Sinclair Cambridge Handheld Electronic Calculator
date: label: date made
content: 1974
name: label: maker
content: Sinclair Radionics Ltd.
notes: label: Description
content: This handheld electronic calculator has a plastic case and eighteen rectangular plastic keys. These include ten digit keys, a decimal point key, four arithmetic function keys, a total key, a clear/clear entry key, and a constant key. To the right on the top row of keys is an on/off switch.
label: Description
content: Text behind the keyboard reads: sinclair (/) Cambridge. Behind this is an eight-digit purple LED display. According to the instructions, the device would actually carry out calculations on numbers ranging from 10<sup>-20</sup> to 9.9999999 x 10<sup>79</sup>, although the display of such answers required careful manipulation.
label: Description
content: The back of the calculator has a compartment for four AAA batteries. A mark on the lid to this compartment reads: Sinclair (/) MADE IN ENGLAND.
label: Description
content: The calculator has a black hard plastic carrying case. This fits in Styrofoam packing.
label: Description
content: For the instructions, see 1981.0403.01.2. These are dated 1974. Compare to the Sinclair Cambridge Scientific Calculator (1987.0435.18).
label: Description
content: Newspaper advertisements date from 1974. By 1975, Sinclair had introduced a form of the calculator with memory.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: [Advertisement], <I>Chicago Tribune</I>, February 19, 1974, p. C6. Sinclair Cambridge calculator advertised as previously priced at $99.95, on sale for $59.88.
label: Description
content: [Advertisement], <I>Washington Post</I>, July 9, 1975, p. 31. A Sinclair Cambridge with memory (not this model) advertised as regularly priced at $39.95, on sale for $34.88.
label: Description
content: David Renwick, “The Prince of Little: Inventor Clive Sinclair Thinking Big is Thinking Small,” <I>Washington Post</I>, October 17, 1984, p. D1.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United Kingdom: England
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: Handheld Electronic Calculators
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Cameron J. LaClair
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1981.0403.01
label: catalog number
content: 1981.0403.01
label: accession number
content: 1981.0403
objectType: label: Object Name
content: electronic calculator
label: Other Terms
content: electronic calculator; Handheld
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (case; keys; carrying case; display cover material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (circuitry material)
label: Measurements
content: carrying case: 2 cm x 5.3 cm x 12.2 m; 25/32 in x 2 3/32 in x 40 1/32 ft