--- created_at: '2012-01-15T03:06:40.000Z' title: IBM Ad for SAGE, A Massive Cold War Air Defense System (1960) url: http://laughingsquid.com/ibm-ad-for-sage-a-massive-cold-war-air-defense-system-1960/ author: bane points: 49 story_text: '' comment_text: num_comments: 23 story_id: story_title: story_url: parent_id: created_at_i: 1326596800 _tags: - story - author_bane - story_3466198 objectID: '3466198' year: 1960 --- [Source](https://laughingsquid.com/ibm-ad-for-sage-a-massive-cold-war-air-defense-system-1960/ "Permalink to IBM Ad for SAGE, A Massive Cold War Air Defense System (1960)") # IBM Ad for SAGE, A Massive Cold War Air Defense System (1960) * [Home][1] * [About][2] * [FAQ][3] * [Web Hosting][4] * [Email List][5] * [Store][6] * [Advertising][7] * [Tips][8] * [Contact][9] * [Laughing Squid][1] A daily dose of unique art, culture and technology. # IBM Ad for SAGE, A Massive Cold War Air Defense System (1960) by [E.D.W. Lynch][10] at 10:43 AM on January 12, 2012 [__ Share][11] [__ Tweet][12] [__ Flip][13] __ Pin [__ Share][14] [__ +1][15] [__ Stumble][16] ![SAGE][17] This [1960 IBM ad][18] touts the capabilities of [SAGE][19], a massive Cold War-era automated system for tracking and destroying incoming enemy bombers. The heart of the system was the [IBM AN/FSQ-7][20] computer, which at 275 tons is still the world’s largest computer. Each computer had 55,000 vacuum tubes, required a half acre of floor space, and operated on punch cards. There were 52 AN/FSQ-7 computers around the country. SAGE was retired in the early 1980s. ![Semi-Automatic Ground Environment \(SAGE\)][21] ![SAGE][22] ![SAGE Phone][23] ![SAGE][24] Here are [photos Scott Beale shot in 2006][25] of the SAGE on display at [Computer History Museum][26] in Mountain View, CA. via [Retronaut][27] video via [chiklit][28], photo via [MITRE][29] [__ Share][11] [__ Tweet][12] [__ Flip][13] __ Pin [__ Share][14] [__ +1][15] [__ Stumble][16] Follow on [Facebook][30], [Twitter][31], [Flipboard][32] and [Subscribe by Email][5] [Laughing Squid Hosting][33] In addition to this blog, Laughing Squid is also an independently owned [web hosting company][33] with a focus on WordPress hosting. The revenue from our hosting services helps support this blog. Our [hosting plans][34] start out at $4 per month. If you are interested in hosting with us, [you can sign-up here][35]. and if you know of anyone who needs [WordPress hosting][36], please send them our way. 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