DATAMATH  CALCULATOR  MUSEUM

Novus 835 by National Semiconductor 

Date of introduction:  1976 Display technology:  LED-stick
New price:   Display size:  8
Size:  5.4" x 2.7" x 0.9"    
Weight:  4.1 ounces Serial No:  
Batteries:  9V  Date of manufacture:  wk 20 year 1976
AC-Adapter:   Origin of manufacture:  USA
Precision:  8 Integrated circuits:  
Memories:  1    
Program steps:   Courtesy of:  Joerg Woerner

Any idea why you discovered this non-TI calculator within the Datamath Museum ? This Novus 835 produced mid of the year 1976 demonstrates the difficulties of the calculator business in the 1970's. Like some other basic calculators from National Semiconductor this Novus 835 uses chip-on-board (COB) technology. Instead a plastic housing around the calculator chip soldered onto the printed circuit board (PCB) the COB-technology connects the chip directly to the PCB. 

On a first approach this technology is cheap but difficult. On the other hand the calculator chip is only one part of manufacturing costs. To reduce the overall costs the final assembly of the calculator was shifted from the United States to Hong Kong. But in Hong Kong the COB wasn't available. Finally the calculator was redesigned, read more about the National Semiconductor 835A.



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

© Joerg Woerner, February 3, 2002. No reprints without written permission.