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)
