NORD-50 Serial 37
NORD-50 Serial number 37 came to me from the Dalby datormuseum. I picked it up in August 2018. I will add to the history later on.
Judging from the dates on a random card, the computer was built in 1976.
With the computer came a number of NORD-50 manuals I haven't seen before.
- ND-05.003.01 NORD-50 REFERENCE MANUAL
- ND-05.007.01 NORD-50 FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
- ND-05.008.01 NORD-50 General Description and Module Description
- ND-06.005.01 NORD-10 NORD-10 - NORD-50 Communication System (2 copies)
- ND-30.010.02 NORD-50 Hardware Maintenance Manual
- ND-60.075.01 NORD-50 assembler
- ND-60.075.01A NORD-50 assembler
- ND-60.076.02 NORD-50 MONITOR User's Guide and System Documentation (3 copies)
- ND-60.083.02 NORD-50 LOADER User's Guide
- ND-60.116.01 NORD-10/NORD-50 Operator's Guide (2 copies)
- ND-60.118-01 US50 Course Manual for NORD-50 Software Courses
- ND-62.008.01 NORD-50 Test System
Other NORD-50 manuals on-line is.
- ND-05.004.01 NORD-50 CPU HARDWARE MANUAL I
- ND-05.004.01 NORD-50 CPU HARDWARE MANUAL II
- ND-30.001.01A NORD-10 NORD-50 Operator's Guide
Configuration
The system is equipped with...
- Two crates of Big Multiport Memory
- ... more when I have had time to go over the system
Missing parts and damages
- The side panels are missing.
- Power distribution panel.
Operators panel
Price
It's hard to tell the exact price, the NORD-50 was sold as a package with a NORD-10 included. In the February 1981 price list the most bare-bone system, ND-1439/S cost 540.000 NOK while a NORD-10 alone cost 74700, putting the NORD-50 basic system at 433.000 NOK. There is no mention of how much memory was included at that price.
Current status
Looks almost complete, a few memory cards are missing in the Big Multi Port Memory but the remaining ones can be re-positioned to give a whole memory system.
Plans
I will go through the system and clean it up. I also have to go through the cards to check that none is placed in the wrong slot. Then I need a NORD-10 to connect to as an interface. It will probably take some time before I can even contemplate to run this machine.
Further inventory have revealed that I have no NORD-10 cards to connect a NORD-50. I have drawings of the cards though so if I can't find a card I might build one.
Gallery
Loaded up for the ride home.
Front view with covers on.
Cover removed, showing the CPU crates.
Close-up of the CPU racks.
Serial number plate.
Left side view. The crates at the left is the CPU, multiport memory to the right.
The front panel.
Multiport memory
Output select card, one of eight used in floating point math.
