Rapidman LC1208




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		Rapid Data Rapidman 1208LC



	Rapid Data Rapidman 1208LC Display is 8 digits, reflective LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), which is illuminated by a filament lamp. 4 function, %. The circuit board carries 3 Large-scale integrated circuits manufactured by Rockwell (two type 10417PB and a 15311P), and in the machine ilustrated are date coded to early-1973. 165 x 276 x 80mm / 6.5x10.9x3.1". Rapid Data Systems & Equipment Ltd., of Ontario.Canada. Assembled in Mexico primarily of United States parts.


	The cover has been removed to show the half-elliptical plastic light guide which projects light at a glancing angle across the LCD. The filament lamp is at the rounded end of the light guide.


	The circuit board with the three Rockwell integrated circuits and the LCD. The LCD is clear when unenergised and in the calculator is mounted against a black background. When segments of a digit are energised they turn shiny metallic, unlike modern LCDs which turn black.

The rear of the calculator with a cover slid off to reveal a large space which could be used to hold batteries in a hand-held version.

Compare this machine with the Lloyds Accumatic 100, which is a slightly smaller hand-held version.

This is one of the models based on Rockwell electronics and LCDs which were the first LCD calculators. Similar calculators appeared under the Lloyds and Sears labels, and hand-held versions were also produced, such as the Lloyds Accumatic 100 which is very similar to this model.

The introduction of LCDs in calculators was not smooth. There was much debate about the life expectancy of the Liquid Crystal compounds used in these displays (though this one works perfectly after 30 years) and there appear to have been manufacturing problems. It was to be 3 or 4 years before LCD technology had improved and cost dropped for it to start becoming the dominant display technology of calculators.

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		*Vintage Calculators*

	© Text & photographs copyright Nigel Tout 2000-2008 except where noted otherwise.