The Harwell computer was still in use in 1973
The computer, which was designed in 1949, first ran in 1951 and was designed to perform mathematical calculations; it lasted until 1973. ugg bailey button
When first built the 2.4m x 5m computer was state-of-the-art, although it was superseded by transistor-based systems. UGG Bailey Button boots
The restoration project is expected to take a year. nike outlet
The system was built and used by staff at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment in Harwell, Oxfordshire. nike shoes
Speaking to BBC News, Dick Barnes, who helped build the original Harwell computer, said the research was - officially at least - for civilian nuclear power projects. ugg cardy
"Officially it was to help with general background atomic theory and to assist in the development of civilian power," he said. UGG Classic Cardy Boots
"Of course, it [the Atomic Energy Research Establishment] had connections to the nuclear weapons programme," he added. nike shoes
Although not the first computer built in the UK, the Harwell had one of the longest service lives.
Built by a team of three people, the device was capable of doing the work of six to ten people and ran for seven years until the establishment obtained their first commercial computer. nike shoes on sale
"We didn't think we were doing anything pioneering at the time," said Mr Barnes.
"We knew the Manchester Baby and Cambridge's EDSAC were already up and running. Both these projects had large teams and we felt like a poor relation. cheap nike shoes
"Looking back, hardly any of us were computer literate and it's astonishing that we managed stored computing at all," he said. nike shoes for sale
The Harwell machine is recognisably modern in that unlike some of its predecessors such as Colossus it used a single memory to store data and programs. jordan shoes
Kevin Murrell, director of The National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park, said it had some of the characteristics of contemporary machines.
"The machine was a relay-based computer using 900 Dekatron gas-filled tubes that could each hold a single digit in memory - similar to RAM in a modern computer - and paper tape for both input and program storage."