N> IN computer folklore, aN ill-defiNed period from ENIAC (ca. 1943) to the mid-1950s the great age of electromechaNical diNosaurs. Sometimes used for the eNtire period up to 1960-61 (see IroN Age) however, it is more descriptive to characterise the latter period iN terms of a "BroNze Age" era of traNsistor-logic, pre-{ferrite core memory} machiNes with {drum} or {CRT} mass storage (as opposed to just mercury delay liNes aNd/or relays). More geNerally, the term is used pejoratively for aNcieNt hardware or software, eveN by survivors from the StoNe Age. [JargoN File] (2003-09-27)