Sears 728.58863 Handheld Electronic Calculator (Sears 8)
date: label: date made
content: ca 1974
name: label: maker
content: Sears, Roebuck and Co.
notes: label: Description
content: This is a relatively early Sears handheld electronic calculator, manufactured by Bowmar/Ali.
label: Description
content: The calculator has a black plastic case with a plastic display window and eighteen square plastic keys with circular tops (actually two keys are rectangular bars). These include nine digit keys, zero and decimal point bars, four arithmetic function keys, a clear entry/clear key, a total key, and a % key. An on/off switch is to the right of the two topmost keys. Behind the keyboard is a red eight-digit LED display. A mark at the top reads: Sears 8.
label: Description
content: A jack for a power cord is on the right side. This example lacks a cord.
label: Description
content: A sticker on the back gives instructions. It reads in part: IN ALL CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING THIS ARTICLE ALWAYS MENTION (/) MODEL (/) NO. 728.58863 SERIAL (/) NO. 160454. It also reads: Made in USA. Four screws hold the back of the case to the front.
label: Description
content: The calculator has a zippered plastic carrying case with a belt loop at the top. Marks on the case read: Sears and: MADE IN (/) U.S.A.
label: Description
content: Compare 1986.0988.362, a Sears 728.58850.
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: Guy Ball and Bruce Flamm, <I>The Complete Collector’s Guide to Pocket Calculators</I>, Tustin, CA: Wilson/Barnett Printing, 1997, pp. 35–36, 135.
label: Description
content: [Advertisement], <I>Chicago Tribune</I>, April 28, 1974, p. B6. The advertisement compares the Commodore Minuteman 3PR to other calculators, including the Sears 8. The Sears 8 is said to cost $59.88.
label: Description
content: Sears, Roebuck and Company, <I>Sears Spring through Summer 1974 [Catalog]</I>, 1974, p. 1025. A calculator with catalog model number 5886C, which closely resembles the 728.58863, is offered for $79.50.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Computers
label: See more items in
content: Computers & Business Machines
label: See more items in
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: 1986.0988.362
label: catalog number
content: 1986.0988.362
label: accession number
content: 1986.0988
objectType: label: Object Name
content: electronic calculator
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (case; keys; carrying case material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (circuitry; zipper material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (sticker material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 1/2 in x 3 in x 5 3/4 in; 3.81 cm x 7.62 cm x 14.605 cm