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DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM

Texas Instruments TI-21

Date of introduction:	1982	Display technology:	LCD
New price:		Display size:	8 (5 + 2)
Size:	6.1" x 3.0" x 0.7"
Weight:	4.6 ounces	Serial No:	84948875
Batteries:	2*AA	Date of manufacture:
AC-Adapter:		Origin of manufacture:	Taiwan
Precision:	9	Integrated circuits:
Memories:	1
Program steps:		Courtesy of:	Joerg Woerner

We wrote the year 1982 when Texas Instruments discovered the lower labour costs of Taiwan, R.O.C. compared to US or Europe. Up to 1982 most calculators of Texas Instruments were produced either in US or Italy and some early LCD models like the TI-25 in Japan. Together with the TI-21 some more calculators like the TI-15, TI-18 or the TI-1100 manufactured in Taiwan were introduced. In comparison with the US-built calculators of that era like the late slimline model TI-30-II or the early slanted model TI-55-II the first Taiwan-built calculators look and feel cheaper. But this was only the beginning, a lot of things changed in Taiwan. Ten years later wonderful calculators like the TI-85 were assembled in Taiwan and the cheaper models either in Thailand or nowadays in China.

The TI-21 itself is nothing unusual, at first glance it looks more like an early Casio product than a TI calculator. Dismantling the calculator reveals a very simple construction

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