Bowmar MX35 Handheld Electronic Calculator
date: label: date made
content: 1974-1975
name: label: maker
content: Bowmar/Ali
notes: label: Description
content: This four-function handheld electronic calculator has a black plastic case, and an array of ten digit keys and a decimal point key, all black. In addition, it has memory, percentage, clear/clear entry, and total keys, as well as four arithmetic function keys, all of these are blue. The on/off switch is to the right on the top row of keys. Behind the keyboard is an eight-digit LED display. A black plastic cover fits over the keyboard and display. A mark behind the display reads: Bowmar. A sticker behind this reads: MEMORY. A plug for the power supply is on the right.
label: Description
content: The back of the calculator has a case for three AA batteries at the top. A sticker at the bottom reads: MODEL MX35 SERIAL (/) NUMBER 144885 (/) Bowmar/ ALI Inc. Acton, Mass (/) Patent Pending. A stamp on this sticker reads: ASSEMBLED (/) IN MEXICO.
label: Description
content: Compare 1986.0988.206.
label: Description
content: Bowmar introduced a calculator in 1971, and had successful sales in 1972 and 1973. Assembly began in Mexico in mid-1974. The company went bankrupt in February 1975 and stopped building calculators in the middle of that year. By 1976 distribution of Bowmar calculators had been taken over by Continental Microsystems.
label: Description
content: An advertisement in the <I>New York Times</I> in September 1974 indicates that the Bowmar MX35 was then on sale for $54.95. An advertisement in the <I>Chicago Tribune</I> December 7, 1975, describes a buyout sale in which the Bowmar MX35 sold for $29.99, below the original dealer's cost of $45.50.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: <I>Chicago Tribune</I>, December 7, 1975, p. 30.
label: Description
content: <I>New York Times</I>, September 17, 1974, p. 7.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Mexico
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Computers
label: See more items in
content: Computers & Business Machines
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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: 1986.0988.207
label: catalog number
content: 1986.0988.207
label: accession number
content: 1986.0988
objectType: label: Object Name
content: electronic calculator
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 7/8 in x 2 3/4 in x 5 3/4 in; 2.2225 cm x 6.985 cm x 14.605 cm