Dataking LC-800 Handheld Electronic Calculator

Object Details

Rockwell International

Dataking, Inc.

Description

Early handheld electronic calculators used vacuum fluorescent or light emitting diode displays. The Dataking LC-800 was one of the first to use a liquid crystal display, reducing the power required for calculations. Rockwell International actually manufactured the calculator, a fact openly acknowledged in advertisements. The same calculator also sold as the Ibico 86 and the Lloyd’s 40.

The calculator has twenty cream-colored rectangular keys with an on/off switch above the keyboard. In addition to ten digit keys, a clear key, a decimal point key, a percentage key, a total key, and four arithmetic function keys, there are two memory keys that are operated in conjunction with the arithmetic function keys. A mark next to the switch reads: DATAKING.

At the back is the liquid crystal display, with a window behind it to illuminate the display. There is no provision for a power adapter as the calculator operated only on batteries.

The bottom of the back has a compartment for two nine-volt batteries. A sticker above this reads: DATAKING LC-800 (/) DATAKING, INC. (/) DC 18V. (/) SERIAL NO. 145160 (/) assembled in MEXICO (/) primarily of UNITED STATES parts.

Unscrewing four screws allows one to remove the back of the case. The circuit board covers the chip.

References:

[Advertisement], New York Times, May 12, 1974, p. 48. Calculator has a national introductory price of $59.95 and a suggested retail price of $99.95.

[Advertisement], New York Times, June 2, 1974, p. B4.

[Advertisement], Washington Post, June 16, 1974, p. L4.

[Advertisement], Los Angeles Times, August 13, 1974, p. E16.

Guy Ball and Bruce Flamm, The Complete Collector’s Guide to Pocket Calculators, Tustin, CA: Wilson/Barnett, 1997, p. 66.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of John B. Priser

1974

ID Number

1986.0988.141

catalog number

1986.0988.141

accession number

1986.0988

Object Name

electronic calculator

Other Terms

electronic calculator; Handheld

Physical Description

plastic (case; display; keys material)

metal (circuitry material)

paper (stickers material)

Measurements

overall: 1 3/4 in x 3 3/8 in x 6 in; 4.445 cm x 8.5725 cm x 15.24 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_334555

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ae-1ef3-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa