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Gemini / Emihus

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" in a special section reported on casualties among the calculator manufacturers due to a price war^[2]:
"  One component maker which has gone against the trend is Emihus Microcomponents (formerly owned jointly by EMI and Hughes Aircraft) now once more wholly-owned by the American firm and renamed Hughes Microelectronics).  Emihus began making calculators for sale by Hanimex and later entered the market in its own right.  But the firm then decided to pull out of calculators altogether and has phased out its products over the past six months or so.
   Hughes will now concentrate on digital wristwatches — the fashionable preoccupation of semiconductor makers ...".

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 - Made by Emihus Microcomponents Limited.
• Gemini 1B - Made by Newlyn Electronics Limited.
• Gemini 2 - Made by Newlyn Electronics Limited.
• Gemini 3 - Made by Newlyn Electronics Limited.

Known Hanimex models made by Emihus Microcomponents Limited.

• Hanimex BC808

Gemini 1

Gemini 1B

Gemini 2

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.

As reported in 1975 in 'The Times'^[2]:
"Emihus began making calculators for sale by Hanimex and later entered the market in its own right."

Here is an example of a Hanimex calculator made by Emihus:

Hanimex BC808

Reference:

1. Owen, Kenneth, "American link expands range and techniques", The Times, 15 February, 1974.
2. Milton, Richard, "Rapid changes bring large companies their opportunity", The Times, March 24, 1975.
3. Argos Catalogue, No.2, 1974, p59.

Vintage British Calculators

Text & photographs copyright, except where stated otherwise, © Nigel Tout 2000-2025.