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The Origins of Cyberspace collection described as lots 1-255 will first be offered as a single lot, subject to a reserve price. If this price is not reached, the collection will be immediately offered as individual lots as described in the catalogue as lots 1-255.
ECKERT, J. Presper. The remaining Eckert archive, totaling nearly 300 items, including early photographs, working papers, typescripts, brochures, books, awards, certificates, etc. The introduction to the Eckert archive on pages 217-220 provides detailed background on this important collection. For a full description of the items included in this lot, please refer to the department.
Details
ECKERT, J. Presper. The remaining Eckert archive, totaling nearly 300 items, including early photographs, working papers, typescripts, brochures, books, awards, certificates, etc. The introduction to the Eckert archive on pages 217-220 provides detailed background on this important collection. For a full description of the items included in this lot, please refer to the department.
Highlights (in chronological order) include:
PAULING, Linus (1901-1994) and WILSON, E. Bright. Introduction to quantum mechanics with applications to chemistry. New York & London: McGraw-Hill, 1935. Original blue cloth. Eckert's autograph signature in pencil on the front pastedown, and pencil notes on the rear pastedown. FIRST EDITION, third printing. Pauling's textbook of quantum mechanics, co-authored with one of his graduate students at Cal Tech, was written for chemists, experimental physicists, and beginning students of theoretical physics. Eckert probably used it as a college textbook. OOC 1087.
ECKERT. "Modulation of an electric arc by means of crossed electric fields." Typewritten document (rectos only) with ms. drawing, signed by Eckert and two witnesses. N.p., December 4, 1939. 2 sheets. A document relating to Eckert's application for his first patent (see no. 1096), on a method of using light beams to communicate sound, which he intended to use "in moving film recording, oscillograph work, facsimile and picture transmission, photophone and television." Eckert's system anticipated fiber-optic methods of sound recording; however, it may have been too advanced for commercial applications at the time. OOC 1091.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. "No. 2283545. The United States of America. To all to whom these presents shall come: Whereas John Presper Eckert, Jr., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, presented to the Commissioner of Patents a petition praying for the grant of letters patent for an alleged new and useful improvement in light modulating methods and apparatus" Original printed wrappers with additional typescript, seal of the U.S. Patent Office on front wrapper. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Office, May 19, 1942. Eckert was granted the patent for his light modulating methods and apparatus on May 19, 1942. The patent includes two diagrams of the device and Eckert's detailed description. OOC 1096.
ECKERT. Typed letter to John von Neumann. Carbon typescript. N.p., March 15, 1946. Eckert's response to von Neumann's offer of a position as chief engineer at the Institute for Advanced Study electronic computer project: ". . . I have been holding back because of the unstable situation at the Moore School which I had hoped could be rectified. Although the Moore School had agreed to my working at both places, they were, in reality, frowning upon it. I did not want to be in the position of doing something which would cause continued friction at the Moore School if I were to be employed by them on a part-time basis. It does appear, however, that the situation is now coming to a climax and that it will be possible for me to come to a concrete decision in the near future. It is true that I have a great interest in the commercial future of the computing machines, but such and interest would effect [sic] only the patent agreements made. If I leave the Moore School in the near future, I will be glad to inform you of such an action since I would, at that time, be in a definite and uninfluenced position as to my intentions. I wish you success with your computing machine project since, in spite of misunderstandings which have occurred, I feel that the idea is an important one and hope we can get together on future work for our mutual good." OOC 1118.
