Computers & Business Machines

Imagine the loss, 100 years from now, if museums hadn't begun preserving the artifacts of the computer age. The last few decades offer proof positive of why museums must collect continuously—to document technological and social transformations already underway.

The museum's collections contain mainframes, minicomputers, microcomputers, and handheld devices. Computers range from the pioneering ENIAC to microcomputers like the Altair and the Apple I. A Cray2 supercomputer is part of the collections, along with one of the towers of IBM's Deep Blue, the computer that defeated reigning champion Garry Kasparov in a chess match in 1997. Computer components and peripherals, games, software, manuals, and other documents are part of the collections. Some of the instruments of business include adding machines, calculators, typewriters, dictating machines, fax machines, cash registers, and photocopiers

This small, printing desktop electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys with zero, decimal and equal keys below. On the right are for keys for arithmetic functions. Right of these are reverse sign, percentage, subtotal (diamond), and total (*) keys.
Description
This small, printing desktop electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys with zero, decimal and equal keys below. On the right are for keys for arithmetic functions. Right of these are reverse sign, percentage, subtotal (diamond), and total (*) keys. Immediately to the left of the digit keys are memory total, memory subtotal, memory minus, and memory plus keys. Left of these are a paper feed (up arrow) key, a non-add printing and date printing key, a clear key, and a CE (clear entry?) key. Above the keys are a decimal point selector switch, a round-off selector switch, an item count print switch, a non-print switch, and a mark up, mark down key. The power switch is on the left side.
Behind the keyboard is a ten-digit display. Behind this is a paper tape and printing mechanism. The paper tape folds forward for carrying, and back to display the results. With the paper tape open, the dimensions are 9 cm. h. x 12 cm. w. x 27.3 cm. d.
A mark in back of the display reads: Unisonic XL-110. A mark on the back reads in part: Unisonic XL-110. In both of these marks, there is an indication that Unisonic is a registered trademark. It also reads in part: SERIAL NO. 90502020 MADE IN JAPAN. A case on the right side of the bottom holds four batteries. A jack for attaching to an “AC adaptor” is at the back.
The North American Foreign Trading Corporation of New York City, N.Y., first used the trademark Unisonic in 1968 for vacuum tubes, resistors and other electronic devices. In 1972 it extended the trademark to include calculators, receiving the registration in 1975.
Compare other Unisonic electronic calculators, 1986.0988.003 and 1986.0988.004.
Reference:
Unisonic Products Corporation, "Unisonic XL-15 Operating Instructions," Japan, no date.
date made
ca 1975
maker
Unisonic Products Corporation
ID Number
1986.0988.005
catalog number
1986.0988.005
accession number
1986.0988
This small, printing desktop electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys with zero and decimal point keys below. On the right are four keys for arithmetic functions. Right of these are print, percentage, memory recall/memory clear, and clear entry/total keys.
Description
This small, printing desktop electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys with zero and decimal point keys below. On the right are four keys for arithmetic functions. Right of these are print, percentage, memory recall/memory clear, and clear entry/total keys. Above the keys are a print switch, a summation switch, and a constant switch. The power switch is on the right side.
Behind the keyboard is a nine-digit display. Behind this is a paper tape and printing mechanism.
A mark behind the display reads: Unisonic XL 111. A mark on the back reads in part: Unisonic Model No. XL-111. There is no indication that Unisonic is a registered trademark. It also reads in part: Serial No. 70713560 (/) Unisonic Products Corporation (/) Made in Hong Kong. A case on the right side of the bottom is designed to hold five rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries. A jack for attaching to an AC adapter is at the back.
The North American Foreign Trading Corporation of New York City, N.Y., first used the trademark Unisonic in 1968 for vacuum tubes, resistors and other electronic devices. In 1972 it extended the trademark to include calculators, receiving the registration in 1975.
Compare other Unisonic electronic calculators, 1986.0988.003, 1986.0988.004, and 1986.0988.005.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1972-1975
maker
Unisonic Products Corporation
ID Number
1986.0988.120
accession number
1986.0988
catalog number
1986.0988.120
This lightweight, non-printing electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys at the center with a zero bar and a decimal point key below these. On the right are arithmetic and clear keys.
Description
This lightweight, non-printing electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys at the center with a zero bar and a decimal point key below these. On the right are arithmetic and clear keys. On the left are percentage, percent change, gross profit margin, item count, clear memory, recall memory, memory subtraction, and memory addition keys. A switch between a floating and a fixed decimal point, a constant switch, and a power switch are above the keyboard. Behind is a ten-digit vacuum fluorescent diode display. A cabinet has space for two D batteries. A hole for a cord is at the back, but there is no cord.
A mark on the front of the machine reads: Unisonic XL-101. A label on the back reads in part: Unisonic XL-101 (/) 10-DIGIT DESK-TOP (/) ELECTRONIC CALCULATOR. It also reads in part: SERIAL NO. 055588 (/)MADE IN TAIWAN. The bottom of the keyboard is stamped: 53 3 24. The interior of the calculator has a single circuit board with a mark on the bottom that reads: 5212232. A mark on the top of the base of the keyboard reads: CA-24 A-1. The chip by Texas Instruments has a mark that reads: TMC1073NL (/) KSLP 814. The “7814” indicates that the chip was made in the 14th week of 1978.
The device has a black plastic cover marked: Unisonic.
Compare the Radio Shack EC-2001 (1986.0998.007) and Lloyd’s Accumatic 680 (1986.0988.006). Radio Shack advertised the EC-2001 in American newspapers as early as 1978 and as late as 1985. Ads for the Unisonic XL-101 appeared in 1979 and 1980. Prices for the Unisonic XL-101 ranged from $19.70 to $29.95
References:
[advertisement], Boston Globe,February 25, 1979, p. 23.
[advertisement], Washington Post, March 13, 1980, p. A16.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1978
maker
Unisonic Products Corporation
ID Number
1986.0988.004
catalog number
1986.0988.004
accession number
1986.0988
This Japanese-made non-printing desktop electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys with a zero bar and a decimal point key below. Immediately right of these is a column of four function keys.
Description
This Japanese-made non-printing desktop electronic calculator has an array of nine digit keys with a zero bar and a decimal point key below. Immediately right of these is a column of four function keys. Right of these are a clear/clear entry key, a sign change key, a percentage key, and an equals key. Left of the digit keys are a power switch, a memory switch, a memory recall key, and a memory clear key.
Behind the keyboard is a twelve-digit display. The power adapter fits into the base of the machine, and has a plug extending from the back. A paper sticker on the base of the machine gives operating instructions. A mark just above the keyboard reads: Unisonic 767-1224. A paper sticker on the bottom gives instructions for operating the calculator. It is marked in part: MADE IN JAPAN. A mark on a sticker below this reads: NO. 04956. The number is written in pen.
The North American Foreign Trading Corporation of New York City, N.Y., first used the trademark Unisonic in 1968 for vacuum tubes, resistors and other electronic devices. In 1972 it extended the trademark to include calculators, receiving the registration in 1975.
Compare other Unisonic electronic calculators, 1986.0988.004 and 1986.0988.005.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1975
maker
Unisonic Products Corporation
ID Number
1986.0988.003
catalog number
1986.0988.003
accession number
1986.0988

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.