Sharp Elsimate EL-2110

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Calculators: Handheld: Sharp Elsimate EL-2110

		Size (approx):	107mm x 178mm x 22mm (closed) (w,h,d) Weight 292g including internal rechargeable batteries
		Power:	2.4V Internal rechargeable batteries. It accepts an adaptor/charger (3V DC, 0.4W, centre positive, EA-17E ) through a socket on the top side to the left.
		Case:	The main case is made from two pieces of matt, smooth and ridged black plastic. A third piece swivels out and rest in one of three positions (side image shows mid-position) that forms a raising leg and, in the third position, a light shield for the display. The top area has a slightly recess section with a silver and red printed brand and model number. The flat and flush green display filter has a raised silver painted escutcheon. The keyboard surround is plastic painted silver with engraved text for the switch labels and brand. The keys are long travel, hollow sounding and quite springy.
		Display:	12 digit green VFD with a thirteenth for negative, memory and error indicators
		Features:	Four standard functions with percentages, mark-up percentages, item count, change sign, square root and four function memory. Switched fixed decimal mode with financial input.
		Age:	1977
		Manufacturer:	Sharp Corporation, made in Japan, serial number 75102763.
		Comments:	Large but quite thin calculator that just fits in the hand but is more at home on the desktop. Unusual swivelling leg and display shield. Bright display which is easy to read even though the digits are quite small, with the Sharp-common right hand side symbol digit. The logic is quite good and only let down by the lack of recovery. The original case is open topped soft black plastic with half-moon cut-outs either side and silver printed Sharp on the front.

Components:	1 x cpu; Hitachi HD38400 7C 45 (date code March 1977), 36 pin 0.6" width black plastic 1 x 9 digit VFD unit: single glass tube round faced: Futaba 9-CT-22 2 x transistors 5 x diodes 8 x capacitors 4 x resistors 1 x transformer: TDK 1432 Japan 2 x rechargeable batteries: Sharp Nickel Cadmium NR-AA 1.2V 450mAh
Boards:	The large main cpu board (F1470CC HDK-B) is attached to the front with five screws and two plastic side lugs. It is also the keyboard circuitry, which means the main components are extremely compact, underneath the display.
Construction:	Remove the single screw from the back. This doesn't help much as the case is held together with internal lugs. Quite difficult and easy to damage your calculator - so if in doubt - don't try. I found the best way was to start at the top by levering in the rear section of the case. Travel down the sides slowly popping the multiple lugs. The rear will eventually lift out and pass through the leg assembly.

Logic comments:	The (CE) button is used to clear last entry of a number and the (C) to clear the whole calculator.
	Overflow on number input is not suppressed, keying in a thirteenth digit results in an overflow
	There is automatic constant on multiply and divide only
	An overflow error shows the result and "C" ("E" if negative) in the far right (first) digit and is not recoverable
	Divide by zero results in "0.C" and is not recoverable
	Negative numbers are flagged by a "-" sign in the far right (first) digit thereby allowing full twelve digit negative numbers
	The mark-up key (MU) can be used to add by a percentage: to add 15% to 50 key in (5)(0)(X)(1)(5)(MU) to give "57.5"
	The count total key (CT) shows you the number of results that you have totalled: this register is cleared by pressing (CT) a second time
	Square roots of negative numbers are not allowed and show the result with "E" in the far left (first) digit and is not recoverable
	Memory store is indicated by the decimal point of the far right (first) digit and is cleared by pressing (RM CM) twice
	A switch changes between floating decimal mode [F} or 4/2/0 fixed decimal rounding mode. When set to accounting mode [A] the input sets to financial mode where (2)(3)(4) is interpreted as 2.34.
	Change sign can be used in mid number entry
	No bugs found

At first look this calculator appears to be around from the mid-1970s due to the archaic style of the keys.

Opening it up and seeing a 1977 date code IC was a bit of a surprise. However, when one considers, the slim case, low voltage requirement, all plastic (i.e. cheap) case design, lack of bugs, low component count - it all makes sense.

Perhaps they were going for the "retro" desktop feel, with those keys - giving it the quality, high cost image.

This image has the swivelling leg still in place (as it is so difficult to remove) but you can still see that the majority of the main board is devoted to the keyboard circuitry. Al the components are squashed up in the top quarter of the board, underneath the display.

There appears to be an area to the top right for something as it is conspicuously empty in the model. I wonder what?