IBM 082 Card Sorter

IBM Card Sorters deal cards from a source deck into 13 output pockets (one pocket for rejects plus one pocket for each of the 12 rows on the card) at the rate of 250-2000 cards per minute, depending on model. One column, selected by the Sorting Brush, is sorted per pass. The Selector Switches determine which row(s) in each column are included in the sort. To fully sort a deck of cards required a number of passes through the sorter; one pass per column in the sort key. Sorters normally did not have a control panel (plugboard), but Type 75, 80, and 82 sorters had a tiny one if they were equipped with the optional Multiple Column Selection Device.