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Texas Instruments SR-51-II Handheld Electronic Calculator

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Texas Instruments
Description
This handheld electronic scientific calculator is a modification of the earlier SR-51 and SR-51A. It has a black plastic case with an array of forty small rectangular plastic keys. All but five of these keys have a “dual function”—one function is indicated on the key, the other on the keyboard above the key. This makes it possible to use keys to perform conversions from some common to metric measures, rather than using the system of codes employed on the SR-51. A key also can be used to convert from degrees to radians, something performed by a switch on the SR-51.
Text above the keys reads: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SR-51-II. Behind the keyboard is an on/off switch. Behind this is an LED display that shows ten-digit positive and negative numbers and two-digit positive and negative exponents. The jack for a charger/adapter is on the right side of the calculator.
Text on the back of the calculator (there is no sticker) reads: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS (/) electronic calculator (/) SERIAL NO. (/) 6389263 LTA5076 (/) ASSEMBLED IN USA. An empty battery pack inside the middle of the back is marked: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS (/) ELECTRONIC BATTERY BP-5.
There are no screws to easily take apart the calculator. The device has a black plastic zippered case.
References:
[Advertisement], Boston Globe, September 26, 1976, p. 87. Lists calculator as a new product from Texas Instruments that sells for $67.95.
[Advertisement], New York Times, March 6, 1977, p. 98. Lists calculator as selling for $54.95.
[Advertisement], Washington Post, September 14, 1978, p. A19. SR-51-II on sale for $29.95, a $20 savings.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of John B. Priser
1976
ID Number
1986.0988.358
catalog number
1986.0988.358
accession number
1986.0988
Object Name
electronic calculator
Physical Description
metal (zipper; some circuitry material)
plastic (case; carrying case; keys 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
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Computers
Computers & Business Machines
Handheld Electronic Calculators
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_1364053
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-d16a-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
Texas Instruments SR-51 II 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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