Texas Instruments MBA Handheld Electronic Calculator

Object Details

Texas Instruments

Description

Advertised as a “powerhouse of financial and statistical problem solving,” this handheld financial calculator has a black plastic case and forty small rectangular plastic keys arranged in eight rows. In addition to ten digit keys, a decimal point key, and a change sign key (all off-white), the calculator has a total key and four arithmetic function keys (all gold). The remaining keys are brown. Pushing the “2nd” key allows keys to serve a “dual function,” which is denoted by text above the keys. The calculator provides a wide variety of statistical and accounting functions. It includes thirty-two step programming.

A mark at the top of the keyboard reads: The MBA. Text behind the display reads: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS. Next to this is an on/off switch. Behind this is an eight-digit LED display.

A jack for a power supply is along the right edge.

Text on the back of the calculator reads in part: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS (/) electronic calculator (/) SERIAL NO. (/) 324706. It has the date mark: ATA3578. It also reads in part: ASSEMBLED IN USA. Below the marks is a compartment that holds a battery pack. Text on it reads: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS BATTERY PACK BP-7. There are no screws on the back of the case and the chips are not visible.

The calculator has a black zippered plastic case with a carrying loop.

Compare 1986.0988.050 (the TI-55 scientific calculator).

References:

[Advertisement], Boston Globe, November 6, 1977, p. 75. TI MBA selling for $64.95.

[Advertisement], Los Angeles Times, May 20, 1978, p. D4. TI MBA selling for $63.00.

[Advertisement], Washington Post, May 22, 1979, p. B3. Advertising copy quoted from here. Calculator advertised as selling for $57.95.

[Advertisement], Los Angeles Times, November 30, 1980, p. H2. MBA selling for $59.95.

[Advertisement], New York Times, January 30, 1983, p. H31. MBA price $49.50.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of John B. Priser

1978

ID Number

1986.0988.344

accession number

1986.0988

catalog number

1986.0988.344

Object Name

electronic calculator

Physical Description

plastic (case; keys; carrying case material)

metal (keyboard; circuitry; zipper material)

Measurements

overall: 1 3/8 in x 3 in x 5 3/4 in; 3.4925 cm x 7.62 cm x 14.605 cm

See more items in

Medicine and Science: Computers

Computers & Business Machines

Handheld Electronic Calculators

National Museum of American History

Record ID

nmah_1364038

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-f030-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa