DATAMATH

DATAMATH CALCULATOR MUSEUM

Casio Mini CM-601 Electronic Calculator

Date of introduction:	August 1972	Display technology:	Fluorescent
New price:	$99.95	Display size:	6
Size:	3.2" x 6.1" x 1.45" 81 x 154 x 37 mm³
Weight:	8.7 ounces, 248 grams	Serial No:
Batteries:	4*AA	Date of manufacture:	mth 03 year 1973
AC-Adapter:		Origin of manufacture:	Japan
Precision:	12	Integrated circuits:	Hitachi HD32127, NEC uPD129C
Memories:
Program steps:		Courtesy of:	Joerg Woerner

Casio Computer Co., Ltd introduced its first handheld calculator Casio Mini CM-601 already in August 1972, even a few weeks before Texas Instruments' entered the market with the famous Datamath.

Dismantling this Casio Mini CM-601 manufactured in March 1973 reveals a clean design centered around a Hitachi HD32127 single-chip calculator circuit and a NEC uPD129C display driver circuit.

Please notice that the featured calculator sports a 6-digit tube-style display while earlier models used six individual tubes.

The Casio Mini CM-601 was soon replaced with the Mini CM-602 adding a decimal key and dedicated [=] key but keeping the unusual 6-digit display and [►] key. Next in line were the CM-603, CM-604, and CM-605 - all with a similiar horizontal layout before offering in 1975 their first product in the more common "portrait orientation". Every rule has an exception, don't miss the odd ROOT-8S.

The Casio Mini CM-601 was ahead its time, Casio's entry into the market of handheld scientific calculators was with the fx-10 rather disappointing.

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