Texas Instruments TI-1766 Handheld Electronic Calculator
date: label: date made
content: ca 1986
name: label: maker
content: Texas Instruments
notes: label: Description
content: The TI-1766 was the first solar-powered calculator sold by Texas Instruments. The handheld electronic calculator has a silver-colored metal case and twenty-five rectangular plastic keys. These include ten digit keys, a decimal point key, a total key, four arithmetic function keys, four memory keys, an all clear key, a square root key, a percentage key, a change sign key, and a clear entry/clear key. A mark below the keys reads: LIGHT POWERED. Behind the keys is a solar cell. A mark behind this reads: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TI-1766. Behind this is an eight-digit LCD display.
label: Description
content: A sticker on the back of the case reads: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS (/) electronic calculator (/) SOLAR AND LIGHT POWER (/) SERIAL NO. 118063 (/) 093 (/) MADE IN JAPAN. Unscrewing the back of the calculator reveals only the back of the chip and the back of the circuit board.
label: Description
content: The calculator has a gray plastic jacket, marked on the back: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS.
label: Description
content: According to the online Datamath Museum, Texas Instruments began selling the TI-1766 in 1981, using a Toshiba chip. A second design appeared the next year and a third in 1983. This calculator does not precisely match any of these designs—the model number is just below the display, not below the keys. It resembles a machine shown in advertisements from 1985 and 1986. The calculator came to the museum in 1987.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: [Advertisement], <I>Los Angeles Times</I>, November 28, 1985, p. Z11. Regular price $9.95, sale price $6.97.
label: Description
content: [Advertisement], <I>Washington Post</I>, January 2, 1986, p. B10. The calculator had a regular price of $6.95 and a sale price of $5.90.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Japan
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: 1987.0435.06
label: catalog number
content: 1987.0435.06
label: accession number
content: 1987.0435
objectType: label: Object Name
content: electronic calculator
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (case; circuitry material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (keys; circuit board; wallet material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (sticker material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1/4 in x 2 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in; .635 cm x 6.35 cm x 11.43 cm