Ferranti PT7
Mini Computer
Ferranti PT7
A Ferranti PT7 from 1986, which was used to run British Telecom's MOH (Mechanisation of Order Handling) Stage II.

The upper section included the processor; top right are the status lights to check if the unit was polling the analogue PW (Private Wire) to the FEP (Front End Processor) at the Computer Centre.

The lower section included a tape streamer for changing the local configuration by loading new software.



Photo: Ferranti PT7 in a BT Sales Office © Light Straw circa 1986.
| EXIT | PT7s | MOH | BEST |
Intro

In the 1980s, British Telecom's Accounts and Sales offices used Ferranti PT7s to operate 'BEST' and 'MOH' systems, which linked to remote mainframe computers.



Mechanisation of Order Handling (MOH) PT7s
MOH PT7s
In the early 1980s, British Telecom's Sales Office staff had stopped writing ANs (Advice Notes) by hand and had moved onto 'the clean banda system' of typing orders into MOH Stage I.


 For many staff, this was the first introduction of computers into an office.



Photo: Ferranti PT7s in a BT Sales Office © Light Straw circa 1986.
   

BEST - Billing Enquiry System for TAG

Telephone Account Groups (TAG) used PT7s to link up to 16 screens (dumb terminals) to a remote mainframe.
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