CDC 924 console in 'The Terminator'

From: Aaron Christopher Finney <af-list_at_lafleur.wfi-inc.com>
Date: Tue Oct 12 01:42:21 1999

Hi,

Have you posted this list somewhere publically accessible yet? I'd be
interested to see...

Aaron


On Mon, 11 Oct 1999, Grigoni wrote:

>
> Greetings again!
>
> Having not seen the film 'The Terminator' until a few days ago (on The
> SciFi Channel)... I know, I live in a cave, I was very surprised to
> see a CDC 924 (or 924A ?) console, complete with Ferranti photo tape
> reader evidently hooked-up in some fashion to illuminate the rear-
> projection register and status displays. The scene is in the factory
> populated with assembly robots towards the film's climax.
>
> I have only seen one other 924 console (in person) in about 1975 at
> an electronics surplus salvage yard in the San Fernando Valley, where it
> was being used as a workbench!
>
> IIRC, there were only about two dozen 924s made. It was a 24bit version
> of the 48bit 1604, CDC's debut commercial product in 1957-58.
>
> Does anyone have a handle on film industry computer archaeology, perhaps
> contacts at studios or property shops? For years I've been meaning to
> pursue this venue but alas...
>
> I've been compiling lists of film and television shows which showcase
> important computer artifacts (one would be surprised at the variety of
> significant hardware in 1950-60's TV, especially sci-fi anthology
> series. Any additions to these lists would be appreciated.
>
> In addition, we seek newsreel, scholastic and training films which
> highlight important information technology (I wish I had followed
> school district auctions in the early 1980's when all those 16mm
> films of MIT Whirlwind, AN-FSQ/17 Sage, Bendix G-15 Redstone
> launch control and the like were discarded.
>
> Michael Grigoni
> Cybertheque Museum
>
>
Received on Tue Oct 12 1999 - 01:42:21 BST