APF Mark 50 Handheld Electronic Calculator
date: label: date made
content: ca 1975
name: label: maker
content: APF Electronics
notes: label: Description
content: This handheld electronic calculator is designed for scientific work. It has an array of digit keys with a decimal point key, keys for the four arithmetic functions, a clear entry/clear key, and an equals/constant key. Pushing down a function key allow one to use the digit keys to find trigonometric and inverse trigonometric functions in either degrees or radians. Other keys are converted by the function key to give square roots, natural logs, exponents, pi, and the inverse of a number. Still others perform vaious memory functions. A convert key transforms results from scientific notation to floating point notation or vice versa.
label: Description
content: Text on the keyboard reads: aPF MARK 50 SCIENTIFIC CALCULATOR (/) LOG X = LN X + 2.30259.
label: Description
content: A hole for the adapter is at the back, as well as a compartment for a battery. The calculator presently has no battery. The lid of the compartment is on the back. A mark on the inside of it reads: JAPAN (/) 0101641. A sticker attached to the back reads in part: aPF MARK 50 (/) OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS. It also reads in part: Use only Model 710 of 751S adaptor (optional) (/) to operate on A.C. (/) Model No. MARK-50 Serial No. J-44134 (/) MADE IN U.S.A. The back has four rubber feet.
label: Description
content: The vacuum fluorescent display is behind the keyboard. It has two digits for the exponent, five for the mantissa, and two for the sign (one each for the exponent and the mantissa).
label: Description
content: The APF Mark 50 calculator was advertised in the <I>Los Angeles Times</I> on June 8, 1975, as "New!" and "Ultra advanced!" It then sold for $59.95. According to a June 11, 1975, advertisement in the <I>New York Times</I>, the APF Mark 50 had originally sold for $89.95 and was then on sale for $40.00. An October 22, 1975, sale advertisement lists a price of $35. Similarly, a January 4, 1976, advertisement in the <I>Chicago Tribune</I> gives a price of $34.99. A September 16, 1979, advertisement in the <I>Washington Post</I> lists the model as selling for $9.99.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: <I>Los Angeles Times</I>, June 8, 1975, p. T19.
label: Description
content: <I>New York Times</I>, June 11, 1975, p. 6.
label: Description
content: <I>New York Times</I>, October 22, 1975, p. 14.
label: Description
content: <I>Chicago Tribune</I>, January 4, 1976, p. 12.
label: Description
content: <I>Washington Post</I>, September 16, 1979, p. K5.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Computers
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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: 1986.0988.170
label: catalog number
content: 1986.0988.170
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 (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (sticker material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (circuitry material)
label: Physical Description
content: rubber (feet material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 in x 3 1/8 in x 5 3/4 in; 2.54 cm x 7.9375 cm x 14.605 cm