Strand

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Calculators: Handheld: Strand


		Size (approx):	78mm x 136mm x 15-23mm (w,h,d) Weight 122g excluding batteries.
		Power:	3.0V DC, 2 x AA size batteries. Also accepts adapter (undefined, 0.2W) through a right side socket in line with the on/off switch. Battery life is quoted as 10 hours (manganese) and 20 hours (alkaline) approx.
		Case:	The calculator is made from a glossy black and silver plastic case. The front is dominated by a wrap-around huge green plastic display filter. The latter has the brand name printed in white letters - not totally straight. The keyboard is surrounded by what looks like a painted metal panel with reversed out text and red coloured label for the (%) key. They keys are short travel with a positive loud click and work well on my example. There is a recessed area on the back for an owner's name sticker.
		Display:	8 digit green VFD with a ninth digit for minus and error indication
		Features:	Basic four function with percentages and change sign
		Age:	c1975
		Manufacturer:	Rear label says "Supplied exclusively for W.H. Smith by Decimo". Serial Number 17001305, made in Japan.
		Comments:	Design that crops up on numerous calculators (see Same Calculators) but this one is odd as it mentions Decimo as the sub-supplier. Switching on is a bit of a surprise as the digits are much higher (1cm from the top) than you would expect - and lop-sided. The logic is OK but let down by lack of recovery. Original shaped case is black matt plastic, open topped with half-moon cut out and stiff back. It also has a cut-out at the bottom to let the air out as you slide it in and is embossed with the word "Strand" on the front. The calculator was originally supplied with its batteries and cover.

Components:	1 x cpu; NEC µPD941C J5871M, 28 pin DIL, 0.6" width 1 x single round face glass tube 9-digit VFD 1 x transistor 7 x capacitors 9 x resistors 4 x diodes 1 x transformer
Boards:	The keyboard assembly floats loose on top of the main cpu board which is also unattached to the body. They are joined via a 11-way ribbon cable and one wire. The display tube sits on its own board and is, in this case, mounted lop-sided.
Construction:	Remove the screw from the back (at the top) and gently lift off the front half hinging from the bottom.

Logic comments:	The Clear key (CE) will cancel last entry whilst the (C) key will clear the calculator completely
	Overflow on the input of a number is not suppressed - keying in a ninth digit causes and overflow that is recoverable using (CE)
	There is automatic constant on all functions
	The negative sign is shown on the immediate left of a number and travels into the ninth digit to allow eight digit negative numbers
	Divide by zero results in zero and "E" in the far left (ninth) digit and is not recoverable
	Overflow shows the result and "C" (or "E" if negative) in the far left (ninth) digit and is not recoverable
	The change sign function can be used in mid number entry but not before

	The "manual" measures 65mm by 129mm and is just one sheet of two printed pages in black only. One side is specifications, the other is examples, in English only. No country of origin or reference numbers.