Friden Model 130 Desktop Electronic Calculator
date: label: date made
content: 1964
name: label: maker
content: Friden, Inc.
notes: label: Description
content: This is one of the first fully transistorized electronic calculators. The hefty instrument has an array of nine square plastic digit keys, with a zero bar and a decimal point bar below these. In addition to keys for the four arithmetic operations, it has change sign, enter, repeat, clear entry, clear all, store, recall, and overflow lock keys. A decimal point selector dial is on the right.
label: Description
content: In entering arithmetic operations into the calculator, one first keys in a number, then pushes the enter key, then keys in the second number, and then pushes the key for the operator (e.g. the + key for addition). This way of representing arithmetic operations is known as reverse Polish notation, and would be used on several electronic calculators.
label: Description
content: Behind the keyboard is a cathode ray tube display that shows four rows of numbers. Each line shows 13 digits. If the numbers are smaller, the digits to the left are zeroes. The bottom line of the display shows the answers, and numeric entries as they are entered.
label: Description
content: Tags on the front and on the back of the machine read: Friden. A mark on the front next to the display reads: 130 ELECTRONIC CALCULATOR. A mark on the bottom at the front reads: MODEL 130 SER 9479.
label: Description
content: The Friden Calculating Machine Company began manufacturing mechanical calculating machines in California in the 1930s. In 1963 Friden was acquired by Singer Company. In August of 1964, the Friden 130 electronic calculator went on the market, selling for $2,150. Within a year, the price was down to $1,695. Friden soon introduced the 132 electronic calculator, which took square roots.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: W. D. Smith, “Electronic Calculators Gaining,” <I>New York Times</I>, August 7, 1965, p. 25, 27.
label: Description
content: [advertisement], <I>Science</I>, n.s. vol. 151, no. 3708 (21 January 1966), p. 367.
label: Description
content: <I>Mathematics for the Space Age: The Totally New Friden 130 Electronic Calculator</I>, undated advertising booklet.
label: Description
content: An extensive discussion of the development of the Friden 130 is at the Old Calculators Web Museum.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: California, San Leandro
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 The Singer Company, Friden Division
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: CI.334377
label: catalog number
content: 334377
label: accession number
content: 313935
objectType: label: Object Name
content: electronic calculator
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 26 cm x 46.6 cm x 58 cm; 10 1/4 in x 18 11/32 in x 22 27/32 in