The Harwell computer, also called the Harwell Dekatron computer and later known as the Wolverhampton Instrument for Teaching Computing from Harwell, is an early British computer of the 1950s built from valves and relays at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment in Harwell. Construction began in 1949, it became operational in April 1951 and was handed over in May 1952, and it remained in service until being decommissioned in 1973. Following restoration at the National Museum of Computing between 2009 and 2012, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized it in 2013 as the world's oldest working digital computer, a title it had already held for several years before its original decommissioning.
Facts
SignificanceRestored between 2009 and 2012, the machine was recognized by Guinness World Records in 2013 as the oldest working digital computer in the world. 1 Sources
1. Wikipedia: Harwell computer
Wikimedia FoundationConstruction and use at Harwell section, sentence on the 1951 operational date
Construction started in 1949, and the machine became operational in April 1951.
Lead paragraph, sentence on the 2013 Guinness World Records recognition
the Guinness Book of World Records recognised it as the world's oldest working digital computer, following its restoration.
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