Williams and Kilburn: cathode-ray storage for binary-digital computers

What changed

Described regenerative cathode-ray charge storage and operation in a digital memory.

Scientific scope

The record is the 1949 two-author Proceedings of the IEE paper. Kilburn’s 1947 report and 1948 thesis, the Manchester Baby, patents and later production memories remain separate target works.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is the 1949 two-author Proceedings of the IEE paper. Kilburn’s 1947 report and 1948 thesis, the Manchester Baby, patents and later production memories remain separate target works.

Contributors

• F. C. Williams · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.
• Tom Kilburn · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• University of Manchester notes on Kilburn’s 1947 storage report
• Copy of Williams and Kilburn’s storage paper

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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