When I was a kid I used to buy stuff mail order from Ellisdons in Liverpool.
They were a joke and novelty outfit and the kings of mail order fun, a bit like a British version of the Cap'n Company at the back of American monster comics.
I could write a whole blog about what I loved about Ellisdons but one of the items that came through the post was a mechanical calculator called the Chadwick Magic Brain.
Like a pocket sized version of Alan Turings famous machine, this red-plastic edge metal-faced apparatus felt and looked like a mobile phone.
The calculating came from a series of toothed recesses, in which you slotted a metal pen at the numbers you wanted to add, subtract or times and away you went. With the pen tip inserted into a tooth you drew it up or down to make the calculation, which appeared in small windows by way of cogs and dials.
It was quite magical really, in the same way the Magic Robot was magical in the way it answered questions without us really understanding how.
I'm surprised its not still with me really. Being small and slim it was easily portable through time. Maybe one of my older brothers still has it.
Do you remember this device readers? Did you have any other early calculators?
I remember seeing them. Never had one but for some odd reason, I was given a slide rule as a kid!
ReplyDeleteI was always impressed by the mysterious slide rule!
DeleteI had one for years, but Ill be damned if i could ever use it! I loved the steel stylus on the side!
ReplyDeleteYes, the stylus was cool. It attached very neatly into two grips. Lovely!
Deletemy first calculator was a beige Texas Instruments job with brown buttons and a red LED display.
ReplyDeleteSounds very Seventies. Did you write rude words on it?
DeleteI think I've still got one (or two) of their catalogues lying around somewhere. I bought a Frankenstein mask from them back in the '70s.
ReplyDeleteWow Kid, a Frankie Mask. Neat. Was it hard plastic or rubber?
DeleteMy first calculator was Texas Instruments! A white one with a red fascia,6 led digits and no memory! Ultimately I made it all the way up the ladder to the TI59 Programmable, the Deep Thought of its day! I still have a working one, with many of its accessories, including a printer!
ReplyDeleteSend us a snap of your working Deep Thought Kev - for the blog. Sounds incalculably good!
DeleteHave now done so! Calculator geek mode engaged.
Delete