Craig 4508 Handheld Electronic Calculator
date: label: date made
content: 1973-1974
name: label: distributor
content: Craig Corporation
label: maker
content: Bowmar/Ali
notes: label: Description
content: This handheld electronic calculator has a gray and charcoal plastic case and an array of black "Klixon" keys. Such keys have a design trademarked by Texas Instruments and make a distinctive click when pressed. In addition to ten digit keys and one decimal point key, the calculator has four keys for arithmetic functions. One serves as a total key for addition and another as a difference key for subtraction. The top of the keyboard has a constant switch, a percentage key, a clear entry key, and a red clear key. The on/off switch is behind the clear key and the ten-digit red LED display is behind this. A cord for recharging the battery attaches at the back of the top. (This example has no cord.) A mark between the keyboard and the display reads: CRAIG.
label: Description
content: The back has four plastic feet. It has no battery compartment. A metal plate gives operating instructions. Text near the bottom of the plate reads: CRAIG 4508 (/) SER. 101874 (/) CRAIG CORPORATION COMPTON, CALIF. 90220 (/) MADE IN U.S.A. A tag at the bottom covering the screws reads: REMOVAL VOIDS WARRANTY.
label: Description
content: According to an advertisement in the <I>Chicago Tribune</I>, the Craig 4508 was manufactured by Bowmar and sold by Bowmar as the MX-80.
label: Description
content: Compare to 1987.0435.24, which has a very similar design but a smaller display.
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. 64.
label: Description
content: <I>Chicago Tribune</I>, November 7, 1973, p. 16. Advertised as made by Bowmar and sold by Bowmar as the MX-80. The Craig 4508 sold for $105.88. Rechargeable with a percentage key.
label: Description
content: <I>Los Angeles Times</I>, February 1, 1974, p. OC_B5. Craig 4508 advertised as having been marked down from an original $139.95 to $99.95 to a present price of $84.95.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
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: 1986.0988.145
label: catalog number
content: 1986.0988.145
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; display cover; keys material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (circuitry material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (sticker material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 1 1/2 in x 3 in x 5 1/4 in; 3.81 cm x 7.62 cm x 13.335 cm