IBM 533
Encyclopedia
The IBM 533 Input-Output Unit, announced on July 2, 1953, was a punched card reader
and punch that served as the primary input-output unit for the IBM 650
computer. It had two independent card paths, one for reading and one for punching. IBM cards were fed face down, 12-edge first. All 80 columns could be read and punched by the computer as numeric data, but alphanumeric reading was severely limited on the basic 650 and require special control panel wiring.
The 533 could punch 100 cards per minute.and had a set of read brushes downstream from the punch station that were used to verify proper punching. The card reader was similar to that on the IBM 402
accounting machine and could read 200 cards per minute. The 533 was controlled by a plugboard
control panel, typical of IBM unit record equipment of the time. p.19 ff
A lower performance (and presumably cheaper) model, the IBM 537, was introduced September 4, 1956. It had a single card path for reading and punching and operated at 155 crds per minute. On January 12, 1959, IBM introduced two faster 650 peripherals, the IBM 543 Card Reader and the IBM 544 Card Punch. Both operated at up to 250 cards per minute.
All were withdrawn on August 18, 1969.
Punched card reader
A punched card reader or just card reader is a computer input device used to read data from punched cards. A card punch is a output device that punches holes in cards under computer control...
and punch that served as the primary input-output unit for the IBM 650
IBM 650
The IBM 650 was one of IBM’s early computers, and the world’s first mass-produced computer. It was announced in 1953, and over 2000 systems were produced between the first shipment in 1954 and its final manufacture in 1962...
computer. It had two independent card paths, one for reading and one for punching. IBM cards were fed face down, 12-edge first. All 80 columns could be read and punched by the computer as numeric data, but alphanumeric reading was severely limited on the basic 650 and require special control panel wiring.
The 533 could punch 100 cards per minute.and had a set of read brushes downstream from the punch station that were used to verify proper punching. The card reader was similar to that on the IBM 402
IBM 402
The IBM 402 and IBM 403 Accounting Machines were tabulating machines introduced by IBM in the late 1940s. The 402 could read punched cards at a speed of up to 150 cards per minute, while printing data at a speed of up to 100 lines per minute with 43 alpha-numerical type bars and 45 numerical type...
accounting machine and could read 200 cards per minute. The 533 was controlled by a plugboard
Plugboard
A plugboard, or control panel , is an array of jacks, or hubs, into which patch cords can be inserted to complete an electrical circuit. Control panels were used to direct the operation of some unit record equipment...
control panel, typical of IBM unit record equipment of the time. p.19 ff
A lower performance (and presumably cheaper) model, the IBM 537, was introduced September 4, 1956. It had a single card path for reading and punching and operated at 155 crds per minute. On January 12, 1959, IBM introduced two faster 650 peripherals, the IBM 543 Card Reader and the IBM 544 Card Punch. Both operated at up to 250 cards per minute.
All were withdrawn on August 18, 1969.