Vintage British Calculators

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Gemini

The manufacturer of Gemini calculators is a little puzzling.  Some of the calculators are marked as made by Emihus Microcomponents Limited and others by Newlyn Electronics, Voundervour Lane, Penzance, Corwall.

Emihus Microcomponents Ltd. was jointly owned by EMI (Electrical and Musical Industries) of the UK and Hughes Aircraft of the U.S.A., and based at Clive House, 12-18 Queen's Road, Weybridge, Surrey.  Emihus was a manufacturer of LSI (Large-Scale Integration) calculator integrated circuits.

In an article on the American involvement in the British calculator industry, "The Times" reported in 1974[1]:
"Another semiconductor company which has just moved into calculators is Emihus Microcomponents of Glenrothes, owned 51 per cent by Hughes Aircraft of California and 49 per cent by EMI Electronics.  Earlier this month Emihus announced its first model, the Gemini 1, a five-function machine selling at £32.50.  Previously the company had made the same machine exclusively for Hanimex of Australia.  It uses a Rockwell-designed microcircuit which is produced under licence at Glenrothes."
The Hanimex BC808 is shown at the bottom of this page for comparison.

Alas, in 1975 "The Times" reported on casualties among the calculator manufacturers due a price war[2]:
"A year ago Emihus Microcomponents, of Glenrothes, then jointly owned by Hughes Aircraft and EMI Electronics, had just entered the calculator market.  Now it has abandoned its calculator activity".

 

Newlyn Electronics manufactured control equipment, and in the mid-1970s it also produced several models of Gemini calculator, before going into liquidation in 1976.  It may be that Newlyn Electronics was a sub-contractor of Emihus and also a distributor of the calculators.

Known Gemini models:

Gemini 1

Gemini 1

Gemini 1

Display is 8 Digits, red LED.

4 functions, %.

4.5v (3x N batteries).

70 x 122 x 25 mm / 2.8 x 4.8 x 1.0".

Made in U.K. by Emihus Microcomponents Limited.

Price of £32.50 in February 1974[1].

The identical Hanimex BC808 is shown at the bottom of this page.

Label

The label on the rear, showing manufacture by Emihus Microcomponents Limited.

Gemini 1B

Gemini 1B

Gemini 1B

Display is 8 Digits, red LED.

4 functions, %.

4.5v (3x N batteries).

70 x 122 x 25 mm / 2.8 x 4.8 x 1.0".

Made in U.K. by Newlyn Electronics Limited.

Label

The label on the rear, showing manufacture by Newlyn Electronics Limited.

Gemini 2

Gemini 2

Gemini 2

Display is 8 Digits, red LED.

4 functions, %, memory.

4.5v (3x N batteries).

70 x 122 x 25 mm / 2.8 x 4.8 x 1.0".

Made in U.K. by Newlyn Electronics Ltd., Penzance, Cornwall.

Price was £11.25 in 1975 (see advertisement for Gemini 3, below.

Gemini 3

Gemini3_11

Gemini 3

Scientific calculator.

70 x 122 x 25 mm / 2.8 x 4.8 x 1.0".

Made in U.K. by Newlyn Electronics Ltd., Penzance, Cornwall.

Advertised in 1975, cost £22.63 including tax.

Gemini 3

1975 advertisement for the Gemini 3. Other models in the Gemini range include the Gemini 1B with 5 functions & auto constant, priced at £9.95, and the Gemini 2 with memory, priced at £11.25.

The close resemblence between the Gemini models, made by Newlyn Electronics, and the Hanimex BC808, made by Emihus, can be seen below.
If you have any information about a link between the two companies please get in touch.

Hanimex BC808

Hanimex BC 808

Hanimex BC808

4.5v (3x N batteries).

Display is 8 digits, red LED.

4 function, %.

73 x 148 x 23 mm (2.9" x 5.8" x 0.9").

"Made in U.K. by Emihus Microcomponents Limited, for Hanimex Corporation."

Cost in 1974: £33.25[3].

Is identical to the Gemini 1, at the top of this page.

Label

The label on the rear, showing manufacture by Emihus Microcomponents Limited for Hanimex Corporation.

Reference:

  1. Owen, Kenneth, "American link expands range and techniques", The Times, 15 February, 1974.
  2. Paige, Nigel, "Calculators: a Special Report", The Times, March 24, 1975.
  3. Argos Catalogue, No.2, 1974, p59.

Vintage British Calculators

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