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Retro Computing - Latest posts · Aug 9, 2026

A harking for the past?

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scruss · Retro Computing

21

I have a Sharp Compet desktop calculator from 1969 that has nixies. It does not, however, feature programming cards. That seems more like an HP thing.

It does have some kind of logic interface on the back, but I have no documentation for that.

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drogon 22

I have an Anita Mk10 from the 60s. Not programmable. It has Nixies and a Decatron. However it’s non working and in a poor state of repair. Maybe one day I’ll resurrect it.

-Gordon

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elb 23

I have an HP 97 with a mag card reader, but it has an LED display. I’m not sure there were any HPs with both nixie tubes and mag cards, by the early 1970s (when the programmables started appearing) the displays were almost all LED.

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amenjet 24

I have a few Rockwell 920s, they have printers and magnetic cards and a lot of program steps. I have a PC1300, that also has a printer and magnetic cards. The paper on that one uses the the metalised paper, though, which is tricky to find. I also have a Casio PRO FX-1 which uses magnetic cards. The Casio and Sharp have hand-powered card readers, which is more reliable than the motorised version, they just work, really. None of these are nixie tube displays, though, the Rockwell is panaplex and the rest are VFD.

oldben 25

I just remember using them, and they were big scientific monsters.Nice to see other vintage calculators
out there.

amenjet 26

The Rockwells are big, yes. I have a Monroe 9820 as well, and some PC1001s. All PPS4 processors.

Yes, I routinely use my nixie-based Compucorp Scientist 122E desktop. It is keypress programmable similar to the early HP and TI calculators:

20260810_151104

I also use several calculators because of their unique display or shape. The Castell Novo-Biplex monster, considered the ultimate in linear rules, is hand-powered, unlike the Casio CM-100 solar computer math calc which has been my companion mostly for hex conversion and offset calculations when doing hand assembly.

20260809_095618

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EdS 28

Oh, that CM-100 is special!

amenjet 29

Have you seen the Casio FX-190, talking about rules?

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Oh my, No! Now I want one…

amenjet 31

Did you see that there are two? The FX190 and the FX191. One is in mm and one in inches.
And the LCD marks along the ruler?
The scientific keys are reminiscent of the FX502P, the whole thing is quite exquisite. It can perform calculations and then put the result on the LCD bars that run the length of the ruler.

EdS

32

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Just arrived and it’s already a favourite.

1000098871

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scruss 34

The 24-scale Novo-Biplex is indeed a monster. I inherited a Hemmi/Post Versalog 1460, with a mere 23 scales, and it’s an utter bear to work with even with the full hardbound manual at hand. TBH, I find the simple Ricoh 102 student slide rule (which a seller on ebay had a whole load, new in box, still wrapped) much easier to use. But it lacks the belt-mounted slip-stick scabbard that the Versalog came in.

Read the original on retrocomputingforum.com

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