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SCM Cogito 412 Desktop Calculator
Updated 11/3/2022
The SCM (Smith Corona Marchant) Cogito 412 is a fairly late Nixie tube, yet relatively early Large Scale Integration IC-based, desk calculator. It is a rather basic four-function calculator, but unusual in that it performs just about all its functions in ways different than most electronic calculators. This particular Cogito 412 was likely built in the mid-1970 time-frame, with date codes on IC's ranging from late-1969 through early 1970. The IC's in the machine are made by American Micro-systems, Inc. (AMI). AMI was one of the earliest chip makers to develop large-scale MOS multi-chip calculator chip-sets, generally fabricating the devices from proprietary logic designs developed by calculator companies, or in partnership with them. In the case of the Cogito 412 and Cogito 414 calculators, the logic design was created by jointly by SCM engineers and AMI, and when the logic design was complete, AMI developed the chip design, implementing the logic on the eight MOS chips, each of which contains from hundreds to up to 1,200 transistors, making the chips very advanced for the time. AMI also fabricated complex multi-chip calculator chip sets for Computer Design Corporation (also known as Compucorp), as well as for Tektronix in its Model 21 and 31 calculators).
There is a sprinkling of discrete components for Nixie tube drive and power-supply
functions. Four of the LSI's are plugged into the main board with Molex-style
strip IC sockets, with the other four soldered onto two removable daughter-cards
that plug into the main circuit board. The main circuit board and its ICs are shared between the
412 and 414, but the plug in circuit boards contain different ICs, which are specific to each model
of calculator.
SCM Cogito 412 with Upper Cabinet Removed
The machine uses a 12-digit Nixie
display, with each tube containing zero through nine, and a decimal point.
At the left end of the display, a legend marked "OVERFLOW" is back-lit by
an incandescent lamp when results of calculations exceed the capacity of
the machine. At the right end of the display panel, a "-" legend illuminates
to indicate a negative number in the display.
While the Cogito 412 doesn't have
a memory function in the conventional sense, it operates in such a way that
a memory is part of the intrinsic operation of the machine. The memory
is actually an accumulator which is normally not displayed. The
accumulator register is where the results of addition and subtraction
operations are stored.
Looking at the keyboard, one sees the usual [+], [-], [X], and [÷]
and [=] keys, as well as the [TOTAL], [SUBTOTAL] keys (which would seem more in place on
an adding machine). There is also an unusual
blue-colored [=+] key. The rest of the keys on the keyboard consist of
the common [CLEAR] key (although it performs an unusual secondary function, more on that later),
along with the [0] through [9] and [.] keys.
The accumulator register, which is not normally
displayed, may be called up to the display through the use
of the [TOTAL] or [SUB TOTAL] keys. For example, to add 123 to 456,
one would press 123 then press the [+] key, press 456, and press the [+] key
again. When the [+] key is pressed after the second number, the display will
still show "456", making one wonder where the answer is.
The sum is stored in the hidden accumulator. To see the answer in the
accumulator, you could press the [SUB TOTAL] key, which would bring 579
up on the display, or you could press the [TOTAL] key, which recalls the
accumulator to the display, then clears the accumulator.
To explain this in the context of a more conventional calculator with
separate memory function keys, the [+] key actually behaves more
like a "M+"(add to memory) key; and the [-] key like a "M-"(subtract from memory) key; the [SUB TOTAL]
key behaves like a "MR"(memory recall) key, and the [TOTAL] key acts like
pressing an "MR" key followed by a "MC"(memory clear) key.
When first sitting down to use this machine, this scheme takes some getting
used to, but actually is rather powerful, with this functionality useful
for financial and statistical applications.
Close up of one of AMI LSI IC's
Multiplication and division work in algebraic fashion, with the [=]
key displaying the result. The unusual but very useful [=+] key generates
the result for multiplication and division like the [=] key does, but also adds
the product or quotient to the accumulator. The [=+]
key comes in very handy for performing sum of products calculations and averaging.
Detail of SCM Cogito 412 Display Construction
The Cogito 412 is a fixed-decimal point machine, with an unconventional
method used for selecting the decimal point position. The [CLEAR] key
provides a dual purpose. It's first function is to clear the
calculator. However, below the [CLEAR] legend on the key, is a
(hard to see in the pictures) embossed area of the key that says
"DECIMAL POSITION". Pressing down the [CLEAR] key and holding it down, then
pressing a digit on the keyboard from 1 through 0, selects the decimal
point position from one digit behind the decimal point to ten digits behind the
decimal point (when 0 is selected). Also, if a digit key is held down
when turning on the calculator, that digit is used to determine the
decimal point position at power-on. If no key is pressed at power-on,
the machine places the decimal point at two digits behind the decimal, most
useful for financial calculations. This method
of decimal point selection was patented by SCM Corporation, under
US Patent number 3622768.
A closeup of the display, showing dimmed insignificant zero digits
The 412 also is rather unique in the
presentation of the Nixie display. The machine performs leading and trailing
zero suppression in an interesting way. Rather than blanking superfluous
zeroes completely, it instead reduces the brightness of the insignificant zeroes to
about one-quarter of the brightness of significant digits. Why the designers
opted to do this rather than simply blank the digits is perhaps to
assure the user that the tubes are working at all times.
The calculator performs operations fairly quickly, providing a result to
99999999999.9 divided by 1 in less than 1/2 second. Calculations
proceed with little fanfare on the display, though the display isn't
blanked during calculations, calculations occur fast enough that
the display doesn't really jump around all that much.
For more information about a companion
machine to the Cogito 412, have a look at the
Cogito 414 page.
