The IBM 405 alphabetic bookkeeping and accounting
machine (later known as the 405 electric punched
card accounting machine) was a combined adding,
subtracting and printing machine that printed
complete reports from punched accounting machine
cards. It could be used to list both alphabetical
and numerical details from individual accounting
machine cards or to print classifications and
to accumulate and print totals, net totals and
accumulated net totals. The machine was equipped
with an automatic plugboard, similar in principle
to a telephone switchboard, by means of which
any desired arrangement of data could be obtained
from the punched cards. It could list cards at
the rate of 80 cards a minute and were accumulated
without listing at either 80 or 150 cards per
minute as specified. Introduced in 1934, the Type
405 was marketed by IBM until May 1949.
This unusual 1951 view of a 405, not only reveals its some of its internal components, but also marks the reconditioning and reassembly of the 100th IBM 405 by IBM’s manufacturing facility in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pictured here are the assemblers who performed the work. (VV4006)