So, who wants to see a proper computer ?

[pamphonica]

In 1978-80 I was in BT and we were developing the UK's first radiopaging network using one of these beasts. My job was to develop test equipment to simulate the interfaces between this beast and the telephone network line interface, while each was being developed, and in subsequent manufacturing.

My clear memory was of a GEC engineer turning up at Burne House exchange building (at the junction of Edgeware Road and Marylebone Road) each month to do "routine maintenance" on the 4070.
He would power it down, remove and re-seat each card, and end up doing a zylophone rattle across the backs of all the cards with the handle of his screwdriver.
After each of these visits the minicomputer would become highly un-reliable and keep crashing for a few days. This seemed to be due to dust being shaken into the edge connectors.
We ended up agreeing with GEC that we would continue to pay for maintenance on the strict understanding that their field engineer only visited in cases of actual failure!
Peace descended once again...

Incidentally, that National Radiopaging Network ended up as the largest in the world at that time, capable of serving a million pagers.

Jeremy