DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM |
Casio AL-8 Electronic Calculator
Date of introduction: | October 1975 | Display technology: | Fluorescent |
New price: | Display size: | 8 | |
Size: | 5.5" x 3.2" x
0.95" 140 x 82 x 24 mm3 |
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Weight: | 4.9 ounces, 140 grams | Serial No: | 1175283 |
Batteries: | 2*AA | Date of manufacture: | mth 11 year 1975 |
AC-Adapter: | AD-2S | Origin of manufacture: | Japan |
Precision: | 8 | Integrated circuits: | NEC uPD573C |
Memories: | |||
Program steps: | Courtesy of: | Joerg Woerner |
Casio Computer Co., Ltd introduced its first handheld calculator, the Casio Mini, already in 1972. The Casio AL-8 and its sibling AL-10 sold in 1975/76 were the first hand-held calculators operating and displaying fractions.
At first glance you won’t notice a dedicated [a b/c] key known from e.g. the Texas Instruments Galaxy 10 introduced in 1988 or the current TI-30 Xa. Instead you’ll locate a [P] key for six pre-programmed functions accessible through a larger slider switch called "Function Mode Selector":
• SQR | [P] extracts the square root |
• GT | [P] recalls the total accumulated by the [=] key |
• rem | [P] obtains the reminder while the [=] key gives the integer answer in a division |
• a b/c | performs fraction calculations and converts the answer to the decimal scale |
• hms | [P] performs time or angle calculations and converts decimal answers to the sexagesimal scale |
• SD | [P] retrieves the standard deviation in statistical calculations |
Dismantling this Casio AL-8 manufactured in November 1975 reveals a clean design centered around a NEC uPD573C single-chip calculator circuit.
The Casio AL-8 was soon replaced with the AL-8S sporting a dedicated [a b/c] key
for the fractions and the capability to add and subtract dates.
Read more about the
TI-30Xa Solar School Edition for Virginia with the missing [a b/c]
key.
If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.
© Joerg Woerner, May 15, 2011. No reprints without written permission.