BRADBURY, N. E. Typed letter to G[ladeon] M. Barnes and Paul N. Gillon. Carbon typescript, marked "COPY." Santa Fe, N. M., March 18, 1946. From the director of the Los Alamos project: ". . . The calculations which have already been performed on the ENIAC as well as those now being performed are of very great value to us in the present work of this project. The complexity of these problems is so great that it would have been almost impossible to arrive at any solution without the aid of the ENIAC. We are extremely fortunate in having had the use of the ENIAC for these exacting calculations. . . . I should like also to offer our congratulations for the successful development of so valuable an instrument. Our experience in this project has supplied a number of excellent illustrations of the dependence of modern pure and applied physics on advanced calculational techniques. It is clear that physics as well as other sciences will profit greatly from the development of such machines as the ENIAC. I should like also to express my thanks for the direct cooperation and sustained interest of Captain Goldstine and of Eckert and Mauchley . . . " The ENIAC's first major calculating task, performed on behalf of the Los Alamos project, related to the feasibility of constructing a hydrogen bomb. Since the typewriter type and carbon paper color is identical to that used by Eckert in his letter to von Neumann above, it is possible that Eckert typed this copy as a kind of testimonial in support of his business plan for Electronic Control Company. OOC 1119.
ECKERT. Typed letter to Harold Pender. Carbon typescript. N.p., March 25, 1946. Eckert's letter of resignation from the EDVAC project at the Moore School: ". . . I have felt that the patent rights which have been assured me in connection with my work up to this time were an important part of my remuneration. My understanding was that such rights were to be given me for the duration of my employment on Army Ordnance work, after which my services would not be required by the Moore School, and I would be free to enter into commercial developments based on these rights." OOC 1122
ECKERT. The development of magnetic recording for digital computer uses. Typescript document with manuscript additions. Philadelphia: Remington Rand Inc., 1954. In blue spiral-bound covers, front cover with "UNIVAC Remington Rand Eckert-Mauchly Division" printed in gold. The draft of a speech, annotated by Eckert and others. OOC 1203.
ECKERT. "IBM settlement." Carbon typescript of memorandum addressed to W. C. Norris of St. Paul, Minnesota. Philadelphia, August 16, 1956. 4 sheets. In 1956, as the result of an antitrust lawsuit filed by the United States government four years earlier, IBM signed a consent decree requiring it to offer its punched-card machines for sale as well as for lease, and to sell its competitors licenses to manufacture similar equipment. OOC 1220.
Then and now. Color motion picture (16-mm. film) on 267-mm. diameter reel. In storage can with label: "Then and Now VA U 3236." [N.p., ca. 1960.] Preserved in original shipping box with metal corners and label holder; inserted mailing label addressed to J. C. Chu at Remington Rand UNIVAC, with Chu's name crossed out and Eckert's inserted in ink. Postage label with postmark dated Dec. 23, 1960. With VHS videotape transfer. A humorous promotional film for UNIVAC, featuring Eckert and Mauchly in leading roles, and incorporating the original ENIAC newsreel. OOC 1253.
ECKERT. Group of 27 photographs of Eckert and the UNIVAC, dating from the 1960s and early 1970s. OOC 1255.
ECKERT. (1) "Project Leapfrog." Dittoed typescript, stamped "Company confidential." N.p., 1/6/61. In red stiff-paper loose leaf binder. (2) Remington Rand intra-company communication. Memorandum addressed to J. W. Schnackel, stamped "Company confidential." N.p., February 2, 1961. (1) 36 sheets, variously numbered, plus 4 illustrations. (2) 8 sheets, variously numbered. 280 x 217 mm. "This [no. (1)] is a preliminary report on the question of 'leapfrogging' IBM in the 'small' punch card market. . . . Can the use of Mass Storage, Direct Entry Keyboards, and Marked Cards produce a basic system as comprehensive as a Punch Card system? Yes! Here we are way ahead of mechanical tabulating equipment especially in the area of Document Handling, Random Access and on-line input. The most important aspect of this report is this: If Mass Storage, Direct Entry Keyboards, and Marked Cards can be used economically on a small system, then certainly all our (larger) machines should use Mass Storage instead of punched cards or magnetic tapes. . . ." (3rd sheet). "Project Leapfrog" appears to be the same thing as "the X program" (MRW). The days of tabulator punched-card equipment were rapidly coming to an end; Eckert's report urges Sperry Rand UNIVAC to get a jump on IBM in developing and marketing computer equipment for businesses currently using small mechanical tabulation systems (i.e., those leased for $1000-$2000 per month). No. (2), a memo addressed to Sperry Rand UNIVAC's president, discusses various people's objections to the Leapfrog project. OOC 1261.
