Corvus 411 Handheld Electronic Calculator

Corvus 411 Handheld Electronic Calculator

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Description
This handheld electronic calculator was manufactured by a subsidiary of Mostek Corporation, Corvus Corporation of Dallas, Texas. Founded in 1969 as a spinoff of Texas Instruments, Mostek became a leading manufacturer of semiconductors. Some of its first products were chips used by the Japanese firm of Busicom in desktop electronic calculators— in 1970, Busicom introduced such a calculator that used only a single Mostek chip. For a brief time in the 1970s, Mostek sold electronic calculators under the name Corvus. According to trademark registration for Corvus, the term was first used in commerce referring to an electronic digital calculator in 1973. Advertisements for the Corvus 411 appeared in 1974.
The calculator has a cream-colored plastic case and twenty rectangular plastic keys with a brown keyboard behind them. These include ten digit keys, a decimal point key and a total key. Right of these is a column of four function keys. Directly above the digit keys is a row with EE (enter exponent), pi, inverse, and square root keys. Behind this are two memory keys, an exchange key, and an orange clear key. A sticker directly behind the keyboard reads: CORVUS. Behind this is is a red LED display. It shows the sign of the mantissa, six digits of the mantissa, the sign of the exponent, and two digits of the exponent.
On the back at the bottom is a compartment for four nickel cadmium batteries. A sticker above the battery compartment reads in part: CORVUS 411 (/) ELECTRONIC CALCULATOR. It also reads: SERIAL NO. (/) 411-0135447. It also reads: POWER 6VDC 100 mA 115 (/) V with adaptor (/) CAUTION: Attempted repair (/) by unauthorized persons will (/) void warranty. (/) CORVUS (/) CORPORATION (/) Dallas, Texas. Included are an AC power adapter and an owner’s manual.
All these materials fit into a cardboard box. A mark on the lid of the box reads: CORVUS (/) SLIDE RULE (/) CALCULATOR (/) WITH MEMORY (/) 411. A tag on the bottom of the box reads: $69.95.
References:
[Advertisement], Chicago Tribune, October 1, 1974, p. 6. Several Corvus calculators advertised (not the Corvus 312). The Corvus 411 regularly $99.95, on sale for $69.88.
[Advertisement], Chicago Tribune, November 12, 1974, p. 8. The Corvus 411, regularly $99.95, is advertised as on sale for $69.88.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
electronic calculator
Other Terms
electronic calculator; Handheld
date made
ca 1974
maker
Corvus Corporation
place made
United States: Texas, Dallas
Physical Description
plastic (case; display window; buttons material)
metal (circuitry material)
paper (box; sticker material)
Measurements
overall: 1 5/8 in x 3 in x 6 in; 4.1275 cm x 7.62 cm x 15.24 cm
ID Number
1986.0988.057
catalog number
1986.0988.057
accession number
1986.0988
Credit Line
Gift of John B. Priser
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Computers
Computers & Business Machines
Handheld Electronic Calculators
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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Comments

I have a corvus Mdl#0322. Ser#0322-112824. Still brand new in the brown leather case. JP.

JP Sirianni

Mon, 2017-11-13 15:18

Worked for Corvus Corp in 1974. Shipped the 411 all over the world. Exciting time. Took many of them to Mineral Wells Texas. Great place to have worked. Left to go to Electronic school

Mike Cothron

Mon, 2016-12-26 20:58

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