a search for the Burroughs B6700

[Nigel Williams]

I've been collating various lists of Burroughs B5000, B6000 and B7000
deployments here:

https://goo.gl/HD5Js1

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JnMsyE8ssJi_-MUsK0rT9LPtNpeJCpTv1QrFw-917Y8/edit?usp=sharing

This is part of an ongoing effort by a small dispersed group who have
been endeavoring to recreate these systems as modern emulators.

But I've been somewhat baffled as to the paucity of software so far
found for the B6000 family computers, specifically the B6700. There
has been conflicting accounts of how many machines were actually
delivered and where they went, so this list is an attempt to narrow
that down; although the lack of public records and the likelihood of
much of what did exist not making it to the Internet means we're only
getting a narrow view of what happened.

I would be glad to receive additions or edits, either follow-ups to
this thread or direct email if you recall locations of these machines
and any details about them.

Hopefully people who were involved with these installations might have
saved paper listings or a magnetic tape we could use as part of the
recovery. Photos would be appreciated too.

[Hans PUFAL]

Hi,

I worked at the Burroughs plant in Cumbernaul, Scotland from 1975 to April 1978. There was a B5500 at that plant

when I arrived and it was decomissioned "with prejudice" near when I left.

I moved to the Mission Viejo plant in Southern California which surely had a whole park of 6x00 machines.

[Craig Ruff]

There was indeed a system of the 6700/7700 family at the University of Denver at least until 1983, when I used it for a class on software engineering.  I don't recall the specific model. We could switch the DECwriter terminals between the Burroughs and the PDP11. I'd certainly like to see CANDE again and play around with an emulated system.

[Hans PUFAL]

This link shows a small photo ot the B5500 at the Burroughs Glenrothes plant in Scotland.

https://harddiscdriver.wordpress.com/category/memoirs-of-a-hard-disc-driver/page/2/

[Paul Kimpel]

That looks like a picture of the B5500 at the University of Virginia. Note that the caption in the blog says "...as used in the Glenrothes plant."

See https://www.cs.virginia.edu/about/museum/.

[Brian Gladish]

DaComm (later purchased by Multi-List McGraw-Hill), in Santa Barbara, CA had a B6700 (I believe they upgraded to a B6800 around 1978). There was a Burroughs application support facility of some sort in El Monte, CA that had a B6700. As I remember, the Small Systems Plant, Santa Barbara had a B6700 for its business processing--payroll, etc. I only remember 2 large systems in LADO--C.F. Braun and William O'Neill. Braun had a B6700 with a custom paint job. We didn't have any demo machines in 1972/3 (maybe our large systems people used systems at Proctor if they had a need). I went from BMG (Group III Culver City Branch, LADO B1700 District Staff) to CSG (Santa Barbara Plant MCP QA, FORTRAN and Mission Viejo Plant CANDE, COBOL 74) before leaving in 1977. I don't think I ever saw a B7700!

I have some manuals--it appears you don't have DMS II. I am also trying to contact bitsavers in case they want it.

Regards,

Brian Gladish

[Nigel Williams]

On Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 3:47:25 PM UTC+10, Brian Gladish wrote:

DaComm (later purchased by Multi-List McGraw-Hill), in Santa Barbara, CA had a B6700 (I believe they upgraded to a B6800 around 1978).

Thanks Brian for all the details. Do you have any description for DACOMM, other keywords that might help track them down? I'm not getting any hits on that name alone.

My list is here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JnMsyE8ssJi_-MUsK0rT9LPtNpeJCpTv1QrFw-917Y8/edit?usp=sharing

 

There was a Burroughs application support facility of some sort in El Monte, CA that had a B6700. As I remember, the Small Systems Plant, Santa Barbara had a B6700 for its business processing--payroll, etc.

Thanks added.

 

I only remember 2 large systems in LADO--C.F. Braun and William O'Neill. Braun had a B6700 with a custom paint job.

I have the CF Braun in my list. Have added "William O'Neil"

 

...before leaving in 1977. I don't think I ever saw a B7700!

We've only found 8 x B7700 so far, and a 123 x B6700s, so the B7700 was a rare machine indeed.

 

I have some manuals--it appears you don't have DMS II. I am also trying to contact bitsavers in case they want it.

If you're willing it would be good to get the manual to one of us please and we can get it scanned and either forward it onto CHM (Bitsavers) or return it to you. Bitsavers has a large backlog of material to work-through and we'd be keen to get it scanned earlier than they would get to it. If you have any old computer printer listings they would be good to scan too.

[Art Shapiro]

Actually, before the Santa Barbara Plant had a B6700 (B6800?), it had a B5500.  That machine was ultimately dragged out to the back parking lot and apparently sold for scrap.  I went out and pulled out one of the little plug-in modules as a souvenir, which I still have in my possession.

 

Art

 

[Gordon DeGrandis]

Hello I know of 3 other B6700, and B7700/B7800 sites that can be included in the list.
There was the first 2by B-6700 in Canada at C-I-L (Canadian Industries Limited) from 1975 until at least 1978, then the system was upgraded to a 2by2 B-7700 and then eventually a 2by2 B-7800 in 1980. I do not know the history after that date.

There was also a service bureau in Laval, Quebec, Canada  that offered municipal services (tax records, billing and etc.), they had a 2by2 B-6700 nearly fully loaded. They had this machine from 1983 to 1985? I am guessing about the dates. I worked at this installation.

There is also an installation in Belgium that had multiple B-7700's, B-7800's, B-7900's Bank Bruxelles Lambert.

If I think of others I will note them here.

I also have a Burroughs B6700/B7700 System software handbook dated 1973. I don't know what to do with this book, is there someplace that I can send this book?

[Al Kossow]

On 7/5/17 6:50 AM, Gordon DeGrandis wrote:
> Hello I know of 3 other B6700, and B7700/B7800 sites that can be included in the list.

Waukesha County Technical Institute in Pewaukee, Wisconsin had a Burroughs system in the mid-70s
but a quick search doesn't turn up any information about what model it was.

That was where I saw the "B" in the maintenance panel lights for the first time.

[Nigel Williams]

On Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 2:05:38 AM UTC+10, Gordon DeGrandis wrote:

Hello I know of 3 other B6700, and B7700/B7800 sites that can be included in the list.
There was the first 2by B-6700 in Canada at C-I-L (Canadian Industries Limited) from 1975 until at least 1978, then the system was upgraded to a 2by2 B-7700 and then eventually a 2by2 B-7800 in 1980. I do not know the history after that date.

Thank you. The initial B6700 was already in the list at row 99, have added the B7700 and referenced the B7800 too. 

There was also a service bureau in Laval, Quebec, Canada  that offered municipal services (tax records, billing and etc.), they had a 2by2 B-6700 nearly fully loaded. They had this machine from 1983 to 1985? I am guessing about the dates. I worked at this installation.

Added, although have not yet found hits in the press as yet.

 

There is also an installation in Belgium that had multiple B-7700's, B-7800's, B-7900's Bank Bruxelles Lambert.

Thanks, found references in ComputerWorld to this order.

[Nigel Williams]

On Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 2:15:49 AM UTC+10, aek wrote:

Waukesha County Technical Institute in Pewaukee, Wisconsin had a Burroughs system in the mid-70s
but a quick search doesn't turn up any information about what model it was.

I found this hit: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/85532973/

"After discussion, it was ACTION moved by Mr Heinzelmann, seconded ov Mrs. Sells that the computer orooos al be approved as presented, that 530,000 be authorized for necessary remodeling and the order be placed for the lease-purchase of a Burroughs B6700 Computer System Motion carried unanimously."

Thanks, added to the list.