# CAB 500 computer - CnAM 22358

> various accessories of a CAB-500 computer

**Wikidata**: [Q54841571](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54841571)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cab-500-computer-cnam-22358

## Summary
The CAB 500 computer (CnAM 22358) is a computer system created by Groupe Bull in France in 1958. It is preserved at the Musée des Arts et Métiers as part of the Conservatoire national des Arts et Métiers collection and consists of various accessories constructed from plastic, ferroalloy, cardboard, and paper.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: 1958.
- **Creator**: Groupe Bull.
- **Country of Origin**: France.
- **Classification**: Instance of a computer.
- **Location**: Musée des Arts et Métiers.
- **Collection**: Conservatoire national des Arts et Métiers.
- **Inventory Number**: 22358-.
- **Dimensions**: 16.00 cm (width) x 37.00 cm (height) x 28.00 cm (length).
- **Materials**: Plastic, ferroalloy, cardboard, paper.
- **Image Source**: Wikimedia Commons file `CAB_500-CNAM_22358-IMG_5102-gradient.jpg`.
- **Catalog Reference**: Described at `https://collections.arts-et-metiers.net/?queries=query=search=N°%20d'inventaire=22358-&showtype=record` (French language).

## FAQs
### Q: What is the CAB 500 computer (CnAM 22358)?
A: It is a computer manufactured by Groupe Bull in France in 1958, classified as an instance of a general-purpose device for performing arithmetic or logical operations.

### Q: Where is the CAB 500 computer currently located?
A: The artifact is held at the Musée des Arts et Métiers as part of the Conservatoire national des Arts et Métiers collection under inventory number 22358-.

### Q: What materials and dimensions define this specific artifact?
A: The object measures 16 cm in width, 37 cm in height, and 28 cm in length, and is composed of plastic, ferroalloy, cardboard, and paper.

### Q: How is the CAB 500 documented in external databases?
A: It is documented on the Conservatoire national des Arts et Métiers website in French and categorized under "CAB500 - CnAM 22358" on Wikimedia Commons.

## Why It Matters
The CAB 500 computer represents a significant era in French computing history, originating in 1958 under the engineering guidance of Groupe Bull. As a physical instance of a computer—a general-purpose device for performing arithmetic or logical operations—it serves as a tangible example of the transition from theoretical designs to practical electronic hardware. Its preservation in the Musée des Arts et Métiers highlights the cultural and technological importance of early computing machines in the development of modern information processing and IT systems.

## Notable For
- **Historical Origin**: Created in 1958 France by Groupe Bull, marking it as an early example of European electronic computing.
- **Material Composition**: Distinct use of plastic, ferroalloy, cardboard, and paper in its various accessories.
- **Museum Preservation**: Officially accessioned into the Conservatoire national des Arts et Métiers with a specific inventory number (22358-).
- **Classification**: Explicitly defined as an "instance of" a computer, linking it to the broader class of general-purpose machines invented by Charles Babbage.

## Body
### Definition and Classification
The CAB 500 computer (CnAM 22358) is formally classified as an "instance of" a computer. A computer is defined generally as a device—often electronic—used to perform arithmetic or logical operations automatically. This entity falls under the broader taxonomy of machines, computing platforms, IT systems, information processors, and data terminal equipment.

### Physical Characteristics
The artifact possesses precise physical dimensions recorded in centimeters:
- **Width**: 16.00 cm
- **Height**: 37.00 cm
- **Length**: 28.00 cm

The object comprises various accessories constructed from a mix of materials, specifically plastic, ferroalloy, cardboard, and paper. A visual record of the item is maintained in the Wikimedia Commons category "CAB500 - CnAM 22358" via the image file `CAB_500-CNAM_22358-IMG_5102-gradient.jpg`.

### Provenance and Creation
The CAB 500 computer was created by the French company **Groupe Bull** in **1958**. It originated in **France**, aligning with the post-1945 era when practical electronic computers began to emerge globally. The concept of the computer itself is credited to Charles Babbage (1791–1871), but the CAB 500 represents the realized hardware era of the mid-20th century.

### Institutional Custody
The computer is currently housed at the **Musée des Arts et Métiers**. It is a constituent item of the **Conservatoire national des Arts et Métiers** collection. The institution maintains the object under the inventory number **22358-**.

### Documentation and Identifiers
The entity is described and cataloged through several authoritative channels:
- **Official Catalog**: Detailed records are accessible via the Conservatoire national des Arts et Métiers website (`collections.arts-et-metiers.net`), specifically querying the inventory number 22358-. This description is provided in French.
- **Wikidata**: The entity has a sitelink count of 1 and is categorized under the Commons category "CAB500 - CnAM 22358".
- **General Computer Context**: As a computer, it shares the general classification identifiers of the parent class, including Dewey Decimal classes 004, 621.39, and 004.1, and Library of Congress subject heading sh85029552.