IBM 650 My IBM 650
My IBM 650

IBM 650

The IBM 650 is a decimal computer made from vacuum tubes in pluggable units with magnetic drum main memory. The basic system consists of the computer itself with a front operator panel, the power supply which is the same size but featureless and the IBM 533 card reader/punch that was the input/output device.

Here are more views of my 650.

IBM 650 system from above IBM 650 system from above

Here are views with the covers removed.

IBM 650 system from above IBM 650 system from above IBM 650 system from above

Larger 650 installations had a printer and tape drives.

IBM 407 Accounting Machine IBM 729-I Tape Drive IBM 729-I Tape Drive from the back

My 650 is missing most of the buttons and lights on the front panel. You can see a few remaining rotary switch knobs and light bulbs. The rectangular openings had buttons and lights similar to these:

Typical IBM buttons and lights Typical IBM buttons and lights

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