Calculators (1) : Commodore 776M

In this new series we take a look at some of the vintage calculators in our collection. It is easy to forget these days, with calculators being available from pound shops or even free, that in the 1970s calculators could often be relatively expensive. They were also the first computer many people ever owned, and came in a wide variety of shapes and sizes as this series will hopefully demonstrate...

From 1974 is the Commodore (or CBM - Commodore Business Machines) 776M. A typical calculator from the mid-decade when mass production and a reduced number of components meant that costs were kept low.

The 776M had a Commodore GRBP-67 integrated circuit and had the basic four arithmetric functions plus a percentage function and basic memory. The display was a seven segment red LED which gave a pleasing effect. The calculator was powered by a 9v battery.