Features
ISBN # : 9781114655065
Written by: International Business Machines Corporation
Published by: International Business Machines Corporation
Location: New York
Copyright: 1955
Date of Publication: November 10, 1955
Cover: Ring Binder
Written in: English
Illustrations: Yes
8vo, variously paged?c. 300-400 p., black leatherette ring binder with blank spine and "IBM" in gilt letters on front cover.
Better known in its time as The IBM Sales Manual, this was indeed the official company reference distributed exclusively to its sales force. Individually assigned and serialized, IBM even offered a reward for its return if lost. With its looseleaf format, this copy incorporates pages dated between Jan. 1951 and Jan. 1957. In about a dozen sections it furnishes technical specifications, performance details, installation requirements, compatibility requirements, etc., etc. on almost all of its data processing equipment of that day. It also lists prices, either for outright sale or rental.
While this manual only mentions IBM's "Electronic Data Processing Machines" (different sales group?), of particular interest is its full treatment of the IBM 608 Calculator,
"The first IBM product to use transistor circuits without any vacuum tubes?also believed to be the world's first all-transistor calculator to be manufactured for the commercial market...first shipped in December 1957" (Bashe?IBM's Early Computers).
The information on this particular machine was dated 11/10/55, the device went for $2,2500.00 a month and, obviously, the world of electronics has not been the same since.
A rare and valuable addition to any collection involving the history of computers.
Remarkably good condition?minimal wear to extremities of covers, one or two penciled corrections in text, a little foxing to outermost leaves. A very good copy.
