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Calculators: Handheld: Adman L-0831T
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Size (approx): | 68mm x
127mm x 17-22mm (w,h,d) Weight 74g excluding batteries |
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Power: |
9.0V DC, 1 x PP3 size battery. Accepts and adapter (undefined) through a socket on the top side to the far right. A warning on the back states that the battery must be removed before using and adapter. | ||
| Case: | The main case is made from two pieces of smooth black plastic with a prominent raised upper area to accommodate the battery. The top has a wrap-around brushed aluminium panel in its own recess. The oversized red plastic display filter sits flush, is heavily angled and gives a reasonably bright display with limited angle of view. This filter has raised lettering which is painted silver – and not survived very well on this example. The keyboard surround is also a wrap-around aluminium panel with black printed text for the key and switch labels. The small keys are short travel with a positive click which rattles when shaken. | ||
| Display: | 8 digit red LED with individual bubble lens and no ninth digit | ||
| Features: | Basic four function with percentages and four-function memory | ||
| Age: | 1976 | ||
| Manufacturer: | No manufacturer details, made in Singapore, serial number 338099 | ||
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Comments:
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Cheap and cheerful calculator that is quite attractive due to the shaped large display filter. The logic is sound with good recovery but let down by a poor memory overflow and pseudo fixed decimal bug. This calculator is very similar to the Texet L-0831 so I suspect it is either a branded version or they were made in the same Singapore factory. |
| Components: | 1 x cpu: Texas TMS0972NL KDSP
7623
(date code week 23 of 1976) 28 pin DIL, 0.6" width 1 x 8 digit bubble lens LED; TIL 395-9 7625 made in Korea 0 x transistors 1 x diode 0 x capacitors 0 x resistors |
| Boards: | The single cpu board (Ref K109 AW145277 Rev A ETCO Pat Pending No. 19916/75 KBA 190515) sits above the keyboard assembly. |
| Construction: | Difficult this one - be careful! Gently prize the back of with a blunt (wooden) instrument whilst squeezing the front in. The back will pop off. It is very easy to lift the aluminium trim so if in doubt - don't do it. |
| Logic comments: | The (CE) key is used to clear the last number entered and the (C) key clears the whole calculator |
| Overflow on the input of a number is suppressed, keying in a ninth digit is ignored | |
| There is automatic constant on all four functions | |
| The negative number is shown by a “-“ sign to the immediate left of a number but as there is no ninth digit for it to travel into you are limited to seven digit negative numbers | |
| An overflow shows the result flashing and is recoverable using (CE) | |
| A divide by zero results in zero flashing and is recoverable using (CE) | |
| There is no indication of memory store – you have to remember it | |
| An overflow in memory will reset it to zero | |
| It suffers from the pseudo fixed decimal bug: key in (1)(+)(0)(.)(0)(0)(0)(=) to give “1.000” which stays as a fixed three decimal point number until more digits are needed or divide or multiply is used. |
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The scan on the left shows the calculator with the rear of the case removed. Only one extra component: a diode across the power supply to stop you plugging in the wrong polarity adapter. The board is attached to the front by melted plastic posts - about as cheap as you can make it - typical of this date. | Compare this with the Texet L-0831 inside case shot. Resize the new window for best comparison - please close new window after use. |
