Whilst thrifting for Atari joysticks today, I came across a barely
interesting looking desk calculator and a hunch compelled me to take a
chance on it. It is the Unicom 141P made by Unicom Systems, Inc. The
label indicates, "Made in Japan".
"Hmmm...Unicom...Unicom...Japan..." It sounded familiar. Of course I was
thinking "Busicom", which is the name of the Japanese company that
ordered the development of what became the 4004 for a new calculator they
were designing. But I couldn't quite remember the name. At $5, I figured
it was worth taking a chance. It was, as I mentioned, a barely
interesting desktop calculator, so worst case it would serve as a good
example of a 1970s desktop calculator (I was pretty certain it was circa
1970s).
So I just opened it up and <surprise> it's got an Intel 4004 inside!
Unfortunately, I'm not able to test it out because it requires a funky
squarish three prong power cord. I'll have to look around and see if I
can find one.
There's only one (out of two) relevant Google results, that being this
guy's website:
http://www.devidts.com/be-calc/index.html
With this calculator listed on his "Alphabetic catalog of Electronic
Calculators" list.
http://www.devidts.com/be-calc/catalog_U.asc.htm
Might anyone (Rick Bensene?) have any info about this calculator? Rick's
site lists the Busicom 141 in his wanted section:
http://www.oldcalculatormuseum.com/wanted.html#WANTED-BUSICOM
Is this in fact a re-badged Busicom? Or just coincidence? Rick's
description indicates that the Busicom 141 is based on discrete
diode/transistor logic with a Nixie tube display, whereas this one has a
printing mechanism only.
In searching for info, I came across another interesting website here:
http://www.dotpoint.com/xnumber/cmhistory.htm
...with this interesting article:
http://www.dotpoint.com/xnumber/e_walther.htm
Oddly enough (perhaps), this represents the only 4004-based computing
device in my archive.
I'm relatively stoked ;)
(And I haven't been thus about a new find in a long time...)
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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Received on Sat Jun 05 2004 - 02:22:22 BST