Vintage Brother Model 408 Calculator with Individual Vacuum Fluorescent Tubes - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

sparkskii · 24th May 2011, 7:55 pm

Found this beauty for 2$ at Value Village (2nd hand retail outlet in North America).

It wasn't working. Opened it up. The solder on main pcb was very dull and grey. Did a thorough touch-up, and she came alive

woodchips · 24th May 2011, 9:02 pm

Amazing how they keep turnng up, just how many were made?

Working better than the clock in the digital camera huh?

Bob

Zelandeth · 24th May 2011, 10:02 pm

Nice find there.

The keypad has a very Sharp-ish look to it, wonder if there's any connection between this and the "compet" series from the same time period. Unfortunately the one I'm thinking of is buried in a box at my parents house just now so I can't take a photo.

If you think about how many desks, both business and private these would have found their way on to in the 70s and early 80s, then got shoved away into a drawer somewhere when the pocket calculator took over, it's not really surprising that they keep surfacing.

Unlike radios and TVs of the period, they're small and inconspicuous enough that they tend to survive the house clearances better!

sparkskii · 24th May 2011, 10:14 pm

@woodchips

Ha! Yes, for the moment it is working better then the clock in the camera. Actualy, I had just changed the 3 volt eeprom battery in the camera, and have yet to fix the time and date

@Zelandeth

Thanks

Yes, the keypad does have Sharp-ish look to it. In fact, I think I'll be on the lookout at value village for some old sharp accounting calculators (the ones with the little paper reel), because they tend to have similar keys, and mine is missing the zero.

Interesting point, the calculator will not turn on if not connected to the NiCad battery pack inside, which I am quite sure is dead now.

24th May 2011, 7:55 pm	#1
sparkskii Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Montreal, Canada. Posts: 2	Vintage Brother Model 408 Calculator with Individual Vacuum Fluorescent Tubes Found this beauty for 2$ at Value Village (2nd hand retail outlet in North America). It wasn't working. Opened it up. The solder on main pcb was very dull and grey. Did a thorough touch-up, and she came alive Attached Thumbnails

24th May 2011, 9:02 pm	#2
woodchips Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 1,177	Re: Vintage Brother Model 408 Calculator with Individual Vacuum Fluorescent Tubes Amazing how they keep turnng up, just how many were made? Working better than the clock in the digital camera huh? Bob

24th May 2011, 10:02 pm	#3
Zelandeth Heptode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 931	Re: Vintage Brother Model 408 Calculator with Individual Vacuum Fluorescent Tubes Nice find there. The keypad has a very Sharp-ish look to it, wonder if there's any connection between this and the "compet" series from the same time period. Unfortunately the one I'm thinking of is buried in a box at my parents house just now so I can't take a photo. If you think about how many desks, both business and private these would have found their way on to in the 70s and early 80s, then got shoved away into a drawer somewhere when the pocket calculator took over, it's not really surprising that they keep surfacing. Unlike radios and TVs of the period, they're small and inconspicuous enough that they tend to survive the house clearances better! __________________ Zel's Lair - A random bag of vintage tech, lighting information and other assorted geekery

24th May 2011, 10:14 pm	#4
sparkskii Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Montreal, Canada. Posts: 2	Re: Vintage Brother Model 408 Calculator with Individual Vacuum Fluorescent Tubes @woodchips Ha! Yes, for the moment it is working better then the clock in the camera. Actualy, I had just changed the 3 volt eeprom battery in the camera, and have yet to fix the time and date @Zelandeth Thanks Yes, the keypad does have Sharp-ish look to it. In fact, I think I'll be on the lookout at value village for some old sharp accounting calculators (the ones with the little paper reel), because they tend to have similar keys, and mine is missing the zero. Interesting point, the calculator will not turn on if not connected to the NiCad battery pack inside, which I am quite sure is dead now.