Radio Shack EC-281 Handheld Electronic Calculator
date: label: date made
content: 1977-1979
name: label: maker
content: Tandy Corporation
notes: label: Description
content: Radio Shack introduced this handheld electronic calculator in its 1978 catalog as an “amazing low-cost scientific” device, costing only $29.95. The calculator has a tan and brown plastic case with forty-one rectangular plastic keys. These include ten digit keys, a total key, four arithmetic function keys, five memory keys, a key for powers, a pi key, and a change sign key. Further keys include EE, CN, %, inverse, and two bracket keys. Above this are natural log, log to base ten, exponent, powers of ten, square root, and squaring keys. The top row of keys has a clear/clear entry key, an arc key, a sine key, a cosine key, and a tangent key. Switches above this are for entering angles as degrees or radians and for on/off.
label: Description
content: Behind this is an eight-digit vacuum fluorescent display. Text above it reads: Radio Shack.
label: Description
content: A jack for a power adapter is along the back edge.
label: Description
content: At the base of the back is a compartment for four AA batteries. A sticker above this reads: CAT. NO. 65-641 (/) MODEL EC-281 (/) Radio Shack (/) A DIVISION OF TANDY CORPORATION (/) DC 6V (“AA” CELL X 4) (/) FOR 120V AC OPERATION (/) USE AC ADAPTER 14-854 (/) SERIAL NO. 023939 5A8 (/) MADE IN TAIWAN.
label: Description
content: The calculator has an imitation leather carrying case. Text on the front reads: Radio Shack.
label: Description
content: Compare to an earlier and simpler Radio Shack scientific calculator, the EC-490 (see 1986.0988.036).
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: [Advertisement], <I>Los Angeles Times</I>, November 6, 1977, p. R2.
label: Description
content: [Advertisement], <I>Los Angeles Times</I>, June 10, 1979, p. R7. EC-281 on sale for $19.95.
label: Description
content: Radio Shack, A Tandy Company, <i>1978 Catalog No. 289</i>, p. 147, accessed September 22, 2014, at radioshackcatalogs.com. The price listed is $29.95.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Taiwan
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Computers
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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: 1986.0988.222
label: catalog number
content: 1986.0988.222
label: accession number
content: 1986.0988
objectType: label: Object Name
content: electronic calculator
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (case; keys; display cover; carrying case material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (circuitry material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (sticker material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 1/4 in x 3 1/4 in x 6 in; 3.175 cm x 8.255 cm x 15.24 cm