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Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website This promotional film from the early 1970s shows Xerox’s Sigma model computers and their vital uses in the Federal Reserve Bank, in communication between controller and pilots, Vanderbilt University’s central data processing facilities, the biomedical test laboratory in Utah, and the energy and gas center in San Antonio, Texas. The film is a film by Performance Communications Incorporated in association with Leonard South Productions, produced and directed by Leonard South. It is written by Edwin Hoag, Edited by David Caldwell with the assistance of Duane Reese, and with cinematography by Dan Dominy. The Sigma series of computers were introduced by Scientific Data Systems (SDS) in 1966. The Xerox 500 series computers, introduced starting in 1973, are compatible upgrades to the Sigma systems that used newer technology. In 1975, Xerox sold its computer business to Honeywell, Inc. which continued support for the Sigma line for a time. Frog’s-eye view of tall buildings in New York City (00:10). A GMC armored truck (00:18). The Federal Reserve Bank in New York City (00:30). Another GMC armored truck pulling into the bank (00:35). A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airplane (00:55). A sign for the FAA’s facilities (01:06). Views of the facilities, their Xerox computer testers, their air traffic center, and the data processing facilities (01:08). Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee (01:34). Students walking on campus (01:51). A biomedical test laboratory in the Great Salt Lake Valley in Utah (02:05). A green truck pulls into the gas and electric operation center in San Antonio, Texas (02:32). “Vital Systems” title banner (03:10). Views of the production of printed circuit boards (03:18). “Xerox” title banner (04:14). People walking in New York City (04:17). Frog’s-eye view of skyscrapers (04:27). Federal Hall (04:30). New York’s busy streets (04:33). The Federal Reserve Bank (04:40). Employees of the bank meeting (04:55). An employee handles bundles of cash (05:38). Barred windows and police officers ensure the bank’s security (05:50). Xerox Sigma model computers (exact model unknown) (06:12). Cash being counted (06:25). A Xerox Sigma 9 computer (06:40). Xerox Sigma model computers (exact model unknown) (06:52). Cash being counted (07:03). GMC armored truck pulling out of the Federal Reserve Bank (07:15). Controllers and pilots communication through radios (07:29). A sign for the FAA’s facilities (08:14). Xerox Sigma computers used by FAA (08:19). An airplane taking off (08:48). Consoles for research pilots and controllers (09:00). FAA building (10:14). Vanderbilt University campus (10:21). People working on Sigma computers at the university’s central data processing facilities, used for writing programs, punch cards, score-databases, etc. (10:45). Bubble chamber photographs analyzed physics professors (12:02). A Sociology professor typing on a typewriter (12:55). He explains his research about Nashville’s demography (13:06). Scenes from Vanderbilt University campus (13:58). Mountains of the Wasatch Range in Great Salt Lake Valley (14:14). Biomedical Test Laboratory in Great Salt Lake Valley (14:27). Medical and engineering students operate on a cow as part of research on artificial lung and heart devices (14:44). Xerox computers are used for monitoring the experimental surgeries (15:07). Engineers in an engineering laboratory test the reliability of the devices’ design (15:19). The experimental surgery continues with strict monitoring through data collection instruments (15:54). The cow is observed following the operation and data is collected (17:01). Doctors look at the information gathered, analyzed, and reported through the Xerox system (17:41). Views of San Antonio, Texas, and the Alamo church (18:02). Views of the Gas and Electric Operation Center in San Antonio (18:37). The center’s computer-controlled utility system (18:59). Energy management specialist control the computers (19:15). One alarm sets off and the computer’s operation explains the circuit-faulty (19:39). Switches, regulators, and valves of the gas and electricity distribution center (20:36). Nigh-time views of a city (20:49). Alerting scenes from all the locations where Xerox functions as a vital system; The Federal Reserve Bank, Vanderbilt University, biomedical test laboratory in Utah, San Antonio (21:01). A “Xerox” sign (22:30). End (22:37). This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
