The RCA Selectron -- Project Whirlwind

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MIT Project Whirlwind repository



Project 6345, better known as Project Whirlwind, was the key computer research effort leading to the AN/FSQ-7 SAGE air defense control computer system. Shaped-beam cathode ray tubes were key components of the system but they were not yet commercial off the shelf (COTS) items. Project 6345's group 65 was responsible for electron tubes including CRTs and actively participated with and supported both Hughes and Convair, for the Typotron and Charactron respectively, in the successful reduction to practice of these display devices. The labs and staff of MIT as well as numerous leading electronics businesses made major contributions to the practical realization of these devices. Below are excerpts from the bi-weekly progress reports concerning these CRTs. After the listing of the publication date the major topics and company names are cited.


Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

11 September 1953

Rectangular screen Charactrons











Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

23 October 1953

Tektronix collaboration, Motorola Deflectron investigation











Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

04 December 1953

Helical post-deflection acceleration (PDA)







Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

18 December 1953

PDA












Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

15 January 1954

Site visits to Hughes and Convair; Tektronix conductive inks












Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

29 January 1954

Site visits to IBM and Corning Glass Works









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

12 February 1954

PDA and tube processing









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

26 February 1954

Hughes' new factory, color Typotrons or PDA workaround?









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

12 March 1954

General Electric visits









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

26 March 1954

Andrew Haeff and numerous visitors and site visit reports









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

09 April 1954

Anti-reflective screen coatings; electron gun evaluations









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

23 April 1954

Site visits to Hughes and Convair; Helical PDA









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

21 May 1954

Willys Electronics & Ross Aiken's "flat" CRT









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

02 June 1954

Hughes' new factory









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

18 June 1954

Life tests









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

02 July 1952

Resitron, Willys Electronics, and Convair's new factory









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

16 July 1954

Bulbs, cleanliness









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

30 July 1954

National Union, scotophor screens









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

13 August 1954

IBM building Typotrons; RCA wants to build Charactrons;









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

10 September 1954

IBM, Convair, Hughes field trips









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

24 September 1954

Aluminization and lacquering









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

08 October 1954

Cathodes









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

14 January 1955

More quality control investigations









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

25 February 1955

Quality investigations









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

11 March 1955

San Diego Water; Electron guns from Superior, RCA, and Sylvania









Project Whirlwind logo of arithmetic symbols and an electron tube being drawn up into a sketch of a stylized  cyclone

22 April 1955

Quality issues









Title sheet for A/N FSQ-7

01 August 1958

Overview of SAGE display CRTs


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