Chad; Popular Mechanics (1947)

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CHAD (continued)

   "Chad" is discussed by some guy named Chad in today's WALL STREET JOURNAL,
pg. 1.  The ADS is not mentioned, but "linguists" are.
   "Chad" wasn't in the 1954 glossary in COMPUTERS AND AUTOMATION.
   COMPUTERS AND AUTOMATION, November 1955, pg. 31, col. 2 ad for Potter
Instrument's tape handlers:  "The Potter Digital Magnetic Head eliminates
'digit drop-outs' due to oxide collection."
   COMPUTERS AND AUTOMATION, August 1955, pg. 24, col. 1:  "Errors in
operation can be caused by any of several types of tape faults such as
'holes' and raised spots in the magnetic surface, or creases in the tape."
   I checked for patents from 1937-1960 and didn't find "chad" or "chadless."
 A computer search of patents shows "chad" starting in 1976.
   The best place to look is the National Bureau of Standards.  The NBS
National Applied Mathematics Laboratories had a (1) Computation Laboratory,
(2) Institute for Numerical Analysis, and (3) Machine Development Laboratory.
 There was also an Electronics Division, Electronics Computers Section.
   I have yet to check ABSTRACT AND INDEX COLLECTION, NATIONAL BUREAU OF
STANDARDS LIBRARY (Springfield, VA, 1980) compiled by Diane Cunningham.
There is also CATALOG OF ARTIFACTS ON DISPLAY IN THE NBS MUSEUM (Washington,
DC, 1977), H. L. Mason, editor.
   Surely, "chad" and "chadless" tape were discussed in some NBS standard?

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POPULAR MECHANICS (1947)

   POPULAR MECHANICS was a very popular magazine that's often overlooked.  It
had a section on electronics in each issue.  It had ads for everything from
the Merriam-Webster Dictionary to Charles Atlas.

February 1947, POPULAR MECHANICS, pg. 103, col. 1--"All But Kitchen Sink."

March 1947, POPULAR MECHANICS, pg. 47.  "Learn by Doing" is the motto of
Coyne Electrical School of Chicago.

March 1947, POPULAR MECHANICS, pg. 171.  "What's new for your home"--"POTATO
CUTTER delivers shoestring potatoes in a continuous spiral ribbon about 1/4
inch square; Onions and other vetgetables also can be cut on the machine."
Same concept as "curly fries."

April 1947, POPULAR MECHANICS, pg. 44, col. 2.  Ad for "Kilroy Was Here"
little red and white discs.  Great for parties.

April 1947, POPULAR MECHANICS, pg. 166, col. 1, "Robot Baseball Pitcher."
Not yet called "pitching machine."

April 1947, POPULAR MECHANICS, pg. 174, "Dinners Without Drudgery."
Describes the frozen dinners--not yet called tv dinners--of WIlliam L. Maxson.

May 1947, POPULAR MECHANICS, pg. 303.  An ad for the "HI-BALLER SCOOTER" by
Commercial Metal Products, 2025 Fenkell, Detroit 3, Mich.  This is the exact
same thing as today's razor scooter!

June 1947, POPULAR MECHANICS, pg. 81, "Where are our new frontiers?" by
Charles F. Kettering, VP, General Motors.  ("New Frontier" before JFK--ed.)

   Lots of "make/build/do it yourself."