IBM 2741
The IBM 2741 Communications Terminal was a printing computer terminal introduced in the 1960s. It was often used to communicate with an IBM System/360 computer, such as the model 75. It connected via serial line to send and receive commands and data from a computer, and to edit text stored remotely on the computer. Type fonts on the IBM 2741 were interchangeable with a type ball: a golf ball shaped device that strikes an ink ribbon on a typewriter to create text.
One of these models, donated by the University of Waterloo Institute for Computer Research, is on display in the museum office (DC 1316).
View it in our catalogue: 2016.7.63
University of Waterloo Library. Special Collections & Archives. Dr. Donald D. Cowan Fonds. GA165-156_076
University of Waterloo Library. Special Collections & Archives. Dr. Donald D. Cowan Fonds. GA165-156_088
Type Ball Test
Recently, we opened up the terminal to look for some documentation, and in doing so, found this test sheet from September 22, 1980. It shows different ways the type ball was tested, including a rotate test, a tilt test, and a character shift stress test.
View it in our catalogue: 2016.7.176
I’d say ThAtS A GoOd TeSt!
About the Author
Amy studies Computational Mathematics at the University of Waterloo and is the Computer Museum’s Fall 2024 co-op student. In her free time, she enjoys painting, collaging, and other forms of visual art making.