Sharp EL-8 Electronic Calculator
date: label: date made
content: 1971
name: label: maker
content: Sharp Corporation
notes: label: Description
content: This compact Japanese electronic calculator straddles the border between desktop and pocket calculators. It is too large to fit in the pocket but considerably more compact than Sharp’s QT-8B. It does not require a cradle to recharge batteries.
label: Description
content: The calculator has an array of nine digit keys, with larger 0 and decimal point keys below. Right of these are a clear key, a key for indicating that multiplication (rather than addition) should be carried out, a key for indication that division (rather than subtraction) should be carried out, and a key for multiplication or division. The machine has an eight-digit capacity for all operations. In back of the keyboard is an eight-digit display. Above these are alarm and error indicators. A switch is on the side shifts between AC operation, off, and DC operation.
label: Description
content: A mark on the front reads: SHARP. A tag on the back reads in part: SHARP MODEL EL-8. It also reads: NO. 1021694 (/) SHARP ELECTRONICS CORPORATION (/) 10 KEYSTONE PLACE, PARAMUS (/) NEW JERSEY 07652 MADE IN JAPAN. An AC adaptor comes with the device and is assigned number 1981.0922.05.1. The dimensions given do not include the adaptor, the case for the adapter, or the case for the calculator.
label: Description
content: Inside the instrument are six nickel-cadmium batteries in a case, a calculator circuit board, a display circuit board, and eight tubes for the display. The four integrated circuits on the calculator board were made by North American Rockwell. A stamp below the calculator circuit board reads: 1021694.
label: Description
content: The battery cover is marked in part: SHARP MODEL EL-84 (/) NICKEL-CADMIUM (/) RECHARGEABLE BATTERY. It also is marked: SHARP CORPORATION OSAKA, JAPAN. Hayakawa Electric adopted the name Sharp Corporation in January of 1970.
label: Description
content: The SHARP EL-8 was widely advertised in the United States from early 1971 and sold for $345. This example was used by NMAH curator John White. An invoice received with the device (part of 1981.0922.05.2) indicates that he purchased it October 30, 1971.
label: Description
content: Compare a slightly earlier Sharp machine, the model QT-8B (2006.0132.22). Also compare three versions of the EL-8 (1982.0656.01, 1981.0922.05, and 1991.0154.01).
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: Examples of the Sharp EL-8 are discussed online at the Vintage Calculators Web Museum, The Old Calculators Web Museum, John Wolff’s Web Museum and the Datamath Calculator Museum.
label: Description
content: Guy Ball and Bruce Flamm, <I>The Complete Collector’s Guide to Pocket Calculators</I>, Tustin, Calif.: Wilson/Barnett Publishing, 1997, pp. 136–137.
label: Description
content: J. R. Free, “Microelectronics Shrinks the Calculator,” <I>Popular Science</I>, 198 #6, June 1971, pp. 74–76.
label: Description
content: “How to Cut a Pocket Calculator in Half,” <I>Electronics</I>, 44. February 1, 1971, no page. An ad for the EL-8 (called the ELSI-8) appeared on pp. 12–13 of this issue.
label: Description
content: <I>Sharp Electronic Calculator with ELSI Compet ELSI-8 Model EL-8 Instruction Manual</I>, no date. This is 1981.0933.05.2.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Japan: Ōsaka, Ōsaka
topic: label: Subject
content: Business
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Computers
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content: Computers & Business Machines
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content: Desktop Electronic Calculators
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of John White
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1981.0922.05
label: accession number
content: 1981.0922
label: catalog number
content: 1981.0922.05
objectType: label: Object Name
content: electronic calculator
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (case, keys, boards, carying case material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (tubes material)
label: Physical Description
content: rubber (cord material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (wiring material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 7 cm x 10.3 cm x 16.2 cm; 2 3/4 in x 4 1/16 in x 6 3/8 in