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
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HP9100 Prototype Desktop Electronic Calculator
- Description
- This transistorized electronic calculator is the prototype for the first electronic calculator sold by Hewlett-Packard Company, the HP 9100. The machine was notable for its ability to compute transcendental functions at the push of a button, and for the range of values that could be computed.
- The prototype has a metal case painted gray. At the right center is an array of nine digit keys and a 0 bar, with clear display, enter exponent, and change sign keys above these. To the right of these keys is an array of fourteen programming keys. Left of the digit keys are keys for arithmetic operations, square roots, and shifting the position of variables within the x, y, and z registers of the calculator . The fifteen further keys to the left are for a variety of trigonometric, hyperbolic, and exponential functions.
- Above these keys are four switches. The leftmost determines whether angles entered and computed are in radians or degrees. The second switch from the left determines whether the decimal point is floating or fixed. The third switch turns the power on or off. The rightmost switch sets the mode as run or program. A display and a dial that may be set between 0 and 9 are behind the keyboard and switches. At the back are a power cord and a connector.
- The prototype brought together ideas of Thomas Osborne, Malcolm McMillan, and others at Hewlett-Packard. For Osborne’s earlier prototype, see 19780311.01 and 1978.0311.02. For a production model of the HP9100B, see 2012.0044.01.
- Bernard M. Oliver, “How the Model 9100A Was Developed,” Hewlett-Packard Journal, September, 1968. A copy of this article is at the HP Museum website.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1966
- date received
- 1978
- maker
- Hewlett-Packard Company
- Osborne, Thomas E.
- ID Number
- 1978.0311.03
- accession number
- 1978.0311
- catalog number
- 1978.0311.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Wang 700 Electronic Calculator
- Description
- In March of 1968, An Wang saw a prototype of Hewlett-Packard’s HP9100 programmable desktop calculator. This machine reduced the task of finding many scientific functions from programming to pushing a key. In response, Wang Laboratories announced plans for a new set of calculators for the scientific and engineering communities, the series 700 advanced programming calculator. The instrument came on the market in mid-1969.
- A large keyboard at the front of the machine includes keys for entering digits, carrying out arithmetic operations, and finding squares, square roots, and reciprocals. A separate key enters the number pi. Another set of keys performs operations for both logarithms and exponents in base e and base 10. Special function keys above the digit keys are set for trigonometric and hyperbolic functions. A tape cassette on the right above the keyboard allows for entering programs via magnetic tape. Left of the tape drive is a Nixie tube display that shows up to twelve digits in two registers, followed by the sign of the exponent and the exponent.
- A mark on the front left of the calculator reads: WANG. A metal tag at the back reads: Wang Laboratories, Inc. (/) ELECTRONIC CALCULATOR (/) MODEL NO. 700C (/) SERIAL No. 811055-C (/) TEWKSBURY, MASS. U.S.A. Marks on the rightmost column of keys confirm that is a model Wang 700C, having debugging features characteristic of that machine. It was released in 1972. A paper sticker on the right back reads: JUL 8 1970 [sic]. The July date is scribbled over one reading JUN 3. Hence the object dates from at least 1970, most probably about 1972.
- Documentation received with the calculator dates from 1969, 1970, and 1972.
- Reference:
- An extensive discussion of the Wang 720C advanced programming calculator is at The Old Calculator Web Museum.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1972
- maker
- Wang Laboratories
- ID Number
- 1983.0171.01
- catalog number
- 1983.0171.01
- accession number
- 1983.0171
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Hewlett-Packard 9100B Desktop Electronic Calculator
- Description
- This programmable desktop electronic scientific calculator has a beige metal case, a cathode ray tube display, a keyboard with four groups of keys, and a slot for a magnetic program card. The leftmost set of 15 tan keys includes coordinate conversion, logarithmic, exponential, trigonometric, and absolute value function keys. A switch above it can be set at degrees or radians.
- The set of 15 ivory and dark brown keys second from the left allows for the positioning and storage of numbers in different registers. Next to the right is a set of 20 brown and ivory keys to enter numbers and to specify machine functions. The rightmost set of 14 tan keys is used for programming.
- Five hand-wound circuit boards are inside the case, and three smaller circuit boards are inside the lid. There is a white power cord. A sticker on the back of the machine reads: SERIAL NUMBER (/) 938-02147.
- The Crocker Nuclear Laboratory of the University of California at Davis acquired this machine in May of 1970 for a price of $5,195.00. Funds came from the Atomic Energy Commission’s Experimental Nuclear Physics program.
- For related prototypes, see the green machine of Thomas Osborne (198.0311.01, 1978.0311.02) and the prototype HP9100A (1978.0311.03).
- Reference:
- Accession File.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1970
- date received
- 2012
- maker
- Hewlett-Packard Company
- ID Number
- 2012.0044.01
- accession number
- 2012.0044
- catalog number
- 2012.0044.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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