MITS 816 Desktop Electronic Calcuator
date: label: date made
content: 1971
name: label: maker
content: Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems
notes: label: Description
content: This is one of the first electronic calculators assembled from a kit. In the fall of 1969 H. Edward Roberts, an electrical engineer trained at Oklahoma State University who worked for the U.S. Air Force, founded Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems to build kits for electronic hobbyists. He incorporated the firm in New Mexico in 1970 and moved his focus from building kits for transmitting and receiving measurements over a distance (telemetry) to electronic calculators. Reflecting this shift, he soon shortened the company name to MITS.
label: Description
content: In November of 1971, a prototype electronic calculator developed by MITS appeared on the cover of <I>Popular Electronics</I>. MITS hired the journalist and author Forrest M. Mims III to prepare advertising materials and an assembly manual for the production model of the kit. This is the electronic calculator Mims assembled in the course of this work, a MITS 816.
label: Description
content: The non-printing calculator has ten digit keys, a decimal key, and a decimal shift key. Left of these are keys for the four arithmetic functions; an equals key; and decimal setting, clear, and clear entry keys. The interior boasts “extra large scale integrated circuitry,” in addition to transistors and other standard electronic parts. Results appear on a row of eight tubes above the keyboard. The power switch is left of the display and a constant switch to the right. A rubber cord extends from the back.
label: Description
content: A mark at the center below the display reads: MITS-816. A signature on the bottom reads: ASSEMBLED BY: FORREST M. MIMS, III.
label: Description
content: MITS produced other calculators, but dropped out of that business when the price of microprocessors fell sharply. The firm then introduced one of the first microcomputers, the Altair 8800.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: Accession File.
label: Description
content: MITS, <I>816, the First and Only Electronic Calculator Kit</I>, 1971.
label: Description
content: MITS, Inc., “Offering Circular,” 1973.
label: Description
content: Micro instrumentation and Telemetry Systems, Inc. <I>The 816 Electronic Calculator Assembly Instructions</I>, Albuquerque, New Mexico: Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems, 1971.
label: Description
content: MITS, <I>816 Manual</I>, Albuquerque, New Mexico: MITS, 1972.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New Mexico, Albuquerque
topic: label: Subject
content: Business
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Computers
label: See more items in
content: Computers & Business Machines
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content: Desktop Electronic Calculators
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Forrest M. Mims, III
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1986.0463.02
label: accession number
content: 1986.0463
label: catalog number
content: 1986.0463.02
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: 4 1/2 in x 9 in x 12 1/2 in; 11.43 cm x 22.86 cm x 31.75 cm