MIT Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

MIT's Building 20: The Magical Incubator Story, Anecdote, or Reminiscence

TMRC

William J. Eccles

TMRC -- The "Eccles Hack" was real. There was a contact race during a block transition. This was in the days when races were "mechanically obvious." No little electrons trying to beat each other through silicon slivers. But Jack Dennis should get some credit, since he designed the whole system.

TMRC -- Now that the statute of limitations has passed (from the 50's, I hope), it can be told that TMRC had an outside phone line, a treasured item. We ran a wire inside the wall to gain access (certainly not "tap") to the phone in the office next door (something to do with research contracts). But, of course, it was used sparingly, only at night and on weekends.