VVP Issue 1.3 – 12/07/2005

The 1900 Range – Index

1 - 1900 Architecture and System Description

1.1 - How the ICT 1900 Series evolved

1.2 - The ICT 1900 Range in 1966

1.3 - ICT 1900 Range Architecture

1.3.1 - System Architecture

1.3.2 - Standard Interface

1.3.3 - 1900 Executive

1.3.4 - The 1900 Range Order Code

1.3.5 - FP6000 Processor Data Flow

1.3.6 - Span of the Range

1.4 - Hardware technology in the ICT/ICL 1900 Range

2 - 1900 Performance and Competitive Position

2.1 - 1900 at the start- FP 6000 performance

2.2 - Performance of ICT 1900 in 1966

2.3 - Performance of ICT / ICL 1900 Series (All Models) and 2903/ME29

2.4 - ICT 1900 competitive position

3 - 1900 Software

3.1 - The FP 6000 Software (Before the 1900 Range)

3.2 - ICT 1900 Range Software - The Start

3.3 - Programming Aids (Software) in 1966

3.4 - The Operating Systems (George).

3.5 - ICT/ICL 1900 Software - Two views from the Board

3.6 - ICT/ICL 1900 Software in 1972

4 - 1900 Range in the Market

4.1 - 1900 Road Map

4.2 - Approx. Quantities delivered.

4.3. - Customers list and Applications

4.3.1 - The 1900 Users Group

4.3.2 - Some Customers Details

5 - 1900 Acknowledgements and References

Comments received

Virgilio Pasqoali

5 - Acknowledgements and References

Click here to see some of the comments received

5.1 – The ICT/ICL 1900 Seminars

Many of the ICT/ICL 1900 papers published here are largely based on:

• The talks given at the ICT/ICL 1900 Seminar (London Science Museum, 30^th May 1996) and repeated with some changes at the Manchester University ICT/ICL 1900 Seminar (10^th April 1997).
• The research material collected while preparing for these seminars (During February-May 1996, Virgilio Pasquali and Brian Procter researched the Science Museum ICL Archives (31. 1900 Series) and the Manchester University ICL Archives respectively). Considerably input was also provided by John Harper.
• The interactions and correspondence between some of the speakers and other relevant colleagues prior to the 1996 London Seminar.

The following papers, recording the edited versions of the talks given at the Seminars, were extensively consulted and/or used:

1. The Prehistory of the 1900 Series by Arthur Humphreys (Resurrection No 17)
2. How the ICT 1900 Series Evolved by Hugh Devonald and Derek Eldridge (Resurrection No 16)
3. The Technological Evolution of the 1900 Range by Brian Procter (Resurrection No 18)
4. Keeping the 1900 Competitive by Virgilio Pasquali (Resurrection No 19)
5. Developing Software for the 1900 by Peter Hunt (Resurrection No 21)
6. Getting Stevenage up to Speed by Mike Forrest (Resurrection No 22)
7. ICT 1900 Operating Systems (Notes by George Felton for the 1900 Seminar in the Science Museum 30th May 1996 - unpublished)
8. The 1900 Architecture by Charlie Portman (Unpublished)
9. Keeping the 1900 Competitive (Notes by Virgilio Pasquali for the 1900 Seminar at Manchester University April 1997 – VVP files)

No written record could be found of the talks by Peter Ellis and Brian Millis at the 1996 London Science Museum Seminar and by Peter Hall at the Manchester University 1997 Seminar.

5.2- Additional Research and contributions

The above material was complimented, expanded and validated by additional research, contributions and discussions in the period Oct. 2003 – Jan. 2004.

The choice of contributors followed the same criteria adopted for the seminars: Key colleagues, actively involved in 1900 Range activities at the time, were asked to contribute and/or comment and validate material in their appropriate area, and/or provide input from their files.

The following ICL colleagues were involved:

• John Buckle

• Chris Burton

• Keith Crook

• George Felton

• Mike Forrest

• Henry Goodman

• Peter Hall

• John Harper

• Brian Millis

• Virgilio Pasquali

• Colin Taylor

• Peter Turner

• Alan Wakefield

5.3- Customers list

No list of customers or other related material has been found so far in the Science Museum 1900 archives or the Manchester 1900 archives.

Input has been sought from ICT/ICL colleagues to correct, at least partially, this gap.

The colleagues who have contributed to the lists published in Section 4.3 are listed at the beginning of Section 4.3.2.

5.4- List of references

1. FP6000- Report on Visit to Ferranti-Packard by Mr C.H.Devonald, Mr D. Eldridge, Mr Arthur Jackson and Mr M. J. Wingstedt, 4^th April 1963) (VVP files)
2. The ICT 1900 Series. (ICT Brochure dated Sept 1964) (Science Museum London Archives)
3. The ICT 1900 Series – A comprehensive Range (ICT Brochure dated Nov. 1966) (Science Museum London Archives)
4. ICL S&TS Document on Performance – 1972 (Science Museum London Archives))
5. ICL SPD Task force note 387 – Comparative Power of Machines 21.12.73 (VVP Files)
6. PLAN Manual (CPB Files)
7. ICT Annual Report and Accounts 1967 (PDH Files)
8. ICL Annual Report and Accounts 1969 (PDH Files)
9. ICL 1900 (John Harper) 8/9/75 (VVP Files)
10. ICL A business and Technical History by Campbell-Kelly
11. 1902/3 logic set: 5006471 (Stevenage drawing office part number) (KC Files)
12. Standard Interface: 1110020(Stevenage drawing office part number) (KC Files))
13. 1901 logic set: 5013073(Stevenage drawing office part number) (KC Files)
14. An Introduction to the J.U.C.C. (July 1972) – (VVP Files – received from Timothy Goldingham)
15. George 1S (Science Museum London Archives TP4145)
16. George 2    (Science Museum London Archives TP4432}
17. Introduction to George 3 (Science Museum London Archives TP4265)
18. Operating systems George 3 and 4 (Science Museum London Archives TP4345)
19. ICL 2903 brochure – 1975 (From Alan Wakefield Files)
20. ICL Computer International Summer 1976 – Special Edition - 2904 (from Alan Wakefield Files)
21. The Marketing Awards 1975 Submission on behalf of ICL - 2903 (from Alan Wakefield Files)

The ICL Archives at the London Science Museum and Manchester were searched for 1900 Range information ( March-May 1996) while preparing for the London 1900 Seminar, but no comprehensive record was kept of the list of papers consulted