ECKERT. (1) The integration of man and machine. Galley proofs, with autograph additions. N.p., n.d. (2) The integration of man and machine. Offprint from Proceedings IRE 50, no. 5 (May 1962). Original white printed wrappers. Speculations about the evolution of automation and "thinking" machines over the next fifty years. OOC 1274.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. "3,332,075. Nondestructive readout thin film memory array." [Washington, D.C.,] July 18, 1967. This patent represents a significant advance in magnetic-core memory technology. OOC 1344.
ECKERT. (1) "UNIVAC progress in large and medium scale processors and associated high speed memories." Original and photocopied typescript. N.p., April 28, 1971. Unbound. (2) "UNIVAC progress in large and medium scale processors and associated high speed memories." Photocopied typescript. In black stiff-paper loose leaf binder with clear plastic front cover, "UNIVAC" printed in silver on the spine. (1) 75ff., variously numbered. Text illustrations and diagrams. (2) 75ff., variously numbered. Text illustrations and diagrams. Copy of Eckert's "Conclusions and recommendations" laid in. A detailed, six-part analysis of Sperry Rand UNIVAC's problems, which were caused largely because of the company's failure to keep up with advances in computer technology. Among other things, the report states that UNIVAC was about to abandon its use of plated wire memory technology in favor of the "new" integrated circuit memory-this is indicative of UNIVAC's sluggishness, since integrated circuit memory had been on the market long enough by this time (April 1971) for it to have been an obvious choice for new computer design (MRW). OOC 1374.
ECKERT. (1) Yesterday, today and tomorrow. Photocopied typescript with autograph corrections and additions, labeled in Eckert's hand "First rewrite-don't use (this was further edited)." N.p., April 10, 1991. (2) Yesterday, today and tomorrow. Photocopied typescript with manuscript corrections and additions, labeled in Eckert's hand "Third edit. Mon. April 15, 1991." N.p., April 15, 1991. (1) 16ff. (2) 16ff. Text of Eckert's keynote speech delivered at the tenth anniversary of the Eckert Research International Corporation (ERIC), held at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo on April 15, 1991. No. (2) appears to be the final version of the speech as delivered. This speech, from which we quote, appears to be one of Eckert's last and most complete summaries of his achievements. OOC 1407.
Highlights (in chronological order) include:
PAULING, Linus (1901-1994) and WILSON, E. Bright. Introduction to quantum mechanics with applications to chemistry. New York & London: McGraw-Hill, 1935. Original blue cloth. Eckert's autograph signature in pencil on the front pastedown, and pencil notes on the rear pastedown. FIRST EDITION, third printing. Pauling's textbook of quantum mechanics, co-authored with one of his graduate students at Cal Tech, was written for chemists, experimental physicists, and beginning students of theoretical physics. Eckert probably used it as a college textbook. OOC 1087.
ECKERT. "Modulation of an electric arc by means of crossed electric fields." Typewritten document (rectos only) with ms. drawing, signed by Eckert and two witnesses. N.p., December 4, 1939. 2 sheets. A document relating to Eckert's application for his first patent (see no. 1096), on a method of using light beams to communicate sound, which he intended to use "in moving film recording, oscillograph work, facsimile and picture transmission, photophone and television." Eckert's system anticipated fiber-optic methods of sound recording; however, it may have been too advanced for commercial applications at the time. OOC 1091.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. "No. 2283545. The United States of America. To all to whom these presents shall come: Whereas John Presper Eckert, Jr., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, presented to the Commissioner of Patents a petition praying for the grant of letters patent for an alleged new and useful improvement in light modulating methods and apparatus" Original printed wrappers with additional typescript, seal of the U.S. Patent Office on front wrapper. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Office, May 19, 1942. Eckert was granted the patent for his light modulating methods and apparatus on May 19, 1942. The patent includes two diagrams of the device and Eckert's detailed description. OOC 1096.
