Rapidman 800 Handheld Electronic Calculator
date: label: date made
content: 1972-1974
name: label: maker
content: Rapid Data Systems & Equipment
notes: label: Description
content: This Canadian-made handheld electronic calculator has a black plastic case and an array of sixteen square plastic keys. These include ten digit keys, a clear key, a decimal point key, and four arithmetic function keys. The “+” key also serves as a total key. The on/off switch is behind the keyboard. Behind it is an eight-digit red LED display. The decimal point in the display is fixed. A mark behind the display reads: RAPIDMAN (/) 800. Next to the display is an overflow indicator light. A jack for a power adapter is on the back edge.
label: Description
content: At the top of the back of the calculator is a compartment for a nine volt battery. Text on a gold-colored sticker below this gives operating instructions. A mark toward the bottom of the sticker reads: RAPID DATA (/) SYSTEMS & EQUIPMENT LTD. RAPIDMAN 800 (/) SERIAL NO. 237013 (/) PATENT PENDING Made in Canada.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: [Advertisement], <I>Los Angeles Times</I>, April 1, 1973, p. 76. Rapidman 800 on sale for $59.95.
label: Description
content: [Advertisement], <I>New York Times</I>, April 9, 1972, p. 49. The Rapidman 800 is described in detail. It cost $99.95.
label: Description
content: [Advertisement], <I>New York Times</I>, February 14, 1974, p. 52. Rapidman 800 advertised as on sale for $29.95, regularly $49.95.
label: Description
content: Terry Robards, “Mini-Calculator Shakeout: Competition Adds Up to Trouble for Investors,” <I>New York Times</I>, October 8, 1972, p. F4. The price of the Rapidman 800 calculator had been $99 a few months previously, was $84 at that time, and was about to fall to $75.
label: Description
content: Grace Lichtenstein, “New Calculators Catch Public’s Fancy,” <I>New York Times</I>, October 28, 1972, p. 33.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Canada
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Computers
label: See more items in
content: Computers & Business Machines
label: See more items in
content: Handheld Electronic Calculators
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of John B. Priser
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1986.0988.144
label: catalog number
content: 1986.0988.144
label: accession number
content: 1986.0988
objectType: label: Object Name
content: electronic calculator
label: Other Terms
content: electronic calculator; Handheld
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (case; keys; display cover material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (circuitry material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (sticker material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 7/8 in x 3 1/4 in x 5 1/2 in; 2.2225 cm x 8.255 cm x 13.97 cm