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Wyle Laboratories WS-02 Scientific Calculator


Image Courtesy Randy Liebermann

Follow-on calculator to the original Wyle Laboratories WS-01 calculator, introduced in mid-1964. The original WS-01 was identical in form and function to the WS-02, however, it used a temperamental magnetic drum as its main memory, and there were reliability issues with thi design. The WS-02 was a fairly minor redesign of the WS-01, to replace the rotating magnetic drum with a solid-state magnetostrictive delay line. The WS-02 was introduced in late 1964. The basic calculator itself was not programmable, but with the addition of the punched card reader, programs and data could be punched into the cards, allowing for complex calculations to be automated. Both the WS-01 and WS-02 had an eight-inch integrated CRT display. Six lines of 24 digits (grouped in three digit chunks for readability) were shown on the display. Complex vector-drawn digit rendition was used to maximize readability. One-key Square Root, three accumulating memory registers. Optional punched card reader. A product of Wyle Laboratories, El Segundo, California. The calculator folks at Wyle Labs eventually split off to form their own calculator company with the blessings of Wyle Laboratories management. The company they formed was Computer Design Corporation, also known as Compucorp. For more information, see the article on the The History of Compucorp.

Program Punched Card (Front/Back) for Wyle Scientific Calculator (Click Image for Larger View)
Punched Cards donated by Gene McGough

Each pre-scored punched card holds 12 program instruction steps. Each card has 40 columns, of which one column (column 19) is pre-punched for sensing by the card reader. Click on image for a detailed view of the card. Cards can be punched with a pencil-point, or with an IBM Port-A-Punch.
Wyle WS-02 "Scientific" Specifications

Manufacturer: Wyle Laboratories
Model Number: WS-02 Scientific
Introduction: Late 1964
Manufactured In: USA, El Segundo, California
Original Price: $3950 (Calculator Only), $4350 w/Card Reader for Programming
Weight: 50 Pounds
Size: 22 1/2" Wide, 19 3/4" Deep, 10 1/4" High
Power Requirement: 160 Watts, 110V AC, 60Hz
Display Technology: CRT Display, Six registers of 24-digits
Logic Technology: Transistorized logic with magnetostrictive delay-line register storage
Digits of Capacity: 24
Decimal Modes: Fixed at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 digits behind decimal
Arithmetic Logic: Unusual methodology using specialized registers for various functions
Math Functions: Four Function plus square root
Memories: 3 General Purpose Accumulator-type Memory Registers
Features: Programmable via optional Punched Card reader

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Copyright 1997-2008, Rick Bensene.