|
Next Events
London
28th Feb 2025
Leonardo Torres Quevedo: Pioneer of Computing, Automatics, and Artificial Intelligence
See lectures page for more information
|
|
|
Historic Document Rescue
From time to time the Society is approached by people who have come into the possession
of documents relevant to historic computers and who feel that they should
“go to a good home”.
Unfortunately the Computer Conservation Society is no longer in a position to
collect such material, though we can sometimes suggest a suitable home for it.
If you have a need to dispose of historic material we suggest that you should first read
our guide Archives and your Personal Papers.
In particular, we should stress that a list of the document titles is essential before
any progress can be made.
|
|
Document Exchange within the CCS
Because CCS members use widely differing IT systems, difficulties sometimes arise
when documents are sent between members.
In an attempt to minimise such problems a page of guidance notes can be found
here.
The web page also contains useful information for authors of articles
in the CCS journal Resurrection.
|
|
|
|
|
News
|
|
February 2025
It is with much sadness that we have to report the passings of two distinguished pioneers
from the very earliest days of computing
G.E. (Tommy) Thomas passed away in July last year in Australia.
He was the last surviving member of the team which created the Manchester Mark 1 computer.
Based on the well-known Small Scale Experimental Machine, but adding several important and long-lasting
features, the Manchester Mark 1 in turn, became the basis for the Ferranti Mark 1 the world’s
first commercially produced computer.
Dr Raymond (Dickie) Bird was best known for his heroic achievement of creating a properly engineered
version of Andrew Booth’s APEC computer which Booth had built in a barn in Fenny Compton.
Dr Bird’s version was brought to market by his employer, the British Tabulating Machine company
as the HEC (Hollerith Electronic Computer), later renamed the ICT 1201 which, for a while became the
UK’s best selling computer.
In due course we hope to publish in Resurrection longer obituaries for both these important
contributors to our art.
|
September 2024
Congratulations to Professor Simon Lavington late of the Universities of Manchester and Essex
who has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the National Museum of Computing.
The award recognises the huge contribution that he has made to the study of the history
of the UK computer industry.
In particular for the publication of several books documenting the stories of some of the UK
computer companies which are, alas, no longer with us but whose influence persists to this day.
The CCS and TNMoC are both fortunate in being associated with such luminaries as Professor Lavington .
|
|
The Computer Conservation Society was founded in 1989 as a joint venture between the
British Computer Society and the Science Museum in London.
It has subsequently become closely associated with the Science and Industry Museum
in Manchester and The National Museum of Computing in Bletchley Park.
Our primary mission is to preserve historic computers, develop awareness of the history
of computing, and encourage research.
We run many specialised projects, organise public lecture series, and publish a regular journal.
Membership of the society is open to all.
If you would like to join the society, please
click here for more information.
|
