Unisonic 21-P1 Handheld Electronic Calculator and Electronic Game
date: label: date made
content: ca 1977
name: label: maker
content: Unisonic
notes: label: Description
content: This colorful handheld electronic calculator also could be used to play the game of blackjack, with the calculator serving as the dealer and the user as a player.
label: Description
content: The object has a metal case with plastic trim and keys. It has an array of twenty-five oval plastic keys. Four arithmetic function keys are on the left, in a column labeled: Calc. Ten digit keys, a decimal point key, and a total key are arranged in three columns in a section labeled: Bet. Eight gaming keys are arranged in two columns labeled: Play. Above this on the right is a shuffle/clear/clear entry key. Left of it are an on/off switch and a calculator/game switch. A mark below the keyboard reads: Unisonic 21. Another mark there reads: Blackjack. Behind the keyboard is a twelve-digit display that is labeled on the left: Player. On the right it is labeled: Dealer. Text behind this reads: Dealer draws on 16.
label: Description
content: A sticker on the back describes the "A/C" adapter that may be used with the calculator. A jack for it is on the bottom edge. Text printed on the back gives calculation examples. One mark reads: Unisonic 21-P1. Another mark reads: SERIAL NO. (/) 078380 (/) MADE IN TAIWAN.
label: Description
content: Below these marks is a compartment for three UM-4 batteries.
label: Description
content: This calculator was actively discussed in early literature on electronic games.
label: Description
content: Compare 1986.0988.295 (the Unisonic 21-P1) and 1986.0988.048 (the Radio Shack EC-21).
label: Description
content: References:
label: Description
content: A copy of the instructions for the game is at the wass.net website, accessed July 2, 2015.
label: Description
content: “Card Counter,” <I>Texas Monthly</I>, 7 #7, July, 1979, p. 16. Price of Unisonic 21 varies from $20 to $30, depending on model. Image shown appears to be the desktop version of the device.
label: Description
content: Anne Douglas, “Game Shows Have Serious Aspects Too,” <I>Chicago Tribune</I>, June 18, 1977, p. 1B 11. Unisonic 21 available in both desktop and portable forms for $50 and up.
label: Description
content: Kris Jensen, “New 1978 Electronic Games,” <I>Modern Mechanix</I>, January 1978, pp. 33–43. Mentions that the Unisonic 21 is available in both desktop and portable versions.
label: Description
content: John Free, “Pocket Calculators for More than Math,” <I>Popular Science</I>, 214 #4, April 1979, p. 22, 24, 26, 29.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Taiwan
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: 1986.0988.295
label: catalog number
content: 1986.0988.295
label: accession number
content: 1986.0988
objectType: label: Object Name
content: electronic calculator
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (case; circuitry material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (display material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (stickers material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (trim; keys material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 5/8 in x 3 in x 5 1/4 in; 1.5875 cm x 7.62 cm x 13.335 cm