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CONCEPT COMPACT distributed by Zayre Corp.

Date of introduction:  October 10, 1976 Display technology:  Fluorescent
New price:  SRP $29.00 Display size:  8
Size:  4.8" x 2.8" x 0.55"
 122 x 70 x 14 mm3
   
Weight:  4.1 ounces, 116 grams Serial No:  
Batteries:  2*NiCd coin batteries Date of manufacture:  year 1976
AC-Adapter:   Origin of manufacture:  Taiwan
Precision:  8 Integrated circuits:  NEC uPD278C
Memories:  1    
Program steps:   Courtesy of:  Joerg Woerner

Concept-Compact_BACK.jpg (307085 Byte)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 this CONCEPT COMPACT calculators.

Concept-Compact_PCB1.jpg (407735 Byte)Once again, like the 2nd and 3rd design of the CONCEPT 24 and the CONCEPT V, we couldn't identify the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) of the calculator. Not counting the wonderful CONCEPT I wins this CONCEPT COMPACT calculator almost every beauty contest. Compare it with the Rockwell 22K introduced a few months earlier.

*** Update March 4, 2011: The Concept Compact calculator was manufactured by Cal-Comp Electronics, don't miss the Compex ST-10. ***

Concept-Compact_PCB.jpg (381186 Byte)Dismantling this calculator manufactured mid of 1976 reveals a nice design centered around a NEC uPD278C single-chip calculator circuit.

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 5, 2010. No reprints without written permission.