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Calculators: Handheld: Prinztronic SR99M (type I)
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Size (approx): | 80mm
(max) x 123mm x 21mm (max) (w,h,d) Weight 114g excluding batteries |
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Power: |
2.4 to 3V DC, 2 x AA size battery, 0.25W. Also accepts adapter/charger (DC 3V, 200mA, centre positive) through bottom side socket on the right. The battery compartment cover has a small table showing when an adapter/charger can be used; Ni-Cd and no batteries is OK, but manganese and alkaline is not. Quoted battery life for manganese or Ni-Cd is 3 hours. | ||
| Case: | Stylish calculator case in two-piece black (or very dark brown) gloss plastic. It is dominated by a wrap around brushed aluminium panel on the front. This is printed with black text for the brand, model name and on/off switch label. A slightly proud but flat green display filter also wraps over the left hand edge. They keys are long travel, squishy and very reminiscent of Casio keys. | ||
| Display: | 8 digit green VFD with a ninth digit used for negative, error and memory indication | ||
| Features: | Standard four functions with percentages, sign change, square root, pi, and three function memory control. | ||
| Age: | c1976 | ||
| Manufacturer: | Made in Japan (for Dixons). Serial No. 234044. | ||
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Comments:
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High quality calculator with a stylish design. The original cover is soft black plastic with an open top and half-moon cut-outs. There are four documented versions of this calculator. The logic is better with no nasty bugs I can find but let down by poor recovery. |
| Components: | 1 x cpu: NEC µPD278C
H5Y066 28 pin DIL, 0.6" width 1 x 9 digit VFD unit: round faced single tube: Toshiba E6532A 6B6J2G 2 x transistor 4 x diodes 8 x capacitors 3 x resistor arrays 5 x resistors 1 x transformer unit: 513 (if that's a date code then its March 1976) |
| Boards: | The main cpu board sits on the base of the calculator held in place by four plastic posts and adapter socket whilst the keyboard assembly sits loosely on top. The boards are joined by a 15-way block of wires. |
| Construction: | Very difficult to open as it is sealed using internal lugs only and the sides of the case are very stiff. There is what looks like a coin slot at the top - but this appears to be useless. You have to try and squeeze in the front of the case (on the left), the rear (on the right, top and front) and pop the easiest lug. Damage is highly like so if in doubt - don't do it. The front will eventually lift of. |
| Logic comments: | The (C) button is used once to clear entry of a number, a second time to clear the calculator |
| Overflow on number input is suppressed, keying in a ninth digit is ignored | |
| There is automatic constant on multiplication and division only | |
| Negative numbers are shown with a “-“ sign in the far left (ninth) digit thereby allowing full eight digit negative numbers | |
| The sign change key (+/-) can be used in mid number entry | |
| Overflow shows the result and “C” (or “E” if negative) in the far left (ninth) digit and is not recoverable | |
| Divide by zero shows zero result and “C” in the far left (ninth) digit and is not recoverable | |
| The (M=) keys is actually a memory-plus function, adding the contents of the display to the current memory | |
| To clear the memory use the recall key (RM) twice | |
| Memory store is indicated by a decimal point in the far left (ninth) digit | |
| Negative square roots are not allowed and result in a positive error state which is not recoverable |
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The manual is 16 printed pages
and 72mm wide by 104mm high. The cover is printed four spot colour
(black, silver, orange, purple) whilst the inside pages are one colour
black.
The instructions are basic and clear. They state that the minus sign floats to the front of results, which is not true. Printed in Japan. |
