Hidden Figures Type 545B Oscilloscope At Museum
A 500 series oscilloscope and cart appear in the 2016 movie Hidden Figures about the early days of NASA. At about 59 minutes in the movie a scene in the computer room shows the Type 545B oscilloscope with a G plug-in on a 500 series Scope-Mobile.
This scene shows a cable connected to the External Trigger input which was a typical setup when viewing computer data or address lines.
This video shows this scene with the Type 545B oscilloscope.
Paul Pierce was a technical consultant for the computer and oscilloscope. This excerpt comes from a February 6, 2017 email from Paul.
I not only provided a few props but also helped with the script and then they brought me out as a consultant for the filming of the computer scenes in an abandoned Army base in Atlanta. It was my first movie experience on set and great fun!
In the movie, the 7090 console is my modified spare 7094 console, which is now clean and has a front table and a proper IBM 7090 sign as well as panels for its missing covers.
The 711 card reader is from my other IBM 709 and had been cannibalized inside. Special Effects installed a motor and got it running, there is a story there.
I also supplied the keypunch, two tape drives that were not on set, tape racks and tape that mostly didn't make it into the movie and authentic manuals that did.
And the Tektronix 545B oscilloscope with its probe.
Paul graciously donated the 545B oscilloscope, 500 Series Scope-Mobile, probes, and the Type G, D, and 067-0621000 plug-ins to the museum. Thank you Paul!
Paul also gave us his signage for the production lot.