The 5965 is a miniature twin triode vacuum tube (thermionic valve). One of its manufacturers, Sylvania, states that it was “designed for use in high-speed digital computers”.[1]

5965
ClassificationTriode
ServiceDigital computers
Height1+1532 in (37 mm)
Diameter78 in (22 mm)
Cathode
Cathode typeUnipotential
Heater voltage6.3 V or 12.6 V
Heater current450 mA or 225 mA
Anode
Max voltage200 V
Max current100 mA
Socket connections
9A

Pin 1 – Unit 2 Anode (Plate)
Pin 2 – Unit 2 Grid
Pin 3 – Unit 2 Cathode
Pin 4 – Unit 2 Heater
Pin 5 – Unit 1 Heater
Pin 6 – Unit 1 Anode (Plate)
Pin 7 – Unit 1 Grid
Pin 8 – Unit 1 Cathode
Pin 9 – Heater mid-tap

(bottom view)
References
https://web.archive.org/web/20230314212705/https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/137/5/5965.pdf

According to an MIT Project Whirwind memorandum, the tube was developed for IBM by GE, primarily for use in the IBM 701 calculators, and was designated as a general-purpose triode tube.[2] The tube was also labeled as E180CC.[3]

Vacuum tube logic module from a 700 series IBM computer featuring 5965 tubes.

See also

edit
  • 7AK7, a popular type of tube found in early digital computers
  • 25L6, another type of tube found in early computers

References

edit
  1. ^ Sylvania. Engineering Data Service. 5965. November 1953.
  2. ^ Frost, H. B. (May 4, 1953). "Memorandum M-2135: Some notes on current tube types" (PDF). MIT. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  3. ^ Wyatt, Allan. "5965". The Valve Museum. Retrieved 12 February 2024. It is also labelled as a E180CC showing that the two Types are equivalent.