Endicott chronology

1961-1969

1960

January -- The plant manufactures the IBM 1401 data processing system, the IBM 760 control and storage unit and IBM 764, the IBM 407 alphabetical accounting machine, the IBM 7070 data processing system, the IBM 357 data collection system, IBM 720 high-speed printer, and IBM 650 data processing system.
The site encompasses 2.5 million square feet of space in 27 buildings covering an area of 39 acres.

April 3 -- The price of coffee in the cafeterias and vending machines is raised to 10 cents.
June 17 -- A severe rain storm causes a flood, which enters Buildings 028, 041, 045 and 046, and leased space at Stage Road. After a weekend of recovery operations, 90 percent of a normal production is resumed on Monday, June 20.
June 23 -- The price of soft drinks in vending machines is raised to 10 cents; however, the size of the drink is increased from six to eight ounces.
July 18 -- The Endicott-developed IBM 1001 data transmission system debuts.
August 8 -- An expansion of the Glendale Lab begins to add 181,500 square feet of space at a cost of $1.6 million.
September 12 -- The Endicott-developed IBM 1410 data processing system is rolled out. (It is manufactured in Poughkeepsie.)
September 16 -- The Endicott-developed IBM 1418 optical character reader is introduced.
October -- SD general manager J. E. Swaine, Jr., announces that card production will be transferred from Endicott to other SD facilities in Dayton, N.J.; Greencastle, Ind.; and Washington, D.C. The move begins immediately and is to be completed in stages by October 1961.
F. G. Paul serves as site general manager.

April -- Punched card production at Endicott is phased out, five months ahead of schedule. (IBM had begun manufacturing punched cards in Endicott in 1923.)
May -- Endicott operates as a manufacturing, and product development and testing site for GPD; and a manufacturing and engineering laboratory site for the Supplies Division.
June 21 -- The Endicott-developed IBM 1404 printer is announced.
The GPD Development Laboratory uses the combination of the IBM 357 data collection system and a closed-circuit television system as one of the most modern property protection systems in use.
Two new wings (Buildings 5 and 9) are added to complete the Development Laboratory.
During GPD's first two years, Endicott has increased the speed for the IBM 1403 chain printer; increased function of basic printing mechanisms to permit introduction of card handling; evolved advanced optical character technology which leads to the development of the IBM 1418 optical character sensing equipment; enhanced standard modular system card assembly and manufacturing techniques; automated back panel wiring, and unveiled an automated computer-controlled purchasing system.

May 14 -- IBM announces plans for a new employee cafeteria to be constructed on the site of the current facility and completed in May 1963 at a cost of about $1 million.
May 18 -- Endicott general manager F. G. Paul announces the SPEAK UP Program for Endicott's GPD employees.
August -- Endicott begins the development of an automated computer-controlled (IBM 1410) system to test all standard Solid Logic Technology (SLT) logic cards.
October 25 -- Using the Telstar satellite, IBM sends computer information back and forth between Endicott and La Gaude, France.
Endicott manufactures the IBM 1401 data processing system and the IBM 1418 optical character reader.
Endicott operates the largest of GPD's laboratories, with separate labs for materials, radioisotopes, physical chemistry, physics, applied mechanics and groups active in developing machine logic, electronic circuits, power supplies, printing techniques, data communication and terminals.

November 1 -- Plans are announced for a new 180,000-square foot manufacturing building to be constructed on North Street.
November 1 -- Plans are announced to transfer the manufacture of IBM 083 and IBM 084 sorters and the IBM 108 card proving machine to the IBM plant in Owego, N.Y.
Endicott-manufactured IBM 1440 data processing systems are used during the IX Winter Olympics in Austria.
The Endicott Laboratory releases the IBM 1460 system, IBM 1030 data collection system, IBM 1050 data communication system, IBM 1240 bank data system and IBM 1282 optical reader.

November -- General Products Manufacturing Engineering publicly describes how it has adapted the electro-discharge process for the production of type characters in the IBM 1403 printers by removing material from metals using spark erosion.
The Endicott Laboratory releases the IBM 1285 optical reader.

February 1 -- The Endicott lab becomes part of the newly-formed IBM Systems Development Division (SDD) and the plant becomes part of the newly-formed IBM Systems Manufacturing Division (SMD).
The Endicott Laboratory, with about 2,600 people, is organized as a cluster of small technical and systems groups operating within the framework of SDD. Market planning groups evaluate the sales potential of a new product. Systems Planning groups determine the characteristics of a new system. Programming groups write computer instructions and programs. Development groups design and build models of machines. Technical assistance groups supply specialized engineering knowledge and equipment. Administrative and Service groups ensure smooth and efficient laboratory operations.
June 25 -- Endicott ships its first IBM System/360 Model 30 (to McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in St. Louis, Mo.).

F. G. Paul continues as site general manager.
A computer in Endicott is linked to more than 250 others in 16 IBM manufacturing and development sites and headquarters locations in the United States.
The IBM Band -- with 45 members -- celebrates its golden anniversary with a lunch concert at the Endicott facility, the first of 11 outdoor concerts scheduled for that summer.

March 31 -- The IBM Components Division is reestablished, and Endicott becomes one of its three manufacturing and development sites.
April 7 -- Michael R. Kurbaby receives Endicott's highest Suggestion Program award -- $20,095 -- for an improved method for inserting pins into SLT panels.
Paul continues as site general manager.

March 8 -- The company announces a new model of the IBM System/360 Model 20 which had been developed by IBM labs in San Jose, Rochester, Endicott and Boeblingen, and is manufactured in Boca Raton.
March 11 -- SMD and SDD say that their product test engineers in Endicott have devised a television system that displays and measures the operation of high-speed computer parts in slow motion or in stop-action.

The Endicott lab is performing product development and testing for SDD, and the plant is performing manufacturing for SMD.
Test Engineering moves to new space in Buildings 41 and 46.
July 11 -- The company rolls out the IBM 2213 serial printer developed in Endicott.
July 15 -- IBM introduces the Endicott-developed IBM 1255 magnetic character reader