Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!hp-pcd!hpcvra!rnews!hpcvbbs!akcs.azz710
From: akcs.azz710@hpcvbbs.UUCP (Jeffrey R. Broido)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Calculator Collectors
Message-ID: <26f8378c-2ea.3comp.sys.handhelds-1@hpcvbbs.UUCP>
Date: 20 Sep 90 03:40:04 GMT
References: <2572@uc.msc.umn.edu> <1990Sep16.183341.11550@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Lines: 13

I'm by no means as avid a collector as you folks, though I'd love to
start a collection if I had the means or opportunity.  The only HP
calculators I have are a 34C, 27S, 28C, 28S and my fondly regarded 48SX. 
I do, however, have a real gem.  I have an early model of the world's
first RPN calculator, and it wasn't from HP.  It's a Friden EC-130, was
manufactured by Singer Sewing Machine Co. (no joke), is the size of a
large typewriter, has a four line CRT (electrostatic deflection), and
doesn't have a single integrated circuit.  It was made in '62 or '63,
uses all discrete transistors (row upon row of them) for logic, and a
mechanical delay line for memory.  The thing only adds, subtracts,
multiplies and divides (mine doesn't have the $50 square root option), is
quite slow, and had an original list price of $2,250.  But it is RPN and
uses almost the same conventions as the early HP handhelds; I've always
thought that it was HP's inspiration.  Jeff Broido, (201) 455-0362.