ECKERT. Typed letter to John von Neumann. Carbon typescript. N.p., March 15, 1946. Eckert's response to von Neumann's offer of a position as chief engineer at the Institute for Advanced Study electronic computer project: ". . . I have been holding back because of the unstable situation at the Moore School which I had hoped could be rectified. Although the Moore School had agreed to my working at both places, they were, in reality, frowning upon it. I did not want to be in the position of doing something which would cause continued friction at the Moore School if I were to be employed by them on a part-time basis. It does appear, however, that the situation is now coming to a climax and that it will be possible for me to come to a concrete decision in the near future. It is true that I have a great interest in the commercial future of the computing machines, but such and interest would effect [sic] only the patent agreements made. If I leave the Moore School in the near future, I will be glad to inform you of such an action since I would, at that time, be in a definite and uninfluenced position as to my intentions. I wish you success with your computing machine project since, in spite of misunderstandings which have occurred, I feel that the idea is an important one and hope we can get together on future work for our mutual good." OOC 1118.
BRADBURY, N. E. Typed letter to G[ladeon] M. Barnes and Paul N. Gillon. Carbon typescript, marked "COPY." Santa Fe, N. M., March 18, 1946. From the director of the Los Alamos project: ". . . The calculations which have already been performed on the ENIAC as well as those now being performed are of very great value to us in the present work of this project. The complexity of these problems is so great that it would have been almost impossible to arrive at any solution without the aid of the ENIAC. We are extremely fortunate in having had the use of the ENIAC for these exacting calculations. . . . I should like also to offer our congratulations for the successful development of so valuable an instrument. Our experience in this project has supplied a number of excellent illustrations of the dependence of modern pure and applied physics on advanced calculational techniques. It is clear that physics as well as other sciences will profit greatly from the development of such machines as the ENIAC. I should like also to express my thanks for the direct cooperation and sustained interest of Captain Goldstine and of Eckert and Mauchley . . . " The ENIAC's first major calculating task, performed on behalf of the Los Alamos project, related to the feasibility of constructing a hydrogen bomb. Since the typewriter type and carbon paper color is identical to that used by Eckert in his letter to von Neumann above, it is possible that Eckert typed this copy as a kind of testimonial in support of his business plan for Electronic Control Company. OOC 1119.
ECKERT. Typed letter to Harold Pender. Carbon typescript. N.p., March 25, 1946. Eckert's letter of resignation from the EDVAC project at the Moore School: ". . . I have felt that the patent rights which have been assured me in connection with my work up to this time were an important part of my remuneration. My understanding was that such rights were to be given me for the duration of my employment on Army Ordnance work, after which my services would not be required by the Moore School, and I would be free to enter into commercial developments based on these rights." OOC 1122
ECKERT. The development of magnetic recording for digital computer uses. Typescript document with manuscript additions. Philadelphia: Remington Rand Inc., 1954. In blue spiral-bound covers, front cover with "UNIVAC Remington Rand Eckert-Mauchly Division" printed in gold. The draft of a speech, annotated by Eckert and others. OOC 1203.
ECKERT. "IBM settlement." Carbon typescript of memorandum addressed to W. C. Norris of St. Paul, Minnesota. Philadelphia, August 16, 1956. 4 sheets. In 1956, as the result of an antitrust lawsuit filed by the United States government four years earlier, IBM signed a consent decree requiring it to offer its punched-card machines for sale as well as for lease, and to sell its competitors licenses to manufacture similar equipment. OOC 1220.
Then and now. Color motion picture (16-mm. film) on 267-mm. diameter reel. In storage can with label: "Then and Now VA U 3236." [N.p., ca. 1960.] Preserved in original shipping box with metal corners and label holder; inserted mailing label addressed to J. C. Chu at Remington Rand UNIVAC, with Chu's name crossed out and Eckert's inserted in ink. Postage label with postmark dated Dec. 23, 1960. With VHS videotape transfer. A humorous promotional film for UNIVAC, featuring Eckert and Mauchly in leading roles, and incorporating the original ENIAC newsreel. OOC 1253.
