Olympia CD 100, CD 102, CD 202
Through the 1970s Olympia International marketed several models of portable calculators, with both batteries and AC power supply, to a similar design.
Olympia portable calculators include:
Olympia CD 100
Distinctive features: A hybrid desktop & hand-held calculator - It has both a transformer for AC operation and can take disposable batteries for hand-held use.
Technical details:
Display is 8 digits, separate blue-green Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) tubes.
4-functions.
Main integrated circuit - Texas Instruments TMS0105ANC, here date coded week 11 1972. There are also 35 discrete transistors.
Can be powered by either AC line or 4-C disposable batteries.
150 mm x 195 mm x 55 mm (5.9" x 7.7" x 2.2").
Made in Japan for Olympia Werke AG., Wilhelmshaven, West Germany.
Olympia sold several models of 'Portable' calculators, with both AC supply and batteries into the mid-1970s.
View inside the Olympia CD 100 showing the VFD tubes of the display near the top. The transformer of the AC power supply is to the left and the size C batteries fit in the compartment behind the display. Also prominent are the 35 discrete transistors, showing as black blobs with one flat side, most of which are required to drive the display tubes.
Allowing the machine to be powered by either AC through the internal transformer or the batteries gives the advantage of each, at the disadvantage of the transformer making the machine larger and heavier.
Olympia CD 102
Distinctive features: A hybrid desktop & hand-held calculator - It has both a transformer for AC operation and can take disposable batteries for hand-held use.
Technical details:
Display is 12 digits, blue-green Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD).
4-functions, %.
Main integrated circuit - Texas Instruments TMS1273NL, here date coded week 44 1976. There are also 5 discrete transistors.
Can be powered by either AC line or 4-C disposable batteries.
172 x mm 195 x 55 mm (6.8" x 7.7" x 2.2").
Made in Japan for Olympia Werke AG., Wilhelmshaven, West Germany.
Very similar to the earlier Olympia CD 100, above, but has gained the '%' function and a 12-digit VFD display.
Removing the top cover reveals the circuit board with the 12-digit VFD display module and the Texas Instruments TMS1273NL integrated circuit which does not require additional discrete transistors to drive the display. Batteries are inserted in the compartment at the top.
Olympia CD 202
Distinctive features: A hybrid desktop & hand-held calculator - It has both a transformer for AC operation and can take disposable batteries for hand-held use.
Technical details:
Display is 12 digits, blue-green Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD).
4-functions, %, memory.
Main integrated circuit - Texas Instruments TMS1273, here date coded week 36 1978. There is also 1 discrete transistor.
Can be powered by either AC line or 2-C disposable batteries.
172 x mm 195 x 55 mm (6.8" x 7.7" x 2.2").
Made in Japan for Olympia Werke AG., Wilhelmshaven, West Germany.
Very similar to the earlier Olympia CD 102, above, but with memory.
Hand-held Calculators
Vintage Calculators
Text & photographs copyright, except where stated otherwise, © Nigel Tout 2000-2024.