Sanyo was a leader in innovative products way back when, and this calculator/pedometer dubbed the Marathon is proof of that. This slim calculator is built with a sensor to “count” your strides as you walk. Carry this in your pocket, and with a few simple calculations, you’ll know how far you’ve travelled!
Spiffy Space Invaders variation called “Astro Destroyer” with a Game&Watch sized LCD. This game/calculator was available from Sears and other higher-end retailers for about $50 in 1982. Also equipped with an time functions in a pleather folding case.
What an innovative design! GCE (maker of the the Vectrex video system) had function and style in spades in the early 80s. Sliding cover reveals LCD display and switches the unit from calculator to game mode. Enhanced playability with a mini joystick, and 3 “challenging space games.” Time functions, too. Class right down to the play-on-words chosen for the name: Space-N-Counter. Wow…thanks to Ron Osborne for finding this gem in Ludlow, MA!
Do you have any history you can offer us on this Casio game/calclulator? We picked this one up second-hand and have yet to determine the play of its 3 games. Should be an early 80s model, as it fits the profile of other Casio game/calcs of that era.
The period of the early to mid 80s was a great time to enjoy some diverse calculator products. It seemed everytime you gazed into a department store display case, you were treated to a new calculator with a twist. More than ever, the game feature was prominently sandwiched between many a Casio pleather billfold. This babe, the BB-9 has all the features of a well-conceived electronic handheld baseball game, like pitch selection and batting control. Even the graphics on its mini calculator display rivaled game-only handheld units. A sterling example of the Casio’s passion for quality and understanding of the game of baseball!
Another gem in the same configuration as above is Casio’s Boxing Game. The BG-15 exudes the charm found in few other calculators that you’d want to carry around in the 7th grade. More thoughtful design and sharp packaging–a lost art in today’s blister-packed calculator society.
The minds at Casio improved upon the BG-15 to create a game&watch-style boxing handheld with improved playability and a larger LCD display. So life-like, you can almost hear the crowd groan with each punch…well, okay, but they do seem to be reacting to the action! Time and alarm functions were added to this next generation of Casio game/calculator.
Again, we must defer to you, our valued visitor. We’ve haven’t determined the play of this Casio’s multiple games. Can you shed some light? Fits the profile of other Casio game/calcs of the early 80s, and appears to be a variation on the MG-888 in a previous post.
This Sharp Elsi-Mate is a very elegant pocket watch style calculator which sold for close to $100 in some places. Is in fact a digital watch and alarm. From 1980, the model EL-8061 was nicknamed the “Hang-A-Round.”
As discussed above, there were new conquests in the advancement of the handheld calculator following the fall of LED models. The leader in sales and manufacturing was TI, and they symbolically contributing to the Casio-dominated clock/calculator field with this entry. The DataChron may be considered an early electronic organizer as it packed as much technology available into this shirt pocket-sized unit. Full compliment of time, alarm and stopwatch functions behind an early UV-filtered LCD display. Sold for about $40 is 1977.
