The Casio company takes its name from its founder, Tadao Kashio, who established a small mechanical manufacturing business in Tokyo in 1946. During the early 1950s Kashio and his three brothers developed an electro-mechanical calculating machine based on telephone relay technology. The machine used over 300 relays and weighed 140kg, but was apparently quite successful. The Casio Computer Company was established in 1957 to develop and manufacture the relay-driven calculators.
In 1965 Casio produced an all-transistor electronic calculator (Model 001), followed by a programmable desk calculator (the AL-1000) in 1967. Personal or pocket calculators were introduced in 1972, with the Casio "Mini" selling a million units in the first 10 months, and 10 million in total. During the 1970s Casio continued to develop their calculator lines and expanded into electronic watches, clocks, and musical instruments. Key products included a combined calculator, clock, and stopwatch (the CQ-1) from 1976, the first "credit card" calculator (the LC-78) in 1978, and the "Casiotone" electronic musical instrument in 1980.
The Casio company still continues to develop innovative electronic products and technologies, and is still under the guidance of two of the original Kashio brothers. (Source: Casio company history at www.casio.com)
Casio Model AL-2000, S/N 205664
Functions: ASMD, square root, 4 memories
Programming: 30 steps, 14 instructions, no conditionals
Technology: DTL (MSI and discrete), magnetic core memory
Display: 14 digits, miniature Nixie tube
Dimensions: 340W x 400D x 150H
Weight: 6.8kg
Manufactured: Casio, Japan, 1969. (Sold by Remington)
The AL-2000 programmable desk calculator was introduced in November 1969 as a successor to the AL-1000 machine. The circuitry is still based on DTL logic, but the 10 large discrete-component boards of the earlier machine have been reduced to just 5 through the use of new general-purpose SSI integrated circuits. Even so, the AL-2000 still contains over 200 discrete transistors, 1000 diodes, 90 SSI chips, two custom MSI (medium-scale integration) chips, and a 512-bit magnetic core memory.
A detailed description of the construction, operation, and programming of the Casio AL-2000 is available in the Technical Section.
Casio Model 121-K, S/N 206506
The Casio 121-K is a basic 4-function desk calculator with a constant function and provision for the accumulation of totals. The circuitry uses early MOS-LSI technology with 4 main 40-pin chips (numbered SL35021 to 24, with date codes in December 1970), a dozen support chips from Hitachi and NEC, and numerous discrete components on two large double-sided boards. The boards are permanently interconnected by 53 hand-soldered wire loops.
The internal
view shows the main boards in the base of the machine, with
plug-and-socket connections to the power supply, keyboard and display.
(The processor board with the 4 LSI chips is hidden under the display
driver board). The keyboard uses glass reed switches operated by
moving magnets on the ends of the keystems, while the display uses
miniature multiplexed Nixie tubes (Hitachi CD-71).
Keyboard and display driver board (37kb)
Processor board (39kb)
Casio Model AS-8S, S/N 705368
The Casio AS-8S is a compact 4-function desk calculator based on a single MOS-LSI processor chip (the Hitachi HD3272). The display uses the new vacuum fluorescent tubes instead of the previous gas-discharge (Nixie) tubes. The circuitry drives all 8 segments of the DG-10FL tubes to produce well-formed numerals with a "proper" crossed 4. The keyboard uses sealed glass reed switches.
The calculator can be powered from an internal mains supply or
from six disposable C-size batteries. The circuitry draws only 700mW,
giving about 24 hours calculating from the carbon-zinc cells of the
time.
Internal view (31kb)
Casio Model 101-L, S/N 715597
Model 101-L is a mains-powered four-function MOS-LSI desk calculator
with 10-digit capacity. The machine automatically accumulates the
results of successive multiplications and divisions in an internal
register, which can be retrieved with the blue T key. The display
uses a single seven-segment gas discharge panel similar to the
Burroughs Panaplex. The circuitry uses two Hitachi processor chips
(HD3535 and 36), two support chips, and two IC6225 high-voltage
driver modules for the display.
101-L logic board (39kb)
Casio Model 8E, S/N 165788
The Casio 8E is a battery-powered portable calculator with a red light-emitting diode display. It was supplied with a soft case with a carrying strap, but was rather too large to be considered a "pocket" calculator. Operation is basic but quite conventional.
The Casio 8E uses one of the first single-chip processors from
Texas Instruments in America (the TMS0101 from early 1972), with 17
discrete transistors to drive the LED display modules. Power is
supplied from 4 AA batteries or an external AC adapter (AD-4145), via
an inverter system on a separate circuit board. Consumption varies
from 660mW when displaying a single zero to almost 1100mW with a
display of all eights.
Internal view (28kb)
Casio "Mini", Model CM-602, S/N 6041282
The "Mini" from 1972 was Casio's first low-cost personal calculator. It was a basic four-function machine with a six-digit display, and was supplied with a carrying strap and a soft slip case. This 1973 version has an extra switch to select 0 or 2 decimal places.
The circuitry uses a single Hitachi HD32154 processor and a miniature 6-digit fluorescent display tube. The machine operates internally to 12 digits, with an arrow key to shift the display to the second six. The keyboard uses a single spring plate with wire contacts. Power is from 4 AA batteries or an external AC adapter (AD-4145), with consumption rated at 500mW.
Casio "Mini Memory", S/N 21003873
This "Mini Memory" from 1974 is a more elaborate version with a percent function and an 8-digit display. Products longer than 8 digits can be displayed with the shift key, but can not be re-used in further calculations. The "memory" function provides automatic accumulation of products and quotients, but the register is not directly accessible as a general-purpose memory. The function is enabled by setting the power switch to the "T" position, and the total can be retrieved by pressing T on the keyboard.
The processor (μPD176C) and double-ended display tube (LD-8105) are both made by NEC. The calculator draws only 230mW from 4 AA batteries.
Casio "Personal Mini", Model CM-607, S/N 4586027
This 1975 version of the basic Mini has a much thinner case. The power supply has ben reduced to only two AA batteries and draws only 200mW. The processor and the double-ended display tube are both from NEC (μPD178C and LD-8109).
Casio "Pocket Mini", Model CP-801, S/N 23440454
The "Pocket Mini", also released in 1975, is smaller and lighter
again, but includes a conventional (ie, non-scrolling) 8-digit display
and a percent function. The processor (HD3679) is from Hitachi, and
the double-ended display tube is from NEC.
Internal view (28kb)
Casio "Computer Quartz", Model CQ-1
Casio's first venture into electronic timekeeping was the "Casiotron" electronic wristwatch in late 1974. Two years later they produced the "Computer Quartz" CQ-1 - a combination alarm clock, stopwatch, and four-function calculator. The CQ-1 is similar in size to the Personal Mini, but has a much more stylish and expensive-looking case. The calculator and the 8-digit fluorescent display are powered from a single AA battery. The timekeeping circuitry is powered separately by two SR-44 silver-oxide batteries.
Casio "Mini Card", Model LC-78G, S/N 4527570
Casio introduced the first "credit card" calculator, the LC-78, in January of 1978. The circuitry consists of a single IC chip, an 8-digit liquid crystal display, and an elastomeric keyboard, with no additional components. The calculator draws only 0.6mW from two silver-oxide batteries.
The LC-78G illustrated was given away as a promotional aid by a Japanese machine tool manufacturer.
