Commodore Vintage Calculators Refernce Information

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Commodore Reference Information

For you researchers here is a summary of some of the manufacturing information about the Commodore calculators contained on this web site. To see a range of their calculators click on Commodore Calculators.

The First Calculators and Large Minuteman series
On the right you can see the very first Commodore calculator the C110 from early 1972 (possibly late 1971). This appears to be a branded Bowmar model. Very sturdy calculators with rechargeable batteries, Klixon keyboards and Reverse Polish Notation Logic. This model was rapidly followed by the redesigned MM1 and MM2 series Minuteman calculators.

C110
1971/2

Model	Brand	Case Colour	Main IC	Date Code	No. Digits	Display	Power	Country	Serial No.
C110	CBM	light/dark grey	?	7204	8 + 1	LED flat	9V(R)	USA	G8222

Miniature Minuteman Series
Fascinating early miniature calculators with confusing Minuteman / MM numbering system. Most had a curvy white plastic case that was quite innovative for its time. Notice the first use of the red, white and blue colour scheme for the keys - I guess this was equally patriotic for American or British markets. They are especially nice for using the flat (multi-dot) type of LED displays which are bright and allow a wide angle of viewing. However, some (presumably later ones) use the standard bubble-lens LEDs which have a much more limited viewing angle. The range appears to cover mid 1973 to early 1974 and uses the MOS range of ICs - which Commodore were later to buy. They are also surprisingly low in component count when you open them up which must have given Commodore quite a cost advantage over its competitors. Good examples are hard to come by as the case had a front popper closing system that could damage either the case or the display escutcheon.

Minuteman 3 Metric
1974

Model	Brand	Case Colour	Main IC	Date Code	No. Digits	Display	Power	Country	Serial No.
Minuteman 3M	CBM	white	MOS MCS 2521 A002	2673	8+1	LED flat	6V(R)	USA	024739
Minuteman MM3R (MT)	CBM	White	Texas TMS0132NC	7346	8+1	LED flat	6V(R)	Japan	269955
Minuteman 3 metric	CBM	white	MOS MCS 2521 A006	0174	8+1	LED flat	6V(R)	UK	020086
Minuteman 3 metric	Commodore	white/dark brown	MOS MCS 2521 A006	1374	8+1	LED bubble	6V(R)	UK	031962
Minuteman MM3PM	CBM	white	Western Digital LC1552-B	7436	8+1	LED bubble	6V(R)	UK	18267
MM3MT	Commodore	white	Texas TMS0132NC	7409	8+1	LED flat	6V(R)	USA	006487
Minuteman 6	CBM	black/aluminium	?	?	6+1	LED flat	9V PP3	Japan	95563

Custom Green Line Series
The same case throughout with slightly varying size of oversized green plastic display filter. Most start with the GL (for Green Line) prefix but the later ones started with a nine and then were followed by an R or D. In both cases the R stood for rechargeable batteries, the D being disposable and all could be powered by an adapter. In the GL series it appears that the second digit stood for the total number of display digits. Even in this small list you can see that some calculators were deliberately downgraded; their ICs were capable of a lot more functions but keys were not given for these. For example, the GL-976M did not give keys for the reciprocal, square or register exchange that was on board the IC. The 4.5V specification was an over-rating for the charging voltage needed - the operating voltage would have been 3V as with the D models. The range appears to have spanned late 1974 to mid-1976.

GL-996R
1975

Model	Brand	Case Colour	Main IC	Date Code	No. Digits	Display	Power	Country	Serial No.
GL-976M(D)	Commodore	white/black	Commodore GRBP-67	7536	7 + 0	green VFD	3V 2xAA	Japan	03445
GL-976M(R)	Commodore	white/black	Commodore GRBP-67	7514	7 + 0	green VFD	4.5V 2xAA(R)	Japan	046230
GL-979D	Commodore	white/black	Commodore GRBP-67	7540	7 + 0	green VFD	3V 2xAA	Japan	69309
GL-986R	Commodore	silver/black	Western Digital LC1552-B	7446	7 + 1 ?	green VFD	4.5V 2xAA(R)	Japan	67920
GL-996R	Commodore	white/black	Commodore GRBP-89	7527	8 + 1	green VFD	4.5V 2xAA(R)	Japan	076051
GL-997R	CBM	white/black	Commodore GRBP-89	7531	8 + 1	green VFD	4.5V 2xAA(R)	UK	55738
9R-25	Commodore	white/black	MOS MPS7545	1976	8 + 1	green VFD	4.5V 2xAA(R)	Japan	91499

Red LED "7" and "8" series
The numerous "7" series consisted of tall slim bodied, usually basic calculators in brown/beige, beige or black. The "8" series had a similar design but with a fatter body to accommodate wider and more keys. All were powered by 9V batteries or an adapter. As you can see this design survived many years from late 1974 to mid 1979 though the later models tended to have cheaper looking aluminium keyboard surrounds printed black. Again, evidence of some downgrading is clear by comparing the 3D-98 IC. It also appears that these models are more commonly made (actually assembled is the general opinion) in local territories rather than in the Far East. This type of case was used at least once for a Scientific model, the SR7919 with a "function key" operation to minimise the number of keys required. The suffix "M" for memory and "D" for disposable is almost consistent (the D being dropped from the rear label but kept on the box) but I'm not sure what the "A" represented. Interestingly, from the two 796M models I have it shows that ICs made in the 10th week of 1976 were used for at least 30,389 calculators - from the serial numbers.

784D
1974

Model	Brand	Case Colour	Main IC	Date Code	No. Digits	Display	Power	Country	Serial No.
776M	Commodore	brown/beige	Commodore GRBP-67	7549	7 + 0	LED bubble	9V PP3	USA	484121
784D	CBM	brown/beige	Commodore RBP-01-B (or 8)	7449	8 + 1	LED bubble	9V PP3	UK	03038
786D	Commodore	blue	Commodore 3D-98MT	4876	8 + 0	LED bubble	9V PPS	UK	111313
796M	Commodore	black	Commodore 3D-98	7610	8 + 1	LED bubble	9V PP3	UK	190754
796M	Commodore	black	Commodore 3D-98	7610	8 + 1	LED bubble	9V PP3	UK	221043
797	Commodore	brown/beige	Commodore 3D-98MT	3476	8 + 1	LED bubble	9V PP3	Hong Kong	46830
797M	Commodore	beige	MOS MPS7560	3079	8 + 1	LED bubble	9V PP3	Hong Kong	059436
668D	Commodore	beige	Commodore RBP-01-B (or 8)	7449	8+1	LED bubble	9V PP3	USA	047656
887D	Commodore	beige/brown	Commodore GRBP-89	7527	8 + 1	LED bubble	9V PP3	USA	168484
887ND	Commodore	beige	MOS MPS7653	4777	8 + 1	LED bubble	9V PP3	Hong Kong	42237
897D	Commodore	brown/beige	Commodore 3D-98	2376	8 + 1	LED bubble	9V PP3	USA	009890
899A	Commodore	beige	Commodore 3D32C	7644	8 + 1	LED bubble	9V PP3	UK	128951
899D	Commodore	beige	Commodore 3D-31-2A	7610	8 + 1	LED bubble	9V PP3	Japan	07009
7923	Commodore	beige	MOS MPS7564	0778	8 + 1	LED bubble	9V PP3	Hong Kong	51132
8120D	Commodore	beige/brown	Commodore GHU-03A	7549	12	LED Bubble	9V PP3	USA	098880

Scientific, Financial and Button Monsters
These fabulous calculators showed Commodore's desire to push the technology to the limit and supply advanced specialist calculators. Some like the SR (Slide Rule) series were the forerunners of today's standard scientific models - but with occasional obscure functions. The "F" (Financial) and "P" (Programmable) series died with the advent of computers and spreadsheets. There were also more esoteric series such as the "N" (Navigation), "S" (Statistician) and "M" (Mathematician) that were never even copied by competitors.

SR4148R
1976

Model	Brand	Case Colour	Main IC	Date Code	No. Digits	Display	Power	Country	Serial No.
F4146R	Commodore	black	Commodore GHU-03A	7605	12+2	LED bubble	6V 4xAA(R)	USA	062703
F4146R	Commodore	black	Commodore G-04	7632	12+2	LED bubble	6V 4xAA(R)	UK	100998
F4902	Commodore	black	MOS M867561 0041078	c1978	12	LED bubble	9V PP3	Hong Kong	14943 201449-04
P50	Commodore	brown	MOS MPS7561 0083778	c1975	8+2	LED bubble	9V PP3	Hong Kong	63947
SR4120D	Commodore	black	MOS MPS 7200 0278	c1978	8+2	LED bubble	9V PP3	UK	122427
SR4148R	Commodore	black	Commodore GHU-03A	7439	12+2	LED bubble	6V 3xAA(R)	USA	082916
SR4190R	Commodore	black	MOS MPS 7200 5177	c1977	12+2	LED bubble	6V 3xAA(R)	UK	130180
SR7919	Commodore	black/beige	MOS MCS 7529 009	2676	7+2	LED bubble	9V PP3	UK	94990
SR912	Commodore	black	MOS MPS 7561 0053478	c1978	10+2	LED bubble	9V PP3	Hong Kong	90899 201450-04
SR9120D	CBM	Black	Commodore GHU-02A	7531	12+2	LED flat	9V PP3	Japan	09112
SR1800	Commodore	Black	Commodore GHU-03A	7614	10+2	Green VFD	4.5V 3xAA	Japan	92169

The Minuteman Name
The Minuteman marketing name was used for the early Commodore calculators and continued randomly in use as a secondary branding well into the late 1970s.

The origin of the name Minuteman is traceable to the 17th century when it was a US (in fact Massachusetts) military name for a small hand-picked elite force which were required to be highly mobile and able to assemble quickly. Typically 25 years of age or younger, they were chosen for their enthusiasm, reliability, and physical strength. The Minutemen were the first armed militia to arrive or await a battle. They are mentioned famously supporting Washington during the Revolutionary War in America.

Presumably it was this "ready at short notice to solve your problem" that spurred Commodore on to use this as a strap-line.

Interestingly, the Minuteman badge was revamped for use in the "Minuteman 76 Series" which consisted of the SR6140R, SR6120R, SR9140D, SR9120D and SR990D scientific calculators from 1976.