Nixie tube calculator ? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

marcus 3500 · 1st Jul 2007, 10:55 pm

Hi all

While looking in my parents loft for some tv bits and bobs i found this old mains only calculator i think it was my dads i dont remember putting it up there is it a nixie type one and how old is it mid 70's ? it works fine 1 + 1 = 2

and how much should i ask for it 50p, £5.00 ? the model is Prinztronic C3S supplied by Dixons international and inside it says made by sharp.

Cheers all

Marcus.........

Herald1360 · 1st Jul 2007, 11:12 pm

Don't think they're nixies- the white outlines suggest vacuum fluorescents. Nixies just have wir shapes for the neon to glow around.

Chris

plumbweiss · 2nd Jul 2007, 9:05 pm

I'll second that..they're single digit vac-fluro displays. We had one of these in our school computer museum and had a play with it..it worked ok. Yours I would guess at very early 70's.

I was bought a Prinztronic pocket calculator for my 7th birthday, the batteries didnt last long (LED bubble display) and my mum threw it away when the battery died! I was livid. An expensive present from my Dad.

Nickthedentist · 2nd Jul 2007, 9:17 pm

Some of these can be quite collectable, but the huge desktops are less so.

As always, 5 minutes on eBay is probably the best way of getting an idea of value.

evingar · 2nd Jul 2007, 9:46 pm

Quote:

As always, 5 minutes on eBay is probably the best way of getting an idea of value.

I would add that from personal experience any unusual displays will sell well in their own right, but you will probably have to find some data for them.

Zelandeth · 7th Aug 2007, 11:29 pm

Ah, old calculators, one of my other weaknesses!

Good places to look for info on such things are:

The Vintage Calculators Web Museum

and

The Old Calculators Web Museum Don't blame me for the similar names - that's what they're called! Have to confess that when I found those sites, I started at one side and read pretty much the whole way through.

Calculators like that with VFD displays don't generally go for much money, but the individual digits (referred to as Numitron if I remember rightly - though that could be incandescent seven segment displays I'm thinking of - so don't quote me on that) are less common, so may push it up a bit.

Looks to be in pretty good nick though. I don't recall seeing a huge number of Prinztronic stuff about.

ALANS ANITAS · 7th Aug 2007, 11:43 pm

The last Anita Mark 8 that was listed on Ebay.co.uk sold for over US42000. I really must get mine out of the loft, but it is big and heavy.

ALAN

Paul_RK · 8th Aug 2007, 1:34 pm

For a glorious moment there I was thinking you meant $42000, but I take it $2000 was the figure. Still, mine's looking like better value than ever for the £1 it cost me

Paul

Edit: added a close-up of the transistor

ALANS ANITAS · 8th Aug 2007, 2:44 pm

SORRY
The 2000 dollar figure was correct. I do remember seeing this model Prinztronic in the Leicester branch of Dixons (professional interest), it was a small desktop model weighing about 2lbs. It was not available for long.
The Anita Mk 8 weighed abouit 26lbs.

ALAN

1st Jul 2007, 10:55 pm	#1
marcus 3500 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 351	Nixie tube calculator ? Hi all While looking in my parents loft for some tv bits and bobs i found this old mains only calculator i think it was my dads i dont remember putting it up there is it a nixie type one and how old is it mid 70's ? it works fine 1 + 1 = 2 and how much should i ask for it 50p, £5.00 ? the model is Prinztronic C3S supplied by Dixons international and inside it says made by sharp. Cheers all Marcus......... Attached Thumbnails

1st Jul 2007, 11:12 pm	#2
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,535	Re: Nixie tube calculator ? Don't think they're nixies- the white outlines suggest vacuum fluorescents. Nixies just have wir shapes for the neon to glow around. Chris

2nd Jul 2007, 9:05 pm	#3
plumbweiss Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 157	Re: Nixie tube calculator ? I'll second that..they're single digit vac-fluro displays. We had one of these in our school computer museum and had a play with it..it worked ok. Yours I would guess at very early 70's. I was bought a Prinztronic pocket calculator for my 7th birthday, the batteries didnt last long (LED bubble display) and my mum threw it away when the battery died! I was livid. An expensive present from my Dad.

2nd Jul 2007, 9:17 pm	#4
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,858	Re: Nixie tube calculator ? Some of these can be quite collectable, but the huge desktops are less so. As always, 5 minutes on eBay is probably the best way of getting an idea of value.

7th Aug 2007, 11:29 pm	#6
Zelandeth Heptode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 931	Re: Nixie tube calculator ? Ah, old calculators, one of my other weaknesses! Good places to look for info on such things are: The Vintage Calculators Web Museum and The Old Calculators Web Museum Don't blame me for the similar names - that's what they're called! Have to confess that when I found those sites, I started at one side and read pretty much the whole way through. Calculators like that with VFD displays don't generally go for much money, but the individual digits (referred to as Numitron if I remember rightly - though that could be incandescent seven segment displays I'm thinking of - so don't quote me on that) are less common, so may push it up a bit. Looks to be in pretty good nick though. I don't recall seeing a huge number of Prinztronic stuff about. __________________ Zel's Lair - A random bag of vintage tech, lighting information and other assorted geekery

7th Aug 2007, 11:43 pm	#7
ALANS ANITAS Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North West Northamptonshire, UK. Posts: 346	Re: Nixie tube calculator ? The last Anita Mark 8 that was listed on Ebay.co.uk sold for over US42000. I really must get mine out of the loft, but it is big and heavy. ALAN

8th Aug 2007, 1:34 pm	#8
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,257	Re: Nixie tube calculator ? For a glorious moment there I was thinking you meant $42000, but I take it $2000 was the figure. Still, mine's looking like better value than ever for the £1 it cost me Paul Edit: added a close-up of the transistor Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Paul_RK; 8th Aug 2007 at 1:48 pm.

8th Aug 2007, 2:44 pm	#9
ALANS ANITAS Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North West Northamptonshire, UK. Posts: 346	Re: Nixie tube calculator ? SORRY The 2000 dollar figure was correct. I do remember seeing this model Prinztronic in the Leicester branch of Dixons (professional interest), it was a small desktop model weighing about 2lbs. It was not available for long. The Anita Mk 8 weighed abouit 26lbs. ALAN