OLD CALCULATORS: Two blinding examples from America

Obviously there was an error in the voting software. 'Old Calculators' is the official new Idiot Toys 'Thing'. So get them out for the lads.

Although, sadly, the series would appear to have peaked with update #1.



"Hello My Animal Crossing replacement site. You mentioned you wanted some feedback on what to cover. You mentioned old calculators were a possibility. I thought I'd try and get some momentum for the calculator camp by sending in these two beauties from my private reserve of old calculators."



"The first is the Sharp Compet CS-1109A from 1976 (Japanese release - US release was '77, European release unknown)."



"It is mains-powered only and comes complete with its original dust cover."



"It would be classed as a second-generation digital calculator, and was considered rather small for its day. As with much of the Compet series, it stands as a bit of a white elephant as weeks after its release proper pocket calculators started hitting the streets."



"Sharp still found a market for a desktop device however, and trickled out somewhere between 15 and 30 Compet products (it is unknown if devices such as the CS1152D carried the Compet moniker, though given Sharp's progressive system of numbering, it seems likely.)



"The Compet range evolved into a printer-class in the end, because if you're going to have a massive calculator on your desk, it might was well print stuff I guess."




"Next up is an Olivetti Underwood Electric Adding Machine Mk1."



"This is a super-rare Argentinian-manufactured version, and dates from 1967.



"It works like a charm to this day, though for the fife of me, fathoming how a thing full of cogs can tell you the answers to complex sums is beyond me."



"This model's innards were the basis of all Olivetti's adding machines, though bits were added in some later models. The exact insides remained while the outside saw a series of facelifts in the late sixties and early seventies."



[EDITOR'S NOTE: Mention possibility of "Old Calculators With Faces" as possible new feature going forward, although suspect it may be too niche]



"Have a look at the included ads and you'll see that this was touted as a legitimate portable piece of hardware back when it was launched. (The ads are from 1968.)"



"So, in lieu of reading My Animal Crossing, the best site to be RECKLESSLY ABANDONED on all the Internets, I try to push you in the direction of old calculators."



"They are indeed, full of win - StfnWltrz."