FACOM 128B: The 1959 Japanese Computer That Still Works

Our exploration of classic computers has led us to study developments like the Xerox Alto, the very IBM 1401 (a veritable "Model T" of the late 1950s), and some oddities created on the other side of the wall, but we never stopped at what many consider the cradle of electronics: Japan. Fortunately, CuriousMarc had the opportunity to travel to that land and meet the FACOM 128B, a relay-based computer built by Fujitsu in 1959. Not only does the design follow a different path compared to other systems of the time, but the company still maintains it in perfect working order.

A Different Approach

The IBM 1401 debuted in October 1959. With more than 12,000 units sold, it became one of the most popular commercial computers, but it also set a trend with its extensive use of transistors.

However, on the other side of the planet, a different vision of computing was chosen, sacrificing performance in favor of stability and long-term maintenance. This brings us to the FACOM family of computers manufactured by Fujitsu. One of them was the FACOM 128A, built in May 1956. And its successor... well, why not see it in action? The video was published by CuriousMarc at the end of November:

That's right, the FACOM 128B works as if it had been assembled yesterday, courtesy of a Fujitsu technician, Tadao Hamada. Equally surprising is that the FACOMs adopted a relay-based configuration, years after the ENIAC had proven to be relatively stable using vacuum tubes (a failure every two days and its detection in less than 15 minutes was something "acceptable").

History of the FACOM

Now, that's not to say Japan rejected vacuum-tube designs. In fact, the University of Osaka developed a couple of prototypes in the early 1950s, but Fujitsu was the number one supplier of relay-based telephone equipment in Japan, and their decision to continue with that technology makes a certain sense. Fujitsu's first major commercial effort took the form of the FACOM 100 in 1954, followed by the FACOM 128A in 1956, and the FACOM 128B in 1959.

A Machine with a Purpose

The FACOM 128B was used in the creation of photographic lenses, the development of the NAMC YS-11 (the first passenger aircraft designed and built in Japan after the war), and in enabling calculation services. With more than five thousand relays in its configuration, maintaining that monster is a titanic challenge, but at the same time it serves as compelling proof of its stability and robustness.

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