Re: AS/400

I remember when different people found different ways to do their job faster 
that other people might disagree with.  Like when we had to key things twice 
... remember the verifier - it put a notch in end of punched card when 
verified valid.

So we were having problems with bad data that was verified correct & IBM 
saying this cannot be, and what it turned out to be was some key punch 
operator changed the drum to not check anything, just take a batch of cards & 
let the verifier run on automatic notching everything.  Their job was done 
really fast but the data was no good.

The way caught was IBM CE visiting neighbor on a service call & swung by to 
visit us before heading back to IBM office & walked in on this SURPRISE.

MacWheel99@aol.com (Alister Wm Macintyre) (Al Mac)

> From: kjs@idirect.com (ken shields)
>  
>  Neil
>   You and I are probably the only people that actually worked that
>  equipment.
>   I remember placing rpg code, inside a compiler deck of cards.

That was a HUGE deck of cards.

>  Neil Palmer wrote:
>  > 
>  > Rob,
>  > 
>  > That was a common trick with card machines.  I believe the 2560 card
>  > readers (S/360 Mod 20 I worked on back in early 70's - and possible even
>  > the 5424 card readers on the S/3) had a hidden switch under the covers
>  > that doubled their speed (and greatly increased the cost and monthly
>  > maintenance charge).  Once you "found" this switch you could flip it and
>  > run the thing at the higher speed.  If you needed maintenance, or if the
>  > CE was due for Preventive Maintenance (remember that !  ;-)  ) you would
>  > flip the switch back.  When he left, you'd change it back again.
>  > 
>  > Someone told me an early Burroughs computer  (1800 ???) had a switch you
>  > could flip to make it run faster too.
>  > 
>  > ...Neil




+---
| This is the Midrange System Mailing List!
| To submit a new message, send your mail to MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com.
| To subscribe to this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-SUB@midrange.com.
| To unsubscribe from this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-UNSUB@midrange.com.
| Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator: david@midrange.com
+---