References

A collection of desktop electronic calculators in the Division of Medicine and Science at the National Museum of American History.

References


In addition to the references cited below, information about specific calculators is given in individual records. This list suggests both references found especially useful and the kind of sources those examining calculators may wish to consider. It is by no means complete.


Print Publications


Guy Ball and Bruce Flamm, The Complete Collector's Guide to Pocket Calculators, Tustin, CA:  Wilson/Barnett Publishing, 1997.


Kathy B. Hamrick, “The History of the Hand-Held Electronic Calculator,” American Mathematical Monthly, 102, October 1996, pp. 633–639.


Peggy Aldrich Kidwell, Amy Ackerberg-Hastings, and David Lindsay Roberts, Tools of American Mathematics Teaching, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008.


W.A.C. Mier-Jedrzejowicz, A Guide to HP Handheld Calculators and Computers, Tustin, California: Wilson/Burnett Publishing, 1997.


U.S. International Trade Commission, “In the Matter of Certain Electronic Calculators,” Investigation No. 337-7A-198, Washington, D.C, 1985.


Websites


Rick Bensene, The Old Calculator Web Museum, http://www.oldcalculatormuseum.com


Serge Devidts, Calcuseum Vintage Electronic Calculators, http://www.calcuseum.com


Casio International website, historical section, http://www.casio-intl.com/asia-mea/en/calc/history


Datamath Calculator Museum, http://www.datamath.org


BE CALC Vintage Electronic Calculators website – this has become http://www.calcuseum.com


Epocalc, http://www.epocalc.net/


Flow Simulation Ltd., The Calculator Home Page, http://www.calculator.org


David G. Hicks, The Museum of HP Calculators, http://www.hpmuseum.org


Philippe, My Calculators Database, http://mycalcdb.free.fr


Viktor T. Toth, Programmable Calculators, http://www.rskey.org/CMS


Nigel Tout, Vintage Calculators Web Museum, http://www.vintagecalculators.com/index.html. This has links to several other websites.


John Wolff, John Wolff’s Web Museum, Calculating Machines, http://www.johnwolff.id.au


Bob Wolfson, Bob’s Calculators and Slide Rules, https://sites.google.com/site/bobscalculatorsandsliderules


Katherine Wasserman, [Digitized Calculator Manuals], http://www.wass.net/manuals

Search term: *:* Set Name: Handheld Electronic Calculators Resource Type: electronic calculator, graphing Clear All

Hewlett-Packard HP-28C Handheld Electronic Calculator

This advanced scientific calculator, to use the maker's phrase, was the first graphing handheld electronic calculator made by Hewlett-Packard. It also was the first HP calculator using algebraic expressions and the first to allow integration and differentiation.
Description
This advanced scientific calculator, to use the maker's phrase, was the first graphing handheld electronic calculator made by Hewlett-Packard. It also was the first HP calculator using algebraic expressions and the first to allow integration and differentiation. It was introduced in 1987 and sold into early 1988.
The object has a black plastic case hinged along the left edge. Opening it reveals a double keyboard. Thirty-five sloping rectangular keys are on the left side and another thirty-seven on the right. Keys on the left side have letters and symbols; keys on the right include digits, symbols for arithmetic operations, and symbols associated with trigonometry, statistics, plotting, integration, and differentiation.
Above the keyboard on the left is a list of object types (e.g. complex number), symbols used to designate that type (e.g. parenthesis for complex numbers) and examples (e.g. (123.45, 678.90) for the complex number 123.45 + 678.90i). The display on the right side shows four rows of text, indicating what number or command is stored in each of four stacks. The display also can be using to show the graph of functions. A mark above it reads: hp HEWLETT (/) PACKARD 28C.
The battery cover is on the right side. A mark on the back reads: COMPLIES WITH THE LIMITS FOR A CLASS B (/) COMPUTING DEVICE PURSUANT TO SUBPART (/) J OF PART 15OF ICC RULES (/) ATI confrome classe B 2729A04383 (/) MADE IN USA. The serial number indicates the device was made in the 29th week of 1987.
Programming for the calculator – both internally and by users – was in a programming language known as RPL (Reverse Polish Lisp or ROM-based Procedural Language), a variation on the programming language LISP.
For related documentation, see 1999.0291.02. For an example of the closely related calculator that succeeded it, the HP-28S, see 2012.0063.01. The HP28-C sold for $235.
This HP28C was used by Professor Norton Starr, who taught mathematics at Amherst College in Massachusetts.
References:
W.A.C. Mier-Jedrzejowicz, A Guide to HP Handheld Calculators and Computers , Tustin, California: Wilson/Burnett Publishing, 1997, pp. 84–87, 133.
David G. Hicks, The Museum of HP Calculators, http://www.hpmuseum.org/, accessed July, 2014.
Yves Nievergelt, “The Chip with the College Education: the HP-28C,” The American Mathematical Monthly, vol. 94, # 9, November 1987, pp. 895–902.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1987
maker
Hewlett-Packard Company
ID Number
1999.0291.01
accession number
1999.0291
catalog number
1999.0291.01

Texas Instruments TI-81 Handheld Electronic Calculator

This is an example of the first graphing calculator sold by Texas Instruments. The TI-81 was introduced in 1990. The handheld electronic calculator has a blue plastic case with a sliding cover that can also serve as a stand.
Description
This is an example of the first graphing calculator sold by Texas Instruments. The TI-81 was introduced in 1990. The handheld electronic calculator has a blue plastic case with a sliding cover that can also serve as a stand. It has an array of forty-one rectangular plastic keys, many of which can take on three meanings. These include a wide number of arithmetic, trigonometric, statistical, and algebraic functions. Letters of the alphabet also can be represented. The calculator also has four arrow keys, plus a row of five keys immediately under the display that relate to graphing. In addition to performing a wide range of calculations, the calculator could display eight lines of text sixteen characters long or graph up to four functions simultaneously. A mark above the display reads: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TI-81.
The back of the calculator has a compartment at the bottom that holds four AAA batteries as well as a small CR1616 or CR1620 battery. A mark scratched next to the battery compartment reads: R. The device has no serial number, but has a sticker at the top of the back that reads: Reconditioned. A sticker on the battery compartment cover reads: #30. Text on the back of the calculator indicates that the design was copyrighted in 1991. Text below this reads: MADE IN TAIWAN R.O.C.
According to the online Datamath Museum, the first examples of the TI-81 did not include the small battery.
This TI-81 was used in teaching mathematics at Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. For software received as part of the same transaction, see 1999.3054.
References:
[Advertisement], Los Angeles Times, October 15, 1990, p. C16. New TI-81 calculator selling for $99.99. List price $129.95.
[Advertisement]. Washington Post, August 24, 1993, p. C10. TI-81 calculator, regularly $110.00, on sale for $69.99.
[Advertisement]. Washington Post, August 7, 1994, p. AE19. TI-81 calculator, list price of $115.00, on sale for $69.99.
[Advertisement]. Washington Post, September 4, 1994, p. F8. TI-81 calculator, regularly $115.00, on sale for $69.98.
Kidwell, P.A., A. Ackerberg-Hastings, and D. L. Roberts, Tools of American Mathematics Teaching, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008, p. 309.
Online Datamath Museum, accessed June 12, 2015.
Texas Instruments, TI-81 Guidebook. A 1992 edition is online. Accessed June 12, 2015.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1991
maker
Texas Instruments
ID Number
1999.0285.01
accession number
1999.0285
catalog number
1999.0285.01

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