Magnetic ledger card (late 1950s – early 1980s) | Museum of Obsolete Media (original) (raw)

Starting in the late 1950s, a number of computer systems (sometimes known as magnetic accounts computers or visible records computers) were developed for accounting purposes that were a hybrid of electronic and mechanical accounting technologies, using a magnetic ledger card as one means of data storage.

These cards stored data in a magnetic strip on the card, but were also printed with the same human-readable information. Some cards had magnetic strips on one side only, and some on both sides.

The cards had a printed header area for storing relatively stable information (such as an employee’s details) and an area for information that needed regular updating (such as the employee’s earnings record). Magnetic ledger cards could be used to handle tasks such as billing, inventory, accounts and payroll.

Systems using magnetic ledger cards included the National Cash Register Class 390, the IBM 6400 Accounting Machine, the Friden 6010 Electronic Computer, the General Electric GE-225, the Nixdorf System 820, the Kienzle 6000, and the Philips P354 Visible Records Computer.

Sources / Resources