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CONCEPT 24 (Version 2) distributed by Zayre Corp.

Date of introduction:  January 4, 1976 Display technology:  Fluorescent
New price:  SRP $24.88 Display size:  8
Size:  5.7" x 2.8" x 0.9"
 144 x 74 x 23 mm3
   
Weight:  4.0 ounces, 112 grams Serial No:  493176
Batteries:  2*AA Date of manufacture:  mth 01 year 1976
AC-Adapter:   Origin of manufacture:  Japan
Precision:  8 Integrated circuits:  Hitachi HD36260
Memories:  1     
Program steps:   Courtesy of:  Ken Meine

Zayre Corporation was founded in 1956 by Stanley and Sumner Feldberg in Hyannis, Massachusetts as a discount department store chain. Zayre launched already in August 1975 the CONCEPT series of portable electronic calculators with the introduction of their first CONCEPT 24.

The Zayre CONCEPT Calculator Series culminated in June 1976 with the introduction of the Texas Instruments CONCEPT I, CONCEPT II, and CONCEPT III calculators based on the TI-1200, TI-1250, resp. SR-16 II but disappeared already in August 1979 with the clearance sales of the CONCEPT COMPACT calculators.

The CONCEPT 24 calculator in its 2nd design, aka Style 8138, looks familiar to us and we recognize it immediately as Craig 4524. Craig Electronics of Compton, California was a major distributor of stereo equipment and other consumer electronics in the 1960's. Their calculators were usually US and Japanese OEM (original equipment manufacturer) products with the Craig stickers on it. Most recognized was the Model 4501, better known as rebadged Bowmar 901B. We assume that this CONCEPT 24 calculator was manufactured by Toshiba - please compare it with the Homeland 812X model.

Dismantling this CONCEPT 24 calculator manufactured in January 1976 couldn't reveal the OEM. 

The CONCEPT 24 calculator was replaced in October 1976 with the 3rd design of the CONCEPT 24, obviously a copy of a Canon calculator.


Fellow collectors - if you own a Zayre CONCEPT calculator,  please report us the serial number and date code from the back of the calculator for our Database.

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

© Joerg Woerner, February 4, 2010. No reprints without written permission.