Object Details
- National Semiconductor Corporation
- Description
- This handheld electronic calculator has a brown plastic case and eighteen rectangular plastic keys. In addition to ten digit keys and a decimal point key, it has a clear entry/clear key, four arithmetic function keys, a total key, and a percentage key. On the left on the brown and off-white keyboard is an on/off switch. Text above it reads: National (/) Semiconductor 850A. Behind the keyboard is an eight-digit LED display.
- A compartment for a battery opens on the top of the back. A mark in molded plastic on the bottom of the back reads: MADE IN HONG KONG.
- A jack for a power adapter is on the left side.
- Compare 1986.0988.306 (a Novus 850) with 1986.0988.305 (a National Semiconductor 850A).
- Ball and Flamm, as well as a contemporary advertisement, mention the National Semiconductor 850A as on sale in 1978.
- References:
- Guy Ball and Bruce Flamm, The Complete Collector’s Guide to Pocket Calculators, Tustin, CA: Wilson/Barnett, 1997, pp. 103–105. They give a 1978 price of $5.89.
- [Advertisement], Kokomo Tribune, August 13, 1978, p. 3. A National Semiconductor 850A calculator mentioned as a giveaway for a sufficiently large bank deposit.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of John B. Priser
- ca 1978
- ID Number
- 1986.0988.305
- catalog number
- 1986.0988.305
- accession number
- 1986.0988
- Object Name
- electronic calculator
- Physical Description
- plastic (case; keys; display cover material)
- metal (circuitry material)
- Measurements
- overall: 1 in x 2 5/8 in x 5 in; 2.54 cm x 6.6675 cm x 12.7 cm
- place made
- China: Hong Kong
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Computers
- Computers & Business Machines
- Handheld Electronic Calculators
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_1363207
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-e75f-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
