DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM

Texas Instruments TI-30

Date of introduction:	June 13, 1976	Display technology:	LED-stick
New price:	$24.95, £14.95	Display size:	8 (5 + 2)
Size:	5.8" x 3.2" x 1.4"
Weight:	5.3 ounces	Serial No:	6631991
Batteries:	9V or RK2	Date of manufacture:	wk 46 year 1976
AC-Adapter:	AC9132, AC9182	Origin of manufacture:	USA
Precision:	10	Integrated circuits:	TMC0981
Memories:	1
Program steps:		Courtesy of:	Joerg Woerner
		Download manual:	(US: 3.745 kB)

The TI-30 was introduced mid of 1976 together with the SR-40 and the financial calculator Business Analyst. With a SRP of $24.95 compared to the $49.95 of a fully equiped SR-40 the TI-30 was a great success. Probably the best selling calculator ever with about 15,000,000 manufactured units between 1976 and 1983.

Inside the TI-30 is identically to the SR-40, the massive cost reduction was the sum of two details: The rechargable battery pack was replaced by a simple 9V cell and the molded lettering of the coloured keys replaced by a printed key plate. Battery consumption of the TI-30 was horrible, marketing guys from TI invented the after market sales of "Rechargable Kits" RK1 and RK2 ($10.95). They used one or two AA-cells and a step-up converter to generate the 9V of the TI-30.

Another option was the use of the AC9182 AC-Adapter providing 9V DC with an outlet like a 9V battery.

Three simulated vinyl cases were available ($3.95 each) to protect the calculator:

	Blue Denim
	Tan Suede
	Rust Corduroy

The usage of these modern calculators was easy, Texas Instruments invented with the SR-52 the AOS entry that allowed up to three pending operations within the parantheses.

A similar version of the TI-30 was sold under the German Privileg label. Please view the SR-35NC. The German TI-33 lacked the AOS system. In Europe some TI-30 using a different display screen were sold, don't miss the 1^st Italy design of the TI-30.
In the meantime we discovered a rare TI-30 with a completely different keyboard technology.

Simply by comparing the designation of the integrated circuits of the entry line "Majestic" calculators, you'll get the all members of this family:

	TMC0980 Goulds Pumpulator uses a custom design ROM (CD9801)
	TMC0981 TI-30 and SR-40
	TMC0982 Business Analyst and TI-41
	TMC0983 Programmer
	TMC0984 TI-33

Digging deeper into the TMC098x calculator chips you'll locate an OEM-chip used on a TI-30 "clone" manufactured in Hong Kong:

TMC0985 Amelia Scientific 2001

Later in production the metallized TI logo was replaced with an unmetallized. View here the TI-30 w/o chrome.

Press the X-RAY button and view the internals of a TI-30.
(Pictures provided by Edward Soudentas)

It took 5 years before the keyboard layout of the TI-30 appeared again with a LCD calculator. View the TI-30-II. In the meantime LCD calculators like the TI-25 or the TI-50 appeared.

If we call the TI-30 based calculators "entry line" we should name the TI-55 "advanced line".

You like this housing ? Don't miss the TM 990/301 Microterminal.

Don't miss the TI-30 for the vision impaired people, the Schoenherr Braillotron.

Find here an excerpt from the TI Learning Center brochure CB-272 dated 1976:

TI-30. Extended capability calculator with memory, scientific notation.

TI’s unique AOS™ algebraic operating system makes the TI-30 calculator especially useful to secondary students. Problems are entered left-to-right and are executed following standard algebraic hierarchy: First powers, Then multiplication and division, And finally, addition and subtraction. There’s no special entry sequence to learn; thus, students can focus on the mathematical concepts and their application.

A bright 8-digit display indicates negative sign, overflow and underflow, and in scientific notation indicates 5 digits plus 2-digit exponent. Its powerful slide-rule features and keys are ideal for throughout the high school curriculum: memory system for storing intermediate results, up to four pending operations enclosed in up to 15 sets of parentheses, [DRG], [x2], [SQR x], [1/x], [INV], [sin], [cos], [tan], [K], [EE], [log], [lnx], [yx] and [%].

“Calculator Math™ Introductory Algebra”, a supplemental mathematics learning program, was developed by the University of Denver ’s Mathematics Laboratory for use with the TI-30 in secondary classes. A challenging and informative book, The Great International Math on Keys Book, is also available for use with the TI-30. Its 224 pages of valuable operating tips, math fact, useful formulas, puzzles and games are of particular relevance to high school students.

AOS™ is a trademark of Texas Instruments.

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