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From: bobw@wdl1.UUCP (Robert Lee Wilson Jr.)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Word and subword sizes (24 bits, floats from hell)
Message-ID: <3490005@wdl1.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Jul-87 16:10:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: wdl1.3490005
Posted: Wed Jul 22 16:10:33 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jul-87 04:05:52 EDT
References: <132@watsol.UUCP>
Lines: 11

CDC made a 24 bit machine (I think it was model 924) which was
basically one half of a 1604 which used 48 bits and was their
first machine. The 924 used the same PC cards, same core planes,
etc. It never had much commercial sale, but I believe it was used on
some naval craft, possibly nuclear subs of the day. That machine
must have come out about 1961 +/- two years.

Harris Computer Systems grew out of the old Datacraft, whose
machines were all 24 bits. Some contemporary Harris machines are
still 24/48 bits (some 48 bit paths, some 24 bit registers and
operations.)