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Texas Instruments TI-1754

Date of introduction:  1982 Display technology:  LCD
New price:   Display size:  8
Size:  2.2" x 3.9" x 0.20"
 56 x 97 x 5 mm3
   
Weight:  1.5 ounces, 43 grams Serial No:  7863326
Batteries:  2*LR54  Date of manufacture:  
AC-Adapter:   Origin of manufacture:  Taiwan
Precision:  8 Integrated circuits:  Sharp LI3033MT
Memories:  1    
Program steps:   Courtesy of:  Stefan Klaes

In 1981/1982 Texas Instruments introduced not only cheap looking calculators manufactured in Taiwan like the TI-1015 or TI-1006 but some very stylish and thin calculators. 

The line covers the TI-1754 (credit card sized), TI-1755 (golden trim), TI-1756 (silver edition of the TI-1755) and TI-1757 (Music Card). All four models got an audible instead of a tactile feedback of the entries.

Dismantling this TI-1754 manufactured in 1982 by a non-disclosed OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) in Taiwan reveals a clean design centered around a Sharp LI3033MT single-chip calculator circuit soldered on a double-sided printed circuit board (PCB) and powered by two LR54 (LR1130) batteries.

Inspecting the PCB of this TI-1754 calculator brought our attention to a small mark reading MK75, we spotted this PCB-Mark already with the near identical offspring Unisonic LC-7411G and suspect to locate it in the MBO Deluxe, too. Based on the PCB-Marks located with the TI-2130 and its twin Technico F-800 we are almost positive that the TI-1754 and its siblings were manufactured by Inventa Electronics Corporation of Taipei, Taiwan. We started compiling a list of the PCB-Marks on calculators manufactured by OEMs for Texas Instruments.

Later credit card sized calculators like the TI-1780 and TI-1786 show a much cheaper looking design.

Don't miss the Casio FIML CARD SL-800, a real credit card sized calculator with a thickness of only 0.030".

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If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.

© Joerg Woerner, October 20, 2004. No reprints without written permission.