Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

elder days
     
        The heroic age of hackerdom (roughly, pre-1980); the era of
        the {PDP-10}, {TECO}, {ITS} and the {ARPANET}.  This term has
        been rather consciously adopted from J. R. R. Tolkien's
        fantasy epic "The Lord of the Rings".
     
        Compare {Iron Age}.  See also {elvish} and {Great Worm}.
     
        [{Jargon File}]