This was a predecessor of mine: БЗ-34, introduced in 1980 as a tabletop model. It did not have indirect addressing modes. This was the very first Soviet programmable calculator, БЗ-21, introduced in 1976. Its command set was not compatible with later models. You can see that both use RPN.
Those are the first Soviet Calculators I've ever seen! The last one is really nice looking, love the blue. Longman let me know if you find the displays, I'm pretty sure I have that same model with the same issue.
Here's a cool ad from Sharp 1980, I'd love to know more about the Talking Time Clock, anybody seen one before?
I'm sure this clock would have featured on Tomorrow's World or a similar TV programme. The obvious real market was for blind people. On the subject of speech synthesis, when the Texas Instruments "Speak and Spell" came out in 1978 it contained some of the most sophisticated electronics ever seen by the general public.
I've got a Speak and Spell, it's still pretty neat to mess around with. Computers talking was so new and fun, I remember seeing a VIC-20 in the showroom of a very high-end stereo shop, which briefly sold computers, they had a voice card installed; we could sit there forever watching the thing talk.
Just found this Sharp Memowriter, so neat it doesn't need a model number. Look closely, you can type notes on the reciept-sized paper! I want one cuz it was basically useless but nobody would know since it looked so hi-tech.
Even AMEX got into the calculator business, we all thought we were engineers with these gadgets, teachers said we would never learn math if we used a calculator, all the turmoil from these little things.
Like I said earlier in the thread I use a Casio FX450 everyday at work. It has already outlasted its original purchaser by at least 15 years. R.I.P Fred.
It's amazing how they really hardly ever stopped working, even those old solar panels, weren't they supposed to only last 10 years or so?
No. It is this company https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Technology That might explain why the Victor name couldn't be used for electronics outside of Japan. For years Kenwood equipment in the U.K. was badged Trio, because Kenwood is one of the most popular brands of Food Mixer here, made by a U.K. company set up by Mr Kenneth Wood.
Interesting history and a ton of different ownership, I've never seen a Victor Calculator out in the wild, I vaguely remember the name.
Another Casio Ad from 1975, I've found a handful of the horizontal models over the years, they have their own design appeal. $19.95 USD would have been a great price back then but these had very basic functions.
Just found this ad for a very odd Sinclair Calculator, the Sovereign from 1976, anybody see or own one of these? Sinclair had the best marketing department, the logo, the design, the case, it all presents very nicely.
i wouldn‘t mind a Sinclair Sovereign, unfortunately they rarely show up in decent shape and if, people ask ridiculous prices i‘m not willed to pay
Famous enough to have its own Wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair_Sovereign However that lists the drawbacks such as short battery life from difficult to get batteries. Sinclair would take that to extremes with their Flat Screen TV. I would far rather have this Sharp LCD from 1976 which cost less money In fact I actually have one but unfortunately don't have the little spacer required to use standard button cells (an alternative was a rechargeable battery unique to that model).
An old ad for the Casio CL-100, not very many function and super expensive. I hate to say it but it's also kind of homely.
