The Jim Austin Computer Collection

Ferranti Pegasus 2

The collection contains a set of important parts from a Pegasus computer. This was a valve based computer developed by Ferranti Ltd. around 1956. The collection contains all the input output elements of the machine. It was bought from a dealer in Edinburgh in Dec 2002.

The parts are in very good condition. The collection consists of machine number 23 (of 40 made) used by Bruce Peebles & co Ltd. in Edinburgh and is from a Pegasus 2 machine installed in October 1960. This is from information in 'The Pegasus Story' by Simon Lavington, 2000, a London Science Museum publication. The book contains a full account of this machine.

The parts consist of:

Monitor Panel (shown above). 20 Dec 1959.

Programmers Control Panel (shown below the monitor panel above). Dated 20 Aug 1959.

Drum store control panel. Dated 9 April 196X.

The Pegasus Programming Manual, G E Felton, Ferranti Ltd, 1962. The full operation manual for the machine.

Creed Model 75 Teleprinter.

Creed output printer/transmitter GP1 ARR 3.

Creed automatic transmitter 6S/6M.

Box of Creed spares.

Creed Power Unit.

Manuals:

Creed Teleprinter 75: instruction book, 1962, parts manual, technical description, operators manual.

Teletype ordering information 1962.

Ferranti high speed tape reader 1959 technical manual.

Creed Cam Unit Type 3 parts 1955.

Teletype Corporation parts high speed tape punch set 1960.

Note that a simulator for the machine can be found at the Computer Conservation Web site http://cedarsgw.leeds.ac.uk/ccs/www/ccs_arc3.htm.

Pictures of one of these machines in use, the clock was a major feature of all these machines as was the operators panel showing two oscilloscope screens.

These pictures show a Pegasus machine in use at Newcastle University.

Note the following recollection from Pete Turnbull, York, Sept 2007.

Yours belonged to Bruce Peebles (later Parsons Peebles) in Edinburgh. They were large-scale electrical engineers, the biggest employer in the north-east of Edinburgh, made big generators and high voltage (as in national grid) stuff, and had a test lab with a 750kV (or so) Van der Graaf generator for testing, and had a computer. Or so I discovered when I went on a day-long careers visit when I was at school. I've actually seen your Pegasus running, though I don't recall details :-)

Pete.

Last updated 12/10/2007