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Bowmar MX55 Handheld Electronic Calculator

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Bowmar/Ali
Description
The handheld calculator has a black plastic case with ten digit keys, a decimal point key, keys for the four arithmetic functions, a total key, a percentage key, and a clear/clear entry key. The on-off switch is on the keyboard, the eight-digit display behind this. The plug for the power supply is on the right side. A mark at the top reads: Bowmar. It uses the Bowmar trademark registered in 1974.
A sticker on the back of the calculator reads in part: Bowmar MX55 PERSONAL CALCULATOR (/) WITH OMNI-CONSTANT® REGISTER. It also reads in part: BOWMAR MODEL MX55 SERIAL NO. 91220(/) BOWMAR/ALI, 531 MAIN ST., ACTON, MA. Pat. Pend. (/) ASSEMBLED IN MEXICO.
This example has no power supply, box, or instructions.
This is one of a series devices introduced by Bowmar in the early 1970s. A LED (light emitting diode) display manufacturer and defense contractor, Bowmar/Ali, Inc. (USA), found they could not sell their displays to Japanese electronic calculator makers. In 1970–71, Bowmar decided to design and manufacture portable calculators. Some were marketed by other companies, other, like this one, by Bowmar/Ali. The MX55 sold in 1974 at a list price of $69.
Compare 1986.0988.058 and 1986.0988.059.
Reference:
Guy Ball and Bruce Flamm, The Complete Collector's Guide to Pocket Calculators, Tustin, CA: Wilson/Barnett, 1997, pp. 35–37.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of John B. Priser
ca 1974
ID Number
1986.0988.205
catalog number
1986.0988.205
accession number
1986.0988
Object Name
electronic calculator
Physical Description
plastic (case; keys; display window material)
metal (circuitry material)
paper (sticker material)
Measurements
overall: 1 1/2 in x 3 in x 5 3/4 in; 3.81 cm x 7.62 cm x 14.605 cm
place made
Mexico
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Computers
Computers & Business Machines
Handheld Electronic Calculators
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_1305727
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ae-180b-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
Bowmar MX55 Handheld Electronic Calculator
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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