Canon 8m LD-8M3 Type II

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Calculators: Handheld: Canon Palmtronic 8M (aka LD-8M3) (type II)


		Size (approx):	77mm x 142mm x 20mm (w x h x d) Weight 112g not including batteries.
		Power:	3.0V DC using 2 x AA size batteries. It accepts an adapter (3V DC 0.4W, AD-2) through a socket on the top side to the far left. Battery life is quoted as over 8 hours (manganese) and over 14 hours (alkaline). For some unknown reason the manual states "Do not leave the adapter connected to outlet [sic] when not in actual use [sic]".
		Case:	The case is two-piece mottled black plastic. It is brick shaped with rounded front vertical edges and a half-ridged design on the front top area. A metallic gold and black label bears the make and model number and sits in its own recess. The keyboard surround is shiny brushed aluminium. The neutral display filter is flat, flush and shaped like the case and gives a clean bright image. The springy keys are long travel with a soft click and work very well.
		Display:	8 digit blue VFD with a ninth digit for negative, error and memory indicators.
		Features:	Standard four functions with percentages, square root and four-function memory.
		Age:	c1979
		Manufacturer:	Canon Inc., made in Japan. Serial number from the sticker on the inside of the battery cover is 132028. Also own 126174 and 524038.
		Comments:	Nice feeling quality calculator with a design that covered quite a few models. This Type II is easily recognized by the five ridges above the display but is otherwise very similar to the case of the Type I. The logic is OK with good recovery but is let down by negative square roots. The original case if soft black plastic, open top with front and rear cut outs. It is embossed Canon on the front and Japan on the back, but looks a little too small.

Components:	1 x cpu; Texas TMS1042NL MDT 7914 (date code week 14 of 1979) , 28 pin DIL, 0.6" width (example 126174) (a second example 132028 was date coded 8018 and the display was "OK" - November 1980) 1 x 9 digit VFD unit, single glass tube flat faced: Futuba 9-ST-20 9C (suspect this is March 1979) 2 x transistors 4 x diodes 5 x capacitors 3 x resistors 0 x resistor arrays 1 x transformer; TDK CT-1021
Boards:	The main cpu board (EH1-0090-02 Canon Inc) sits loose on top of the keyboard assembly. The keyboard is joined by 20 strong copper wires and fixed to the front with one screw.
Construction:	Quite difficult to open - try using a finger nail to pop one of the sides (right side is easier), gently squeezing in the back. Then pop the other side and carefully hinge off the rear from the top. If in doubt - don't force it.

Logic comments:	The (CI) key is used to cancel an entry whilst the (C) clears the whole calculator
	Input overflow is suppressed, inputting a ninth digit is ignored.
	Negative numbers are shown with a "-” in the far left (ninth) digit thereby allowing full eight digit negative numbers.
	There is automatic constant on all four functions
	Divide by zero shows zero and “C” in the far left (ninth) digit and is recoverable using (CI)
	Overflow shows the result and “C” (or “E” if negative) in the far left (ninth) digit and is recoverable using (CI)
	Negative square roots are allowed and result in a negative number
	There is indication of memory store by an upper “n” in the far left (ninth) digit

	The box measures 83mm x 146mm and is 28mm deep. A double tuck-end three colour (dark red, yellow and black) box with yellow boxes on the end labelled "A " which look like they would take serial number stickers. Obviously emphasises the "street name" of 8M whilst the ends refer to LD-8M3. It has the words "Electronic Calculator" in English, French, German and Spanish on the side.		The manual measures 127mm x 79mm and is printed in one colour blue throughout. It is a 16pp fan-fold format. It is impressive that such a small manual manages to cram in loads of instructions and examples in English, German, French, Spanish and Italian. Ref PUB.IM3012F 0379B72.5, printed in Japan. The colour scheme does not match the box - but does match the calculator.