Published Resources Details

Conference Paper

Author
Elliott, W. S.; Sale, A. E.
Title
The Computer Conservation Society - Machines of the 1950's Restored to Life in the Science Museum, London
In
Fifth National Conference on Engineering Heritage 1990: Interpreting Engineering Heritage; Preprints of Papers
Imprint
Institution of Engineers, Australia, Western Australian Division, Perth, Western Australia, 1990, pp. 39-44
ISBN/ISSN
0909421234
Url
https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.623756753052668
Abstract

The opportunity for the restoration of computers is the re-building of the Information Technology gallery in the Science Museum in London. The original gallery was completed in 1975 and is very out of date, both in its layout and content. Modern museums are very much more geared to interpretation and explanation of their objects than was previous practice. It is no longer acceptable that objects be just placed in glass cases as icons. Hence the need to attempt to restore some seminal computers back to full working order. Computing is an almost unique technology in that it has evolved through a number of technology generations within one professional lifetime. Many of the people who designed, built, maintained and used the first computers are still alive. Their memories make it possible to contemplate computers being restored to working order. There is probably a five year window of opportunity within which this task can be accomplished. The paper sets out the criteria on which machines are selected for conservation and reviews the application of the criteria to two machines of which the history is detailed.

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