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Old Calculator Museum Advertising & Documentation Archive


Advertisement for the Mathatronics Mathatron 4280
Electronics Magazine, February 20, 1967
Sincere thanks to Mr. Takaharu Yoshida for providing the scan of this advertisement

The Mathatron 4280, introduced in the mid-part of 1966, is essentially a re-packaging of the original Mathatron calculating electronics into a desk-sized unit. The calculator electronics as well as the additional supporting electronics were placed in the rear-most part of the desk structure, with a nice a tabletop to provide space for the operator to use the Mathatron console and optional Teletype Model 33-ASR data terminal.

The use of the desk form-factor allowed space for the considerable additional electronics needed to provide additional numeric storage registers, larger program step storage, as well as the addition of built-in logarithmic and trigonometric function programs stored in read-only memory (ROM) to allow one-step solutions to these functions. Also included were the electronics to implement an eight-bit serial current-loop 110 baud data connection to a Teletype Model 33 ASR data terminal for input/output to/from the calculator, as well as a punched paper tape punch used to punch out programs for later re-loading, and a punched paper tape reader used read programs into the system. The Teletype sat on top of the desktop, along with a small operator's console similar in layout to that of the original desktop Mathatron calculators (albeit much smaller since the only electronics inside it were those to interface the keyboard to the calculating electronics in the desk) that could be used to manually operate the calculator as well as to provide operating controls for the system. The keyboard unit could also be used to hand-load programs similar to the "Learn Mode" method used on the original Mathatron desktop calculators; by entering the program into the keyboard a step at a time, with the calculator storing each step in its program memory as it is entered.

The advertisement states that the Teletype is an optional accessory. However, without the Teletype, the Mathatron 4280 becomes a large and expensive enhanced version of Mathatronics' original Mathatron desktop electronic calculators, with a price tag that truly made it impractical even with its additional capabilities. Without the Teletype, the 4280 is usable only from the console unit that contains a ticker-tape style strip printer (as the original Mathatron calculators had) for printing out a record of calculations, and the familiar Mathatron calculator keyboard for performing calculations.

The Teletype added great flexibility to the system including providing for formatted alphanumeric 8 1/2-inch wide output with 72 characters per line, as well as the ability to read in programs to program memory from paper tape, execute program steps directly from the paper tape reader, punch out programs on paper tape for future re-loading, allowing entry of variables into program from the Teletype keyboard and, if equipped with an optional second paper tape reader, the ability to automatically read data for input to programs that is pre-punched on paper tape. The capabilities that the Teletype added to the system made the Mathatron 4280 a powerful desk-sized computing system, significantly increasing the value proposition of the product.

At the time, there existed no other computing device that packed the capabilities of the 4280 into such a small package, at a price of less than $10,000. While the machine was not nearly as fast as some of the lower-cost mini-computer systems that had begun to appear on the market in the mid-1960's, it was far less expensive, and much easier to program. This made the Mathatron 4280 a compelling solution for organizations requiring more advanced computational capabilities that could not afford the expense and manpower associated with maintaining a small conventional computer system.