ECKERT. Group of 27 photographs of Eckert and the UNIVAC, dating from the 1960s and early 1970s. OOC 1255.
ECKERT. (1) "Project Leapfrog." Dittoed typescript, stamped "Company confidential." N.p., 1/6/61. In red stiff-paper loose leaf binder. (2) Remington Rand intra-company communication. Memorandum addressed to J. W. Schnackel, stamped "Company confidential." N.p., February 2, 1961. (1) 36 sheets, variously numbered, plus 4 illustrations. (2) 8 sheets, variously numbered. 280 x 217 mm. "This [no. (1)] is a preliminary report on the question of 'leapfrogging' IBM in the 'small' punch card market. . . . Can the use of Mass Storage, Direct Entry Keyboards, and Marked Cards produce a basic system as comprehensive as a Punch Card system? Yes! Here we are way ahead of mechanical tabulating equipment especially in the area of Document Handling, Random Access and on-line input. The most important aspect of this report is this: If Mass Storage, Direct Entry Keyboards, and Marked Cards can be used economically on a small system, then certainly all our (larger) machines should use Mass Storage instead of punched cards or magnetic tapes. . . ." (3rd sheet). "Project Leapfrog" appears to be the same thing as "the X program" (MRW). The days of tabulator punched-card equipment were rapidly coming to an end; Eckert's report urges Sperry Rand UNIVAC to get a jump on IBM in developing and marketing computer equipment for businesses currently using small mechanical tabulation systems (i.e., those leased for $1000-$2000 per month). No. (2), a memo addressed to Sperry Rand UNIVAC's president, discusses various people's objections to the Leapfrog project. OOC 1261.
ECKERT. (1) The integration of man and machine. Galley proofs, with autograph additions. N.p., n.d. (2) The integration of man and machine. Offprint from Proceedings IRE 50, no. 5 (May 1962). Original white printed wrappers. Speculations about the evolution of automation and "thinking" machines over the next fifty years. OOC 1274.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. "3,332,075. Nondestructive readout thin film memory array." [Washington, D.C.,] July 18, 1967. This patent represents a significant advance in magnetic-core memory technology. OOC 1344.
ECKERT. (1) "UNIVAC progress in large and medium scale processors and associated high speed memories." Original and photocopied typescript. N.p., April 28, 1971. Unbound. (2) "UNIVAC progress in large and medium scale processors and associated high speed memories." Photocopied typescript. In black stiff-paper loose leaf binder with clear plastic front cover, "UNIVAC" printed in silver on the spine. (1) 75ff., variously numbered. Text illustrations and diagrams. (2) 75ff., variously numbered. Text illustrations and diagrams. Copy of Eckert's "Conclusions and recommendations" laid in. A detailed, six-part analysis of Sperry Rand UNIVAC's problems, which were caused largely because of the company's failure to keep up with advances in computer technology. Among other things, the report states that UNIVAC was about to abandon its use of plated wire memory technology in favor of the "new" integrated circuit memory-this is indicative of UNIVAC's sluggishness, since integrated circuit memory had been on the market long enough by this time (April 1971) for it to have been an obvious choice for new computer design (MRW). OOC 1374.
ECKERT. (1) Yesterday, today and tomorrow. Photocopied typescript with autograph corrections and additions, labeled in Eckert's hand "First rewrite-don't use (this was further edited)." N.p., April 10, 1991. (2) Yesterday, today and tomorrow. Photocopied typescript with manuscript corrections and additions, labeled in Eckert's hand "Third edit. Mon. April 15, 1991." N.p., April 15, 1991. (1) 16ff. (2) 16ff. Text of Eckert's keynote speech delivered at the tenth anniversary of the Eckert Research International Corporation (ERIC), held at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo on April 15, 1991. No. (2) appears to be the final version of the speech as delivered. This speech, from which we quote, appears to be one of Eckert's last and most complete summaries of his achievements. OOC 1407.
Further details
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