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Ferranti Pegasus Computer, design and projects, 1954-1957, n.d.

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The Pegasus machine incorporated some of the techniques of standard packages developed for the 401 computer made by Elliott Brothers with support from the National Research Development Corporation. The abbreviation F.P.C.I, used on many of Strachey's folders, originally designated Ferranti Packaged Computer No. 1, but later stood for Ferranti Pegasus Computer.

Strachey was responsible to the National Research Development Corporation for the overall machine design, instruction set and detailed writing of the multiplier-divider units; he also specified and wrote much of the initial software which contained a comprehensive assembly system for incorporating library sub-routines.

The Pegasus machine proved very popular, and 38 were made. See MS. Eng. misc. b. 295/G.1 for a course of lectures on 'Programming for the F.P.C.1' given by Strachey at Northampton Polytechnic, London.

See MS. Eng. misc. b. 280/D.41-MS. Eng. misc. b. 282/D.81 for material relating to Ferranti Mercury and Orion machines.

The folders preserve Strachey's ordering and titles, though very bulky folders have been divided for ease of handling. Few of the documents are dated, and some of the early items relate to the Ferranti machines in use at Manchester and Toronto on which Strachey learnt and tested programming ideas and techniques.

Dates

  • Creation: 1954-1957, n.d.

Language of Materials

  • English

Full range of shelfmarks:

MS. Eng. misc. b. 262/C.65-263/C.81

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom