, as it is not an 
> extra object that lays on the desk, but an integrated small thing 
> mostly not visible, the idea is to replace that with a custom made 
> reader with a microcontroller. That should be fairly easy.
>
> As for the Creed 54, my best shot currently is what I mentioned to 
> Sam, using a Siemens T37 in disguise. Except for the internals which 
> are extremely different, the functionality is very similar.
>
> I will email you tonight then! :) Even a few detailed pics could help 
> me with the task. It is a pitty that no Mercuries survivied, instead, 
> the Pegasus had much more luck.
>

I'll send you some links.

> Regards!
> Javier
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Dave
> Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2013 1:42 PM
> To: Javier Albinarrate ; greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Creed equipment for the Ferranti Mercury 
> computers, 1960
>
> On 02/05/2013 09:53, Sam Hallas wrote:
>> Javier Albinarrate wrote:
>>> At the local computer museum in Buenos Aires, we will be working this
>>> year in making a replica of the Ferranti Mercury computer....
>>> This early computer came with the following:
>>> - Creed 54 Teletypewriter
>>> - Creed 6S/5 Tape reader (2 of them)
>>> - Creed 25 Tape perforator
>>
> Hi Javier,
>
>  I am working on a similar project for the Pegasus at www.mosi.org.uk
> which was the predecessor of the Mercury. However we do have the Creed
> 54, Creed6S/5 and the Creed 25, but I too would like to get a set of
> these so we can avoid using the originals. The Creed 54 is basically an
> enhanced Creed 7B and you should be able to substitute a 7B  and get
> almost exactly the same effect. The 7Bs were fairly common throughout
> the old British Empire so you may be able to find one at least on the
> same continent.
>
> Not sure why you want 2x Creed 6S/5 readers. As you an see from the
> Mercury brochure here:-
>
> http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/text/Ferranti/Ferranti.Mercury.1956.102646224.pdf 
>
>
> The Mercury (and Pegasus before it) used a Ferranti high speed optical
> tape reader as the main input device, not a 6S/5 which is a mechanical
> reader. The 6S/5 was basically only used to slow the output down to the
> speed of the Creed. Of course finding a Ferranti high speed reader would
> probably be harder than finding a Creed 6S/5. I personally would see if
> I could find an more modern reader and build it into a box that
> represents the Ferranti reader, probably a TR4 or maybe a TR3 or TR5.
>
> The Creed 25 was also a special with a parallel input, so basically
> manufactured for Computer Use so also rare, and I think it weights
> nearly as much as the 54. I guess you know that the that the Computer
> punched the output on the Creed 25 at high speed, and it was feed to the
> Creed 6S/5 which read it in more slowly and fed the Creed 54 for
> printing. . If the program punched faster than the reader the tape was
> stored in a bin so providing buffering. The Creed 6S also had a tape
> tension arrangement so it stopped if the tape got tight...
>
> There was also a column counter on the Creed 54 that generated a Line
> Feed so if the computer program didn't you didn't keep banging the
> printer against the end stop
>
>> Javier,
>> I wish them all the best in the reconstruction. What a project!
>>
>> Model 75s are pretty rare. I've never seen one in the flesh, only in 
>> catalogues. Probably because the British Post Office never adopted 
>> it. Never seen the Model 25 perforator either, though I did own a 
>> Model 7P re-perforator at one time. The later Creed model, the 444, 
>> had an integral punch makng the separate perforator redundant.
>>
>>> And here in Argentina, everything was Siemens, so for sure we will not
>>> find a Creed not even by chance.
>>
>
> If you do find them and need manuals, I have books for the 6S/6 (which
> is only slightly different to the 6S/5), the Creed 25 and the 7B but not
> the 54. I also have a Ferranti TR5 manual and there is a TR3 manual at
> MOSI..
>
>> That may be the way to go. A Siemens T100 would be a great interface 
>> for kids to get their hands on. And probably more reliable than the 
>> Creed anyway! The models I've seen had an integral tape punch and 
>> reader.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Sam
>> (in England)
>>
>> _________
>
> Cheers from me too,
> Dave
> G4UGM
> Manchester
> England...
>
>
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