Rod Memory

NCR Magnetic Rod Memory wire coils (1964)

The concept of Rod memory, a unique form of  thin-film magnetic memory, was first commercially introduced by NCR in their model 315 RMC (Rod memory computer) computer in 1964. NCR also used Rod Memory in their line of "Century" computers up to 1968.

A thin-film material using 97% iron and 3% Nickel was layered onto 10-mil diameter beryllium & copper wires (rods), each rod housed in a grid of copper wire wound memory planes. When current was applied to the individual coils in the memory plane grid the specific magnetic rods switched their position, storing memory data into that associated position.

Rod memory was similar to core memory. This type of memory technology would not last but a few short years, it was not able to commercially compete with the new transistorized memory technology.

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Close-up of Magnetic Rod Memory Planes

NCR 315 Rod Memory Computer

NCR Thin Film Magnetic Memory Rods

 



Some Memorabilia with Rod Memory

 
Related:         Bubble Memory        Core Memory        Computer Memory       DRAM Memory

SRAM Memory        Flash Memory        EPROM Memory        Twistor Memory

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