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Hewlett-Packard HP 19C Handheld Electronic Calculator

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Hewlett-Packard Company
Description
This handheld electronic calculator is programmable and prints on a paper tape. It has thirty-one rectangular plastic keys. Most keys have three functions, one indicated on the keytop, one (in blue) on the front edge of the key and one (in gold) on the keyboard in back of the keys. Behind the keyboard are two switches and a red LED display. Behind this is the printing mechanism that displays up to eight digits of a result. A mark at the front of the calculator reads: hp HEWLETT-PACKARD 19C. A mark at the bottom of the keyboard reads: Continuous Memory. This phrase signifies that programs remained stored in the calculator after the device was turned off.
Two stickers are on the upper part of the back of the calculator. One reads: HEWLETT - PACKARD (/) 5V 1W (/) MADE IN U.S.A. The other has conversion factors between common and metric units for length, area, volume, mass, energy, force, power, pressure and temperature. A battery compartment is below the sticker. A battery pack with four batteries was removed from the compartment. A mark on the case below the compartment reads: 1802A00967. The first four digits of this number indicate that the device was made in the second week of 1978. The model was introduced in 1977 and sold through 1979.
The calculator has a black leather, lined, zippered case. It had a list price of $345 which declined over time.
References:
W.A.C. Mier-Jedrzejowicz, A Guide to HP Handheld Calculators and Computers , Tustin, California: Wilson/Burnett Publishing, 1997, pp. 54, 132.
David G. Hicks, The Museum of HP Calculators, http://www.hpmuseum.org/, accessed July, 2014.
[Advertisement], Washington Post, February 9, 1978, p. MD7. This ad from the University of Maryland Book Exchange gives a list price of $345 and a sale price of $295.
Location
Currently not on view
1978
ID Number
2014.0108.01
accession number
2014.0108
catalog number
2014.0108.01
Object Name
electronic calculator
Physical Description
plastic (case; display screen; keys; covers material)
metal (circuitry material)
rubber (feet material)
ceramic (display board material)
Measurements
overall: 6.3 cm x 11 cm x 18.2 cm; 2 15/32 in x 4 11/32 in x 7 5/32 in
place made
United States
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Computers
Computers & Business Machines
Handheld Electronic Calculators
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_1462912
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b2-537b-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
Hewlett-Packard HP-19C Handheld Electronic Calculator with Case
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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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