The RCA Selectron -- The people of Engineering Research Associates
ERA (Engineering Research Associates) of St. Paul, Minnesota, was one of the pioneering firms in the development of electronic digital computers. Although known for their pioneering development of the magnetic drum memory and the ATLAS and 1101 computers, ERA engineer Robert Callan evaluated two RCA Laboratories supplied Selectrons for use as a memory element in the 1103 computer.1 The 1103 was produced, not using Selectrons, but rather with electrostatic storage memories of the Williams-Kilburn design implemented using a six-by-six array of cathode ray tubes.
This 1951 internal memorandum from MIT's Project Whirlwind mentions one of the concerns of the technical staff at ERA
about the Selectron.
Robert Callan, Electrical Engineer, ERA, St. Paul, Minnesota
Joseph Kelar, Electrical Engineer, ERA, St. Paul, Minnesota
1953 advertisement ©Copyright Remington Rand, Inc. All Rights Reserved