Calculators: Handheld: Commodore Minuteman 3
Metric
|
|
Size
(approx): |
75mm
(max) x 105mm x 27mm (max) (w,h,d)
Weight 96g excluding batteries |
|
Power:
|
6.0V DC, internal
rechargeable battery. 0.2A. Accepts
adapter (undefined) through top end socket in the middle. Adapter should be
3mm positive centre. |
|
Case: |
Lovely
palm-sized white matt plastic calculator. Keyboard surround
panel in black plastic and black painted metal display surround. The
latter has a raised and silver painted logo and silver painted "on"
label. Squish but positive keys. Sticking with the red white and
blue key colour scheme this compact calculator just oozes quality.
Useful conversion guide on the back panel as well as the front reminder. |
|
Display: |
8 digit LED with no lens, ninth digit for
minus sign and error flags |
|
Features: |
Four function plus
percentages, four function memory and conversion functions. |
|
Age: |
1974 |
|
Manufacturer: |
Made in England. Serial No.
020086 |
|
Comments:
|
The minuteman
series was a great concept for sturdy handheld calculators. The
display was a lovely flat LED; the vertical bars being made up of four
dots. The (CE) key acts as a function key to change the operation of
a number of keys - very confusing. Original case is stiff brown
plastic with flip over top and popper closing. |
| Components: |
1 x cpu: Unknown MCS 2521A006
0174 (date code week 1 of 1974), 26 pin DIL
2 x chips: One Texas SN75492A M7413 (week 13 of 1974) and one ITT 4S1 7352
(week 52 of 1973) display drivers both 14 pin DIL
1 x nine digit red LED display
1 x transistor
3 x diodes
2 x resistors (one joined between the battery pack and adapter socket)
5 x capacitors
1 x transformer |
| Boards: |
Main CPU board is
is soldered to the keyboard board underneath. It has the reference
numbers PCB 300148, ART 300349B, ASSY 300350 (with a box for a further
mark). A 17 way ribbon connector joins to the display. |
| Construction: |
Remove the two screws on the
back and gently prize the calculator back away from the front. The
battery floats but all the boards are attached to the front. |
| Logic comments: |
(C) cancels an incorrect numerical entry,
pressing a second time clears the calculator |
|
Confusingly (CE) stands for
Conversion Entry. |
|
To convert imperial to metric:
(1)(0)(CE)(0) converts 10 inches into centimetres |
|
To convert metric to imperial:
(3)(0)(4)(8)(CE)(M)(1) converts 3,048 metres into feet |
|
For areas: (1)(0)(0)(CE)(=)(7)
coverts 100 sq, miles into sq. kilometres |
|
For volumes: (1)(0)(0)(0)(CE)(M)(-)(4)
converts 1,000 cubic metres into cubic yards |
|
