Strange office device in the 1970
In 1970 you could find many strange devices in the offices.
In the 1970, there wasn't already the digital devices, but everything was based on paper.
So you could find some strange device in the offices of that time. Now, viewed from today’s perspective, no seem to make sense or appear rather comical.
From a catalogue of office devices of 1970, I'd like to show some of these devices: you can download the documents, Italian.
1: A modem weighting 80 kg
It's a Olivetti modem designed for transmitting and receiving data over telephone lines. Adjusted for inflation, it cost around 40,000 Euros or Dollars. At the top right, there is a handset and a keypad for dialing the number you wanted to connect to.
It weighed 80 kg (176 lbs) and measured 84 x 50 cm, with a height of 78 cm.
It operated at 600–1200 baud and included error correction for data packets.
It allowed data to be read from punched tape using a photoelectric reader.
Output data was also printed onto punched tape, which then had to be decoded.
2: Another modem, 2400 Bit
This is another modem—also from 1970—made by Philips; it operated at 2400 bits per second over standard telephone lines. It was significantly more portable, weighing just 14 kg.
3: Dictation machines
These are dictation machines. Essentially, they were recorders that captured voice on magnetic tape, with a capacity of up to 30 minutes.
You could even make corrections to the recording.
Some Philips models were portable, too.
They were similar to modern audio transcription software, but instead of software, a secretary would listen to the recording and type it out.
4: Big typewriters with punched tape
This series of massive Friden typewriters consists of writing systems that record a typist's input onto punched tape.
The typist would record the fixed portion of a text onto the punched tape and add only the variable elements; for instance, they would record the invoice layout on the tape, and then—upon recalling the original—simply add the variable details, such as the recipient and the amounts.
This latest model is particularly interesting because it can be connected to a machine tool—such as a lathe—to program its operation.
5: Big typewriters with magnetic tape
This IBM 72 is a text-processing system; as the typist typed, the text was recorded onto magnetic tape. The secretary could make corrections, and once the text was ready, it was printed at a speed of 900 characters per minute.
It cost 72,000 Euros or Dollars.
6: A graphic composition system
This IBM MT 5 is a graphic composition system featuring 100 available characters; it operates using magnetic tape.
A 30-meter magnetic tape could store 4,000 words—roughly the equivalent of a newspaper page. It cost 65,000 Euros or Dollars.
7: 10 cubic meters of storage space
This Friden 10 is an electronic computer. Data is input via punched cards.
It can be connected to various workstations and printers, and its memory can be expanded by adding up to ten 10-megabyte memory units, for a total of 100 MB. Each of these 10 MB memory units measures 76 x 61 cm and stands 1 meter tall; if you were to place a USB flash drive next to a photo of this system, it would be barely visible.
8: A touch pen
This IBM 2760 is an image-projection terminal; it can be used with a stylus, much like modern Samsung smartphones. In reality, the screen is divided into 240 sectors; the pen allows you to select only one sector at a time, but that wasn't bad for 1970.
9: Copying documents on microfilm
In the 1970s—which was essentially the dawn of widespread modern copying systems—there were many different methods for copying documents. Among the more unusual ones were machines that created document copies using microfilm. They used 16mm or 35mm microfilm, operating at speeds of up to 2,000 frames per hour or 25 meters per minute. They featured magnification and automatic advance functions, and could copy books as well as very large paper formats.
There were devices designed to automatically microfilm the continuous-feed printouts produced by computer printers—such as the models used by banks.
Then there were models that could both microfilm a document and print a hard copy of it. Adjusted for inflation, the cost was around 100,000 Euros or Dollars.
Beyond just printing microfilm with these devices, the film could also be viewed on special readers; these allowed for consultation and often included features for magnifying or printing the film.
10: collators
In the pre-digital era, everything had to be printed, so paper management was crucial.
There were massive collators capable of assembling up to 48,000 sheets per hour—creating book-like documents and automatically binding them with staples, thread, or glue.
Naturally, there were simpler versions, such as this electric stapler.
There were also glue-free versions and pneumatic collators capable of handling up to 250,000 sheets a day—equipped with counters—for binding magazines or assembling boxes.
This one is cute; it looks like a little robot. In the age of paper, when it was necessary to flip through numerous sheets, people usually moistened their fingers with a small sponge; however, the water often caused the ink to run or, over time, damaged the skin.
11: a dry sponge for leafing through paper
In the era of paper, when it was necessary to flip through numerous sheets, people usually moistened their fingers with a small sponge; however, the water often caused the ink on the page to run or, over time, damaged the skin.
Too lazy for reading?
You can see this video