Texas Instruments SR-10 Handheld Electronic Calculator
date: label: date made
content: 1974
name: label: maker
content: Texas Instruments
notes: label: Description
content: This is an example of the first model of a scientific calculator marketed by Texas Instruments. The handheld electronic calculator has a black- and ivory-colored plastic case with an array of twenty-three plastic keys. Twenty-one of these are square; the 0 and the total keys are rectangular. In addition to ten digit keys, a decimal point key, a total key, and four arithmetic function keys, the calculator has a reciprocal key, a square key, a square root key, a change sign key, an enter exponent key, a clear key, and a clear display key. Text on the keyboard, above the keys and to the left, reads: SR-10. Behind the keyboard is a twelve-digit LED display. Numbers larger than eight digits are displayed in scientific notation. A mark behind the display reads: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS. An on/off switch is right and slightly above this.
label: Description
content: The back edge of the calculator has a jack for a recharger/adapter. A sticker on the back gives extensive instructions. It also gives the serial number SR10 794630. A small round sticker above the large sticker reads: INSPECTED (/) BY L-01.
label: Description
content: Unscrewing screws near the top and bottom of the back reveals the workings of the calculator. It has a total of five chips. The largest of these is marked TMS0120NC (/) C7421. This is a TMS0120 chip, manufactured in mid-1974. Also in the case is space for three AA nickel-cadmium batteries.
label: Description
content: The leather zippered case has both a loop and a hook for attaching the calculator to a belt.
label: Description
content: Texas Instruments described the SR-10 as an “electronic slide rule calculator,” hence the “SR” in the name. The first version of the device, introduced in 1972, did not have the mark SR-10 on the keyboard. The second version (introduced in 1973) and the third (introduced in 1975) did. This is an example of the second version.
label: Description
content: Compare 1986.0988.351, 1986.0988.354, and 1986.0988.356.
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, 1997, p. 153.
label: Description
content: The online Datamath Museum includes versions of the SR-10 from 1972, 1973, and 1975.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Texas, Dallas
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: 1986.0988.351
label: catalog number
content: 1986.0988.351
label: accession number
content: 1986.0988
objectType: label: Object Name
content: electronic calculator
label: Other Terms
content: electronic calculator; Handheld
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (case; keys; circuit board material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (circuitry; zipper material)
label: Physical Description
content: leather (carrying case material)
label: Physical Description
content: cloth (carrying case lining material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 1/2 in x 3 in x 6 1/4 in; 3.81 cm x 7.62 cm x 15.875 cm