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.