Pastoriza Personal Analog Computer
YEAR: 1963
ITEM: Analog Computer
COMPANY: Pastoriza Electronics
COUNTRY: USA
IN OUR COLLECTION: Yes
The idea of a personal computer in 1963 is enchanting (and way ahead of its time)! The Pastoriza Personal Analog Computer (PAC) was designed to be used by students at the Case Institute of Technology (which later merged with Western Reserve University in 1967 to form Case Western Reserve University). These computers were issued to 200 students in late 1962 or early 1963 by the school for use in their linear systems course. The students were part of a study to compare students who used slide rules with those who had their own analog computer.1 The computer was designed by Dr. James Reswick, who was then Head of the Case Engineering Design Center, James Pastoriza (who manufactured them and for whom they were named) and George Philbrick who was already well known as one of the founders of the analog computer systems.
The computer was battery powered and built into a small case so that it was easily portable. They consisted of several modular units that could be configured however the student wanted. The standard complement of PAC units consisted of two Integrators, two Coefficient Multipliers, an Adder, and a Control Unit. There was likely a upgrade to that. I have seen on computer with 9 modules (3 of each) and the one in our collection also has more than the "standard complement". The control unit in our collection was marked on the back as serial #127. Several of the smaller units had the same number on the back and were part of that original set.
Pastoriza Research, who manufactured this computer, was bought out by Analog Devices, Inc. in 1969. Analog Devices is one of the leaders in the field of analog/digital conversion. Their website, www.analog.com, mentions the purchase of Pastoriza Research.
There is very little information on this computer. We know of only two other Pastoriza computers (see Rarity section to the left) and we are currently confirming at least one more complete unit. We are dating this computer based on the single article we have found...it may be one or two years earlier. If you have any information, please contact us.
View Pastoriza Instructions here.
Thanks to Archive.org
Viewer Stories & Comments
Subject: Pastoriza Personal Analog Computer serial numbers Hi, I have three of these, of which only one is complete since there is only one Adder unit. I see serial numbers that are up to 241. So it is possible that that many were produced. I am in the process of fixing them to make them functional. Caps will need to be replaced, a different way to power them since the form factor of the batteries they used no longer is made. Contacts need to be cleaned, and more jumper wires need to be obtained. I am loosely affiliated with the Computer History Museum out here in SFBA. If they don't already have one of these I plan on donating one to them. If you know of any spare Pastoriza parts I can procure to help me make another one of these complete please let me know I may make a reproduction Adder unit if I can[t find any originals. I already have an Heathkit EC-1 which I restored to working condition, and am getting an EAI TR-20 to restore sometime this year. Hope all is well with you all. dale luck By the way, info@earlycomputers.com doesn't work!
Documents
Documents for this item have not yet been scanned or not yet posted. There are a lot of pages...contact us if you have an immediate need. (Although there are not a lot of "immediate needs" for a 70+ year old computer!)
Exceedingly Rare
As far as we know, only 200 of these computers were made. We can find no record of any other of these computers.
[Update: August 15, 2015. A second Pastoriza Personal Computer is owned by Tom Congalton who is the owner of Between the Covers Rare Books, Inc. in Gloucester City, NJ. This computer is being offered for sale for $22,000.00.]
[Update: February 19, 2020. RR Auction house reports selling three Pastoriza cases. Each one had a Control Unit. They also report having 5 intergrator modules, 5 multiplier modules and 1 adder module. Normally the standard Pastoriza computer consisted of 2 integrators, 2 multipliers, 1 Adder, a Control Unit, and a case to hold everything. So this lot has one complete computer and two partial computers.]
[Update: November 23, 2022. A fourth complete Pastoriza Personal Computer was purchased at an auction in Boston on March 17, 2022. It consisted of a Control Unit and nine function units...3 Adders, 3 Multipliers, and 3 Integraters.]
[Update: November 23, 2022. As can be seen in the comment section, a fifth complete Pastoriza Personal Computer is in California. Along with maybe two Control Units and various function units. We are seeking more detailed information.]
OUR DEFINITIONS OF RARITY
One of a Kind: Only known existing item.
Exceedingly Rare: Only 2 to 10 known to exist.
Very Rare: Only 11 to 25 are known to exist.
Rare: Only 26 to 50 are known to exist.
Difficult: Difficult to find.
Available:Can be commonly be purchased.
Unknown: We cannot make a determination.
(For comparison: Many people consider the Apple-1 computer to be rare. As of 2025 there are 92 confirmed and probable Apple-1 computers.)
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