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Atlas Console
Atlas 1 Console, 1989
Large View
The main engineer's console showed the state of the Atlas system including what programs were queued, whether the machine was in an idle loop waiting for work etc. A video camera allowed the Atlas operators upstairs to see the console situated downstairs.
the photograph above shows Jack Howlett and Brian Davies (Head of Computing Division at Rutherford Laboratory) next to the Atlas console in the entrance to the Atlas building. Len Ford, a railway enthusiast, persuaded us to purchase the name plate of the Atlas railway engine which is the reason for the photograph and name plate next to the console.
When switched on, the console now shows the octal numbers 7004472 which indicated that the machine was idling in execution.