Computer History "Engineering Research Associates" ERA 1101 UNIVAC Cryptology 1946 Sperry Rand NSA

Vintage Computer History; Cryptology; Navy Intelligence: This unique presentation provides an introduction to the origin and history of ENGINEERING RESEARCH ASSOCIATES (“ERA”) a pioneering and influential computer company founded in Minnesota in 1946. Formed and staffed by former members of the U.S. Navy’s top secret communications intelligence organization known as OP-20-G, it was instrumental in helping to advance the digital computer age.
In July 1946, the Navy communications intelligence authority formed a specialized organization called the Communications Supplementary Activity (CSA). Members of that group, formed ERA, which later joined Remington Rand Univac (Sperry, now UNISYS). Their groundbreaking engineering resulted in the rotating magnetic drum memory and other advancements, making it a forerunner of many of today’s modern computers. The history and legacy of ERA, continuing up to the present, is a fascinating story of technological innovations and contributions to the computer industry.
Uploaded by the Computer History Archives Project (CHAP). Editing/compilation: CHAP; modern narration: James Izzo; Sperry narration: Mark Greenberg.
With Very Special Thanks to:
Mr. Tony Buglione
Manager External Communications & Media Relations
UNISYS Corporation
www.unisys.com
Lowell Benson
VIP Club P.O. Box 131748
Roseville, MN 55113-0020
www.vipclubmn.org
* * The VIP Club is designed for retirees and former employees of Unisys,
Lockheed Martin, and their predecessor companies (e.g., ERA, Univac, Sperry, Remington Rand, Burroughs). You are invited to take a look at their Membership page and the Benefits of joining!
vipclubmn.org/M...
Don Weidenbach
VIP Club (& former ERA engineer)
Amanda Wick, Interim Archivist
Charles Babbage Institute Archives
University of Minnesota Libraries
Minneapolis, MN
www.cbi.umn.edu
Angela Schad, Reference Archivist, Digital Archives Specialist
Audiovisual Collections & Digital Initiatives
Hagley Museum and Library
Wilmington, Delaware
www.hagley.org
Dag Spicer, Senior Curator
Computer History Museum
Mountain View, California
www.computerhis...
Other References and Sources:
Ed Thelen, Computer History site
ed-thelen.org/c...
U.S. Library of Congress
U.S. National Archives
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Bitsavers.org -- ERA documentation
Keyterms:
ERA 1101
ERA 1103
CSAW
Cryptanalysis
Cryptology
Naval Intelligence
NSA CIA
Digital Computing
Magnetic drum memory
UNIVAC 1103A
Code breaking
Enigma
OP-20-G
Joseph Wenger
William C. Norris
Howard Engstrom
Ralph Meader
St. Paul, Minnesota

[@WalterFabian]

Thanks for another invaluable historical document. Enjoyed it a lot as usual. (BTW: Beautiful ending music!)

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Hi Walter, thank you very much. Ending music is called "Stranger Danger," nice music. ~ Victor, CHAP

[@ghydda]

Hi Victor, could you give another hint to the music, Stranger Danger is too common a search term to yield a good hit on Google.

[@informalzombie2888]

Is amazing that technology was being developed in the 40's, thanks for another great video 👍!

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Hi Informal Zombie, thank you. Glad you enjoyed this one. ~ CHAP

[@headpox5817]

Thanks, CHA, for another fantastic insight into the history of computers. Keep up the good work !!

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Hi Head Pox, thank you very much. Very glad you enjoy these bits of history.~ CHAP

[@buzzz241]

Great theme music begins at 13:03

[@eliotmansfield]

My dad worked at a company with the same name in dunstable - England. But they did actual metal engineering.

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Hi Eliot, that is quite interesting. What years? - I know that in 1946 The "Production Engineering Research Association" was formed in the UK to support British manufacturing industry. I wonder if this is what you refer to. It is probably not the same as the U.S. company though.

[@synthc1786]

i love it !!! thank so much from Lma Peru

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Greetings to Synth C in Peru! Thanks very much for your kind words. Glad you are visiting our channel. Lots to see. ~ Victor

[@MrGTO-ze7vb]

Nothing like tubes ...LOL.. I worked for ISS Sperry Univac in San Jose 1980-1982

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Hi Mr. GTO, awesome. Must have been some good times. Next to IBM, the largest computer company in the world, by far! Victor at CHAP.

[@MrGTO-ze7vb]

@@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject ISS Sperry was fun.. !!learned a lot and designed cool disc drive stuff

[@puppetbirds]

I need the music to this video it’s really good

[@morlanius]

Cracked in England though.

[@GH-oi2jf]

Norris went on to found Control Data Corp.

[@muddywaters8706]

9:24 The footsteps of giants, Lads.

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Hi Muddy Waters, I have to agree. Well said. Victor at CHAP