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)