In July 1963, the Canon Camera Company of Japan completed what was possibly the first-ever prototype of a ten-key all-transistor electronic calculator (the Canola 130) as a first step into the business equipment market. Canon's management had "doubts that a camera company could make a commercial success of an electronic calculator", and did not proceed with manufacture until after the Sharp company had introduced a similar machine in 1964. Canon thus "forfeited the honour" of marketing the first 10-key all-electronic calculator. (Source: Canon company history at www.canon.com)
Canon's managers need not have worried. Their new calculator division out-lasted all of the mechanical calculator companies and is still in business today, more than 40 years after their rather tentative beginnings.
Their solid, reliable, and easy-to-use business calculators found ready acceptance in offices and factories in most countries of the world. The machines on this page are typical of those sold in Australia up until the mid-1970s, and clearly show the progression in size and functionality as electronic technology developed. Canon calculators built since the mid-70s do not really qualify as museum pieces, since most of them are still in everyday use!
Canon "Canola" Model 162P, S/N 789036
Functions: ASMD, 2 memories
Programming: 32 steps, fixed program
Technology: Bipolar DTL-SSI, delay line memory
Display: 16 digits, Nixie tube
Dimensions: 12"W x 15-1/2"D x 6"H, weight 14 pounds
Manufactured: Japan, manual dated September 1969
Canon "Canola" Model 1210, S/N 481699
Functions: ASMD, 1 memory
Technology: 69 bipolar DTL-SSI, delay line memory
Display: 12 digits, Nixie tube
Dimensions: 10-1/2"W x 13"D x 4"H, weight 9 pounds
Manufactured: Japan, manual dated May 1970
Canon "Canola" Model 164P, S/N 340071
Functions: ASMD, square root, 4 memories
Programming: Learn or punched card entry
Technology: 156 bipolar DTL-SSI on 7 boards, delay line memory
Display: 16 digits, Nixie tube
Dimensions: 12"W x 15-1/2"D x 6-1/2"H, weight 16 pounds
Manufactured: Japan, December 1970
Canon "Canola" Model SE-600, S/N 400058
Functions: ASMD, square root, 100 memories
Programming: 600 steps, subroutines, punched card entry
Technology: 385 bipolar DTL/TTL SSI on 14 boards, shift register memory
Display: 3 digit program counter, 16+5 digit printer
Dimensions: 19"W x 21"D x 7-1/2"H, weight 47 pounds
Manufactured: Japan, manual dated November 1971
Canon "Canola" Model 167P, S/N 101256
Functions: ASMD, square root, 7 memories
Programming: 130 steps, Learn or punched card entry
Technology: 10 LSI, 99 bipolar SSI on 6 boards
Display: 16 digits, Nixie tube
Dimensions: 12"W x 15-1/2"D x 6-1/2"H, weight 16 pounds
Manufactured: Japan, manual dated September 1971
Canon "Canola" Model L121, S/N 604665
Functions: ASMD, 1 memory
Technology: 4-chip MOS LSI by Texas Instruments
Display: 12 digits, miniature Nixie tube
Dimensions: 9"W x 9-1/2"D x 3"H, weight 5 pounds
Manufactured: Japan, manual dated June 1971
Canon "Canola" Model L100S, S/N 302805
Functions: ASMD, no memory
Technology: Single-chip MOS LSI by Texas Instruments
Display: 10 digits, 7 segment orange neon
Dimensions: 7-1/2"W x 9-1/2"D x 3"H, weight 3-1/2 pounds
Manufactured: Japan, October 1972
Canon "Canola" Model L800, S/N 400964
Functions: ASMD, no memory
Technology: Single-chip MOS LSI by Texas Instruments
Display: 8 digits, 7 segment orange neon
Dimensions: 6-1/2"W x 8"D x 3"H, weight 3 pounds
Manufactured: Japan, May 1973
Canon "Canola" Model L802, S/N 412594
Functions: ASMD, constant, percent, no memory
Technology: Single-chip MOS LSI by Texas Instruments
Display: 8 digits, 7 segment orange neon
Dimensions: 6-1/2"W x 8"D x 3"H, weight 3 pounds
Manufactured: Japan, January 1974
Canon "Canola" Model L1210, S/N 410436
Functions: ASMD, square root, percent, 1 memory
Technology: Two-chip MOS LSI by Texas Instruments
Display: 12 digits, 7 segment orange neon
Dimensions: 9"W x 10"D x 3"H, weight 4 pounds
Manufactured: Japan, February 1974
Canon "Canola" Model L1214, S/N 619763
Functions: ASMD, square root, percent, count, 1 memory
Technology: Single-chip MOS LSI (HD38401A), battery powered
Display: 12 digits, 7 segment blue fluorescent
Dimensions: 7-1/4"W x 9"D x 2-1/2"H, weight 2 pounds
Manufactured: Japan, January 1975
Canon "Canola" Model L1217, S/N 452171
Functions: ASMD, square root, percent, count, 1 memory
Technology: Single-chip MOS LSI (HD37401A)
Display: 12 digits, 7 segment blue fluorescent
Dimensions: 9"W x 10"D x 3"H, weight 4 pounds
Manufactured: Japan, November 1976
Canon "Canola" Model L1018, S/N 905139
Functions: ASMD, square root, percent, count, 1 memory
Technology: Single-chip MOS LSI (HD38401A)
Display: 10 digits, 7 segment blue fluorescent
Dimensions: 9"W x 10-1/2"D x 3"H, weight 3-1/4 pounds
Manufactured: Japan, November 1980