DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM |
Texas Instruments ABLE
Date of introduction: | 1976 | Display technology: | LED-stick |
New price: | Display size: | 8 | |
Size: | 5.5" x 2.8" x 1.4" 138 x 70 x 35 mm3 |
||
Weight: | 6.0 ounces, 170 grams | Serial No: | 15339 |
Batteries: | 2*AA NiCd | Date of manufacture: | wk 40 year 1977 |
AC-Adapter: | AC9130 | Origin of manufacture: | USA (LTA) |
Precision: | Integrated circuits: | TMS0972 | |
Memories: | |||
Program steps: | Courtesy of: | Joerg Woerner | |
Download manual: | (US: 4.9 MByte) |
The
ABLE (ABstract Linking Electronically) electronic
calculator was the first effort at an educational calculator for young children
(K-1 grade). It continued the design started in cooperation with the Lawrence
Hall of Science of the
The ABLE was sold complete with:
•
One ABLE calculator base unit • • • |
The ABLE calculator base unit is basically a redesign of the TI-1205
and TI-1255 calculators introduced in 1976, too. Main
difference is the key mechanism that allows to use one of the 6 limited function
keyboard faces. The upper half of the housing sports a concealed button in front
of the calculator. Pushing it firmly releases the installed keyboard unit and it
can be easily replaced by another one with a simple, positive click.
The ABLE
calculator
features a set of six interchangeable keyboard faces, with a growing key pattern
sequenced as follows:
FACE DESCRIPTION | ||
ABLE-I | [0] – [1], [+], [=], [C] | |
ABLE-II | [0] – [5], [+], [-], [=], [C] | |
ABLE-III | [0] – [9], [+], [-], [=], [C] | |
ABLE-IV | [0] – [9], [+], [-], [x], [.], [=], [C] | |
ABLE-V | Dot Numerals 0 – 9, [+], [-], [x], [=], [C] | |
ABLE-VI | [5] – [9], [+], [-], [=], [C] |
Disassembling this ABLE calculator manufactured in October 1976 by Texas Instruments in their Lubbock, TX facility reveals an internal construction identical with the TI-1255. Instead of the 9V battery found in the original TI-1200/TI-1250 design, the ABLE calculator makes use of 2 rechargeable, AA-sized NiCd (Nickel Cadmium) batteries. The PCB (printed circuit board) adds both the charging circuit for the batteries and a step-up converter to generate the 9V supply of the TMS0972 single-chip calculating circuit. Please notice that both the Klixon™-style keyboard and the TMS0972 would support the 4-key memory of the TI-1255.
Learn
more about the evolution of the TI-1250 between
June 1975 and its discontinuation in 1977.
Learn more about the different
Product Labels used with the TI-1250
- here at the Datamath Calculator Museum we classify the featured ABLE as
Hardware Version 3A, PCB Type 4 and Product Label Style 8.
It took about 30 years before Texas Instruments developed with the TI-Nspire another educational calculator with interchangeable keyboards!
This rare Texas Instruments ABLE calculator was sold on eBay in September 2007 together with two siblings New-In-Box. The three lucky buyers paid US$211.50 (Serial No: 15339), US$151.50 (Serial No: 15379) and US$200 (Serial No: 29276). In December 2007 the Datamath Calculator Museum was able to acquire from the same seller a lot of three "defective" ABLE calculators for US$173.70 (Serial Nos: 10968-LTA3776, 11051-LTA3776 and 29168-LTA4077).
Fellow collectors - if you own a Texas Instruments ABLE calculator, please report us the serial number and date code from the back of the calculator for our Database.
On September 17, 2009 we were able to celebrate reunion of the calculators featured in the TI Learning Center Sales Leaflet CB-272 including three of the rarest portable electronic calculators.
ABLE™.
A limited-function calculator with interchangeable keyboard faces.
Texas Instruments rechargeable ABLE calculator was specially designed as a learning aid for arithmetic basics at early elementary levels. Each rugged, solid-state ABLE calculator base unit includes six interchangeable keyboards ranging from a limited-function [0] – [1], [+] face to a limited-function [0] – [9], [+], [-], [x] face. A recessed tab located at the front of the ABLE calculator base allows the teacher to snap out one face and easily replace it with another to parallel the child’s acquisition of new math skills. All faces feature extra large, easy-to-read numerals on colorful yellow and blue backgrounds. ABLE
calculators and faces are available for use in conjunction with K-1
“Elementary Mathematics Concepts with Calculators”, a supplementary
learning program for kindergarten/first grade students developed my math
educators at the © Texas Instruments, 1976 |
If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.
© Joerg Woerner, October 16, 2007. No reprints without written permission.