Cost of computers in 1950's and 1960's?
the cost was prohibitive for anything other than Government
agencies and big business operations. the equipment was sprawling
and spread out and specialized operators had to be trained, etc.
keypunch was commonly used. anyhow this was big bucks stuff- not
for the man in the street. there were a few (Hobby) analog
computers made by various manufacturers as electronic kits but
never really caught on. Calculators are another matter and boomed
in the early seventies, even the Army C.O.E. gave up on slipsticks
in I believe l973- as general issue, anyhow.