IBM 407

The IBM 407 Accounting Machine, introduced in 1949, was one of a long line of IBM tabulating machines dating back to the days of Herman Hollerith. It had a card reader and printer; a summary punch could be attached. Processing was directed by a control panel.

The 407 was the central component of many unit record equipment shops which were the mainstay of IBM's business at the time. It rented from $800 to $920 per month ($8100 to $9300 per month in 2016 dollars), depending on the model. It could print digits, letters and several special characters in any of 120 print positions, spaced 0.1 inches apart (2.5 mm).

The 407 print mechanism was used in the IBM 716 introduced in 1952 with the IBM 701 computer, and the 716 was used with many machines in the IBM 700/7000 series. The 407 itself was adapted as an input/output unit on the IBM 650. Later, the 407 print mechanism was used in the IBM 1132 line printer, part of the low cost IBM 1130 computer system, introduced in 1965.

The IBM World Trade Corporation marketed Computing Accounting Machines (CAM), variations of either the IBM 402 or 407 with an attached computer. CAM variations of the 407 included the IBM 421, 444, and 447.

In 1976 the IBM 407 Accounting Machine was withdrawn from marketing.

The 407 read punched cards, totaled fields on the cards, made simple decisions, printed results, and, with the aid of a summary punch, output results on punched cards that could be input to other processing steps.

The operation of the 407 was directed by the use of a removable control panel and a carriage tape. Exit hubs (impulse emitting) on the control panel are wired to entry hubs (impulse accepting) for the task to be done (see Wiring of unit record equipment). There are hubs for each card column (at both reading stations), print position, counter digit, and so on. Logic tests were also available.

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