IBM 1442

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IBM 1442 is a combined IBM card reader and card punch for 80-column IBM-format punched cards. It is used with the IBM 1440, the IBM 1130, the IBM 1800, System/360, and is an option on the IBM System/3. It can read up to 400 cards per minute. Cards are read and punched one column at a time, and binary cards are allowed. Reading uses photocells and fiber optics, unlike the IBM 1402 which uses wire brushes. It is possible to create (but not read, except in Binary Mode) “IBM Doilies,” cards with every hole punched. The 1442 can be found with two output stackers, allowing different paths for cards as they are read. Cards go into the top hopper (face down, nine-edge leading) and, after processing, exit to one of the left lower stackers. The 1442 does not print on top of cards; it only punches the data for each column. An older IBM 557 interpreter can be used off-line to print if needed. Some models do not include both read and punch functions. For higher throughput, you can pair a faster IBM 2501 card reader with a punch-only 1442 to overcome the 1442’s speed limits. It was also available in blue.