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DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM

Texas Instruments TI-150 (Prototype)

Date of introduction:	December 1974	Display technology:	Panaplex Style
New price:		Display size:	8 + Sign
Size:	6.5" x 3.2" x 1.8" 165 x 80 x 45 mm³
Weight:	7.9 ounces, 225 grams	Serial No:	none
Batteries:	4*AA Alkaline	Date of manufacture:	mth 09 year 1974
AC-Adapter:	AC9150	Origin of manufacture:	USA
Precision:	8	Integrated circuits:	TMS0852
Logic:	Chain	Displays:	DIS-PS9
Memories:
Program steps:		Courtesy of:	Joerg Woerner
		Download manual:	(US: 2.3M Bytes)

Texas Instruments introduced with this TI-150 in December 1974 a rather unusual calculator combining the wedge-shaped housing of the TI-2550 with the basic functionality of the Datamath II a.k.a. TI-2500-II and a Panaplex Style gas-discharge display. A small detail reveals the position of the TI-150 in Texas Instruments' "Basic Calculator Portfolio": The silver trim around the display frame, known from the first generation of the SR-10, placed it obviously in the upper-right corner of price over performance.

The featured early Prototype of the rare TI-150 was used for some testing, the backside of the housing reads "SUST TEST UNIT III". We don't know what testing the calculator had to endure, but it survived it in a good cosmetic and perfectly working shape.

Dismantling this TI-150 Prototype manufactured in September 1974 reveals a design centered around a TMS0852 single-chip calculator circuit compared to e.g. the TMS0803 located in the TI-2500-II. Please notice the date code 7436 (first week of September 1974) printed on the TMS0852.

The TMS0852 chip is complemented on the main printed circuit board (PCB) by discrete transistors to drive the high-voltage gas-discharge display.

The keyboard PCB of the TI-150 is identical to the TI-2550 but lacks the upper row of keys for the Memory functions.

Datamath™ is a trademark of Texas Instruments.

If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.