designed by M.W. Allen with D.G. Wong. Allen's design was based upon the logical structure of the small LGP-30 vacuum-tube and magnetic drum system produced commercially in the USA.

Manufactured by SMI, the Section of Mathematical Instruments from the CSIRO.

see dates in above field

Used by the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority.
SNOCOM was installed at SMHA, Cooma, in 1960 and remained in service until 1967. The SNOCOM was returned by SMHA to the University of Sydney's Department of Electrical Engineering in August of 1967 where it was used occasionally for demonstration and student teaching. It was offered to, and accepted by, the National Museum of Australia in 1977 for inclusion in the National Historical Collection and was transferred to the Museum in July 1981 and was stored until space was available for it in October 1982. SNOCOM now lies in the Mitchell repository of the National Museum at Canberra.

The sections of SNOCOM that comprise this record may have been separated from the central processing Unit of SNOCOM when it was offered to the National Museum of Australia in 1977.
see dates in above field

Computer Hardware (2), SNOCOM input/output control, metal/electronic components/paper/pvc/rubber/Bakelite, Section of Mathematical Instruments (a division of the CSIRO), Australia, 1960
SNOCOM was used by the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority (SMHA), SNOCOM was installed in the SMHA headquarters at Cooma, NSW, SNOCOM was installed in 1960 and remained in service until 1967. The SNOCOM was a relatively small, fixed-point, serial, stored-program computer with a drum store of 2048 32-bit words arranged around 64 traks each holding 32 words. Input was via a 300 ch/s Ferranti 5-channel paper tape reader, and output was via a Teletype paper tape punch at 50 ch/s and a 10 ch/s IBM typewriter.

SNOCOM I/O Control Punch
Single door cabinet, three feet high with sloping control panel on top. The Bakelite panel frames many switches, lights and buttons. The cabinet door has a chrome handle. The door opens to reveal wiring and electronic components.

IBM electric typewriter
Modified IBM electric typewriter for printouts of SNOCOM results.

Made: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation; ; 1960


Used: Snowy Mountains Authority; ; 1960 - 1967

See parts

97/231/1

1960