Computers & Business Machines

Apple II Personal Computer

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

Name: Casio Computer Company, Ltd.

Casio 121-E Desktop Electronic Calculator

This compact, nonprinting desktop electronic calculator has a black plastic case and gray keyboard. At the center of the keyboard is an array of nine digit keys with a zero bar and a decimal point key below. On the right are keys for arithmetic functions and memory.
Description
This compact, nonprinting desktop electronic calculator has a black plastic case and gray keyboard. At the center of the keyboard is an array of nine digit keys with a zero bar and a decimal point key below. On the right are keys for arithmetic functions and memory. On the left are clearance, total and percentage keys. Behind the keyboard are tubes for the twelve-digit display. On the right side is an on/off switch. This example lacks a power cord.
A tag on the bottom reads in part: Casio 121-E. It also reads: SERIAL NO. B 706848 (/) CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. MADE IN JAPAN. Another tag reads: QCNo. Q 7470. A piece of tape on the bottom reads: 5/13/74. A tag on the back reads: FOR SERVICE CALL (/) FOREMOST BUSINESS MACHINE CO. (/) 871-0053 MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.
The approximate date of 1974 is taken from the tape on the bottom of the machine.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1974
maker
Casio Computer Company, Ltd.
ID Number
1986.0988.002
catalog number
1986.0988.002
accession number
1986.0988

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