I have a couple IBM plug boards. In the old days - like 1960s - computers took input from punch cards. And there was equipment to deal with punch cards. The IBM 029 card punch machine, card sorters, card deck duplicators, deck printers, etc. Big electromechanical machines. They were programmed by plug boards. There was a hatch on the base of the equipment, and inside was the plug board. See the link. Little jumper wires plugged into holes on the thing,and they stuck out the rear. the board was then slipped into a holder, and the projecting pins contacted a grid of contacts on the mother board. By plugging the jumpers in particular holes, you programmed it.
I always thought I could make some sort of cribbage board out of it, but I find them visually appealing.
Comment