An IBM 7090 Mainframe computer system is now up for auction at Christie’s. This early transistor-based computer marked a big step forward from valve-based systems, offering improved speed and reliability.
The auction lot includes a large collection of IBM equipment from 1959. It’s part of the Paul G. Allen Collection, acquired in 2017 from a research facility in South Australia. Currently in Seattle, the guide price is $40,000 – $60,000. When new in the 1950s, an IBM 7070 cost $813,000.
Though transistorized, the IBM 7070 was still massive. It could process about 229,000 instructions per second, using around 14,000 Standard Modular System cards with about 30,000 transistors and 22,000 diodes. The system weighs over 23,000 pounds (10,430kg).
IBM 7090 Mainframe computer system
The auction includes various IBM 7070 components and peripherals, such as:
- Console control unit
- Card reader
- Data channel consoles
- Power converter
- Magnetic tape units
- Core storage
- Instruction processing unit
- Printer
- Card read punch
Also included are instruction manuals, punched cards, user manuals, and printouts.
In 2024, this mainframe’s processing power is far surpassed by modern devices. It may appeal to museums, educational institutions, or media production companies for historical displays.
If you win this auction, we’d love to hear about your plans for this piece of computing history.
