Vintage British Calculators

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Binatone

Binatone Electronics Ltd. was founded in 1959 by two brothers, Gulu and Partap Lalvani, and was named after Bina, their younger sister.  Based in Wembley, on the outskirts of London, the company specialised in importing consumer electronics from the far east.  It continues to be a thriving business.

With the running down of Sinclair Radionics in 1979, Binatone bought the stock and rights to the Sinclair Enterprise calculators and the Microvision televisions[1].

Known Binatone vintage calculator models:

Binatone Model 02/4252

Binatone Model 02/4252
Inside

Binatone Model 02/4252

Display is 8 digits, green Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD).

4-function, %.

6v (4x AA batteries).

Integrated circuit - Texas Instruments TMS 0857NL (here date coded to late 1975).

78 x 145 x 29 mm (3.1" x 5.7" x 1.1").

Made in Singapore.

Binatone BRAINWAVE

Binatone BRAINWAVE
Inside

Binatone BRAINWAVE

Display is 8 digits, red LED.

4-function, %, memory.

9v (PP3 battery).

Integrated circuit - Texas Instruments ZA0571 (here date coded to early 1976).

70 x 140 x 24 mm (2.75" x 5.5" x 0.9").

Made in Singapore.

Binatone CADET

Binatone BRAINWAVE

Binatone CADET

Display is 8 digits, VFD.

4-function, %, memory.

3v (2x AA batteries).

72 x 125 x 19 mm (2.8" x 4.9" x 0.75").

Binatone MASTERMIND - Model 02/4503

Binatone Mastermind

Binatone MASTERMIND - Model 02/4503

Display is 8 digits, red LED.

4-function, %, memory.

9v (PP3 battery).

67 x 125 x 24 mm (2.6" x 4.9" x 0.9").

Made in Singapore.

Binatone MEMORY

Binatone Memory

Binatone MEMORY

Display is 8 digits, red LED.

4-function, %, memory.

9v (PP3 battery).

69 x 133 x 24 mm (2.75" x 5.25" x 0.95").

Made in Hong Kong.

This is a 'Standard Type 1' calculator.

Grateful thanks to David Lee for kindly donating this calculator.

Binatone MEMORYMASTER - Model 02-4236

Binatone MMEMORYMASTER

Binatone MEMORYMASTER - Model 02-4236

Display is 8 digits, blue VFD.

4-function, %, memory.

6v (4x AA batteries).

80 x 147 x 29 mm (3.1" x 5.8" x 1.1").

Made in Singapore.

Binatone P-805

Binatone P-805

Binatone P-805

Display is 8 digits, blue VFD.

4-function, %.

1.5v (1x AA batteries).

72 x 110 x 22 mm (2.8" x 4.3" x 0.9").

Made in Singapore.

Binatone PRESIDENT - Model 02-4309

Binatone PRESIDENT
Inside

Binatone PRESIDENT - Model 02/4309

Display is 8 digits, green Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD).

4-function, %, memory, square root.

3v (2x AA batteries).

Integrated circuit is Sharp LI2003.

83 x 138 x 20 mm (3.3" x 5.4" x 0.8").

Made in Taiwan.

Binatone SCIENTIFIC SLIDE RULE

Binatone SCIENTIFIC SLIDE RULE

Binatone SCIENTIFIC SLIDE RULE

Display is 8 digits, green vacuum fluorescent display (VFD).

Scientific functions.

4.5v (3x AA cells).

80 x 150 x 34 mm (3.1" x 5.9" x 1.3").

Made in Taiwan.

Reference

  1. Adamson, I., and Kennedy, R., (1996) "Sinclair and the 'Sunrise' Technology", Harmondsworth, Penguin Books Ltd., ISBN 0-14-008774-5.

Vintage British Calculators

Text & photographs copyright, except where stated otherwise, © Nigel Tout 2000-2024.