DEC PDP11
The Digital Equipment Corporation PDP 11/34 minicomputer is one example of the typical every-day computers you would find in a university in the 1970s.
These machines were very flexible and cost effective and hugely successful - they were very heavy and could be used for general computing as well as being configured for special applications such as controlling machine tools or medical equipment.
The department had many of these machines to support lab classes and general teaching.
The Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) was bought by Compaq in 1988 after losing out to the IBM PC and its open architecture.
It is notable in the department as the inspiration for the Department Cricket Team's name - the PDP 11.