Skip to main content

Search

My Visit
Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution

Site Navigation

  • Visit
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Maps and Brochures
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
      • Group Sales
  • What's On
    • Exhibitions
      • Current
      • Upcoming
      • Past
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
  • Explore
    • - Art & Design
    • - History & Culture
    • - Science & Nature
    • Collections
      • Open Access
    • Research Resources
      • Libraries
      • Archives
        • Smithsonian Institution Archives
        • Air and Space Museum
        • Anacostia Community Museum
        • American Art Museum
        • Archives of American Art
        • Archives of American Gardens
        • American History Museum
        • American Indian Museum
        • Asian Art Museum Archives
        • Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art
        • Hirshhorn Archive
        • National Anthropological Archives
        • National Portrait Gallery
        • Ralph Rinzler Archives, Folklife
        • Libraries' Special Collections
    • Podcasts
    • Stories
  • Learn
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
      • Art & Design Resources
      • Science & Nature Resources
      • Social Studies & Civics Resources
      • Professional Development
      • Events for Educators
      • Field Trips
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
      • Smithsonian Call Center
      • Ambassador Program
      • Museum Information Desk
      • Docent Programs
      • Behind-the-Scenes
      • Digital Volunteers
      • Participatory Science
  • About
    • Our Organization
      • Board of Regents
        • Members
        • Committees
        • Reading Room
        • Bylaws, Policies and Procedures
        • Schedules and Agendas
        • Meeting Minutes
        • Actions
        • Webcasts
        • Contact
      • Museums and Zoo
      • Research Centers
      • Cultural Centers
      • Education Centers
      • General Counsel
        • Legal History
        • Internships
        • Records Requests
          • Reading Room
        • Tort Claim
        • Subpoenas & Testimonies
        • Events
      • Office of Human Resources
        • Employee Benefits
        • How to Apply
        • Job Opportunities
        • Job Seekers with Disabilities
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • SI Civil Program
        • Contact Us
      • EEO & Small Business
        • EEO Complaint Process
        • Individuals with Disabilities
        • Small Business Program
          • Doing Business with Us
          • Contracting Opportunities
          • Additional Resources
        • Special Emphasis Program
      • Sponsored Projects
        • Policies
          • Combating Trafficking in Persons
          • Animal Care and Use
          • Human Research
        • Reports
        • Internships
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
      • Annual Reports
      • Metrics Dashboard
        • Dashboard Home
        • Virtual Smithsonian
        • Public Engagement
        • National Collections
        • Research
        • People & Operations
      • Strategic Plan
    • Newsdesk
      • News Releases
      • Media Contacts
      • Photos and Video
      • Media Kits
      • Fact Sheets
      • Visitor Stats
      • Secretary and Admin Bios
      • Filming Requests

Unicom 202/SR Handheld Electronic Calculator

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Rockwell International
Description
The calculator manufacturer Unicom was started by integrated circuit manufacturer American Microsystems, Inc., and purchased by Rockwell International in 1972. Rockwell would soon begin to sell calculators under its own name.
This handheld electronic calculator is designed for scientific as well as arithmetic calculations. It has a tan plastic case and an array of twenty sloping square plastic keys. Symbols on the keys are for ten digits, a decimal point, four arithmetic functions, total, change sign, transfer, and clear. A twentieth key is marked F. Pushing it changes the meaning of the other keys to a function denoted above the key. The keys will then allow one to evaluate logarithms, exponents, powers, trigonometric functions, inverses, pi, and inverse trigonometric functions. Five keys serve various memory functions.
The on/off switch is above the keyboard on the left. A switch on the right above the keyboard allows for entries of angles in degrees or radians.
Behind the keyboard is an eight-digit vacuum fluorescent display. A jack for a battery charger is along the back edge.
A compartment at the bottom of the back of the calculator holds four AA batteries. A sticker above it reads: 202 SLIDE RULE (/) Rechargeable NI-Cad Batteries. Use Unicom NI-Cad bat- (/) tery charger to recharge. Allow 7 hours for full charge. (/) Do NOT use battery charger with NI-CAD batteries re- (/) moved. Disposable Batteries: Use 4 AA alkaline batteries. Do NOT use battery charger with disposable batteries. (/) Unicom Systems (/) Rockwell International 192609-50 (/) UNICOM SYSTEMS, SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA 94086 (/) ASSEMBLED IN MEXICO.
The calculator has a brown carrying case that has been cut so that it might be worn on a belt.
References:
[Advertisement], Los Angeles Times, November 13, 1973, p. C6. Scientific calculator for under $200 – cost $195.00.
[Advertisement], Chicago Tribune, September 10, 1974, p. A9. Calculator advertised as on sale for $119.88.
[Advertisement], Chicago Tribune, March 11, 1975, p. 6. Calculator advertised as having regular price of $109.95, sale price of $79.88.
Guy Ball and Bruce Flamm, The Complete Collector’s Guide to Pocket Calculators, Tustin, CA: Wilson/Barnett, 1997, pp. 165–166.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Gift of John B. Priser
1973-1975
ID Number
1986.0988.076
catalog number
1986.0988.076
accession number
1986.0988
Object Name
electronic calculator
Other Terms
electronic calculator; Handheld
Physical Description
plastic (case; keys; display cover; carrying pouch material)
metal (circuitry material)
paper (sticker material)
Measurements
overall: 1 1/2 in x 3 1/4 in x 6 1/8 in; 3.81 cm x 8.255 cm x 15.5575 cm
place made
Mexico
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Computers
Computers & Business Machines
Handheld Electronic Calculators
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_334490
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ae-2d7f-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
Unicom 202/SR 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.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Footer logo

Link to homepage

Footer navigation

  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Get Involved
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • EEO & Small Business
  • Shop Online
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Social media links

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Sign up for Smithsonian e-news

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Email powered by BlackBaud (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use)
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Back to Top