On 16 Aug 97, Frederick Osborne wrote to JOHN VUOLO:
 FO> Interesting. I've never heard of anyone collecting calculators. How do
 FO> you store/display them?
Early calculators are starting to be considered like old typewriters - they 
are becomming collectable.  I have an old SR-71 from Texas Instruments.  It 
is from 1971, and already it had square root, exponents, most geometric 
functions (sine, cosine, etc) and such on it.  I also have an SR-51, which 
was a model from about 2 years later, that is just *loaded* with functions.  
Have it in the original box and everything.  In fact, I have been looking for 
a place to get the SR-51 repaired, as when you slide over on the power 
switch, the calculator doesn't turn on.  And it's not the battery pack as the 
one in it is almost new.  When I called TI they said they don't service 
models that old. Bummer.  I also have an SR-55, the first "programmable" 
calculator (you'd run a programming strip theough it and put it in a certain 
mode to do certain functions encoded on the strip) and it still works fine.
Anyhow, I would think very early pocket calculators aren't that common 
anymore, and would therefore be collectable.  Just like old computers, like 
the Vic-20, or the Timex/Sinclair, or the original Apple, or the LISA, or the 
Radio Shack TRS model 1.  These units in original boxes are very collectable 
now.  When's the last time you tried to buy 8 inch floppy disks?!
--- GoldED 2.50
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