Texas Instruments TI-1766 Handheld Electronic Calculator

Object Details

Texas Instruments

Description

The TI-1766 was the first solar-powered calculator sold by Texas Instruments. The handheld electronic calculator has a silver-colored metal case and twenty-five rectangular plastic keys. These include ten digit keys, a decimal point key, a total key, four arithmetic function keys, four memory keys, an all clear key, a square root key, a percentage key, a change sign key, and a clear entry/clear key. A mark below the keys reads: LIGHT POWERED. Behind the keys is a solar cell. A mark behind this reads: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TI-1766. Behind this is an eight-digit LCD display.

A sticker on the back of the case reads: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS (/) electronic calculator (/) SOLAR AND LIGHT POWER (/) SERIAL NO. 118063 (/) 093 (/) MADE IN JAPAN. Unscrewing the back of the calculator reveals only the back of the chip and the back of the circuit board.

The calculator has a gray plastic jacket, marked on the back: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS.

According to the online Datamath Museum, Texas Instruments began selling the TI-1766 in 1981, using a Toshiba chip. A second design appeared the next year and a third in 1983. This calculator does not precisely match any of these designs—the model number is just below the display, not below the keys. It resembles a machine shown in advertisements from 1985 and 1986. The calculator came to the museum in 1987.

References:

[Advertisement], Los Angeles Times, November 28, 1985, p. Z11. Regular price $9.95, sale price $6.97.

[Advertisement], Washington Post, January 2, 1986, p. B10. The calculator had a regular price of $6.95 and a sale price of $5.90.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of John B. Priser

ca 1986

ID Number

1987.0435.06

catalog number

1987.0435.06

accession number

1987.0435

Object Name

electronic calculator

Physical Description

metal (case; circuitry material)

plastic (keys; circuit board; wallet material)

paper (sticker material)

Measurements

overall: 1/4 in x 2 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in; .635 cm x 6.35 cm x 11.43 cm

place made

Japan

See more items in

Medicine and Science: Computers

Computers & Business Machines

Handheld Electronic Calculators

National Museum of American History

Record ID

nmah_214330

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a0-ebac-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa