New Stuff
Author
Links
Guest book
Web-log
Bric-a-brac
Calculators
Components
Ephemera
Events
Glossary
History
Hit or Miss
Radios
Transport
Valves
Wanted
Metal Puzzles
Clocks
Calculators: Handheld: Decimo Super Vatman II
|
|
Size (approx): |
83mm
(max) x 132mm x 30mm (max) (w,h,d) |
| Power: | 6.0V DC, 4 x AA size batteries, 0.3W. Also accepts adapter/charger (undefined) through a top side socket on the right. Power switch at the top is On / Off / Charge. There is a warning panel saying do not switch to charge with standard batteries in place. | |
| Case: | Chunky two piece plastic case. Bottom is beige, top is matt black. Oversized, wrap over green display filter has painted logo. Decimo logo is metal inset panel. Keyboard surround is brushed aluminium. Top is slightly tilted upwards, including the back which causes the calculator to rock, especially with no batteries to weigh it down. Keys are squishy but positive to use. | |
| Display: | 8 digit green VFD display - ninth used for minus and memory sign. | |
| Features: | Basic four function with percentages, square root and change sign. Five function memory. | |
| Age: | 1976 | |
| Manufacturer: | Decimo Electronic Handy Calculator. Made in Japan. Serial No. S 000437 | |
| Comments: | Classic calculator which has a quality feel in the hand. Logic sound. Imbalance on the desk let it down. Original black plastic case has top cover which fastens with a popper on the front. For those non-UK viewers, VAT stands for Value Added Tax - the purchase tax system in the UK. |
| Components: | 1 x cpu; Rockwell A5911PA
7542 (week 42 of 1975) 42-way DIL 1 x single tube 9 digit VFD tube 1 x DCT-04 (TDK Japan) transformer 2 x transistors 5 x capacitors 3 x resistors 1 x resistor array 2 x diodes |
| Boards: | The keyboard panel rests on top of the battery compartment and is joined to the keyboard by an amazing 15 screws. A flexible 13-way connector joins this to the main board (Ref D-VATb-590C). |
| Construction: | Front can be gently prized off after using the coin guide at the top. Squeeze the cream plastic sides so the lugs separate without breaking. |
| Logic comments: | The Clear Entry key (C/CE) is used to once clear an input number, and a second time to completely reset the calculator |
| Overflow on the input of a number is suppressed | |
| The constant function is automatic on all four functions | |
| The negative sign is shown in the far left ninth digit thereby allowing full eight digit negative numbers. | |
| Memory store is flagged by the ninth (far left) decimal point alight. | |
| Overflow is shown by all eight decimal points alight and the result. Error is recoverable by use of (C/CE) | |
| A divide by zero error is shown by an "0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.". It is recoverable. |
