Toshiba BC-8013

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Calculators: Handheld: Toshiba BC-8013

		Size (approx):	82mm x 130mm x 25mm (w,h,d) Weight 134g excluding batteries
		Power:	3.0V DC using 2 x AA size batteries. It accepts an adapter (ref. BH-113 or BH-114, 3V, 0.3W) through a socket on the top side at the far left. The on/off switch is on the left hand side in line with the Toshiba logo.
		Case:	Two piece glossy black plastic case with a matt black keyboard surround. My example is quite squeaky. There is a black and blue printed metallic sticker at the top that sits in its own recess. A flat but slightly proud neutral display filter gives a bright image. The keys are bouncy and prominent with a lose rattle.
		Display:	8 digit blue VFD with a ninth digit for negative and error indicators.
		Features:	Standard four functions, percentages and square root.
		Age:	1976
		Manufacturer:	Toshiba, Tokyo Shibaura Electric Company Ltd., made in Japan. Serial number D 59148 on the back sticker.
		Comments:	Wide format calculator with a nice blue colour theme and bright display. However, the rattling keys and squeaky case make it feel a bit cheaper than most Toshibas. The logic is poor with the “negative zero” and pseudo fixed decimal bugs. It appears that Toshiba revamped this calculator for Dixons with the Prinztronic C-MOS 1.

Components:	1 x cpu: Toshiba T3332 6-A (date code January 1976) 28 pin DIL, 0.6" width 1 x VFD; 9 digit round faced single glass tube 1 x transistor 6 x diodes 6 x capacitors 5 x resistors 1 x transformer; A-092 TDK
Boards:	The whole assembly sits lose in the case. The keyboard assembly (A092) resting on top of the main cpu board (Toshiba 4466850000). The two are joined together with a stiff 17-way ribbon cable.
Construction:	Not as easy as you would first think to open. Gently prize apart the top whilst pushing in the lug that you can see inside the battery compartment. The top will eventually separate with gently prizing all round.

Logic comments:	(CE) is used to cancel the last number entered and (C) to clear the whole calculator.
	Input overflow is suppressed, inputting a ninth digit is ignored
	Negative numbers are shown with a minus in the ninth (far left) digit thereby allowing full eight digit negative numbers
	There is automatic constant on multiply and divide only
	Divide by zero shows zero and "E" in the far left (ninth) digit and is not recoverable
	Overflow shows the result and "E" in the far left (ninth) digit and is not recoverable
	Negative square roots are not allowed and show zero with “E” in the far left (ninth) digit and is not recoverable
	Used in isolation the percentage key divides the current register by 100
	This calculator suffers from the negative zero bug; try (1)(-)(2)(=) to give “-1” then (+)(1)(=) gives “-0”
	It has the square root of zero bug: key in “0”(√) to give “0.0000000”
	It has the trailing zero bug: key in (1)(0)(0)(/)(=)(=)(=) etc. until you get “0.0000000”. Trailing zeros will now stay when you perform subsequent operations
	There is a pseudo-fixed decimal point “bug”. Try (0)(.)(0)(0)(+)(1)(=) to give “1.00” which remains when you do not exceed two decimal point answers.