National Semiconductor Novus 4510 Mathematician from 1976

[jebem]

I saw this rare RPN machine for sell at a local antiquary shop, mixed together with old books in a upper shelf, and I couldn't resist myself to spend yet another 40 Euro in order to convince the owner to let it go.

Apparently the machine was acquired in 1976 in Lisbon by the original owner during his studies at engineering school. He is retired now and decided to open a shop to spend the time and make a few more income to face this never ending economic crisis.

The hardware build is simple, and comprises two main parts:
- The PCA, featuring a good quality one sided copper trace on fiberglass PCB;
- The Keyboard assembly fixed to the front case using plastic rivets.
A single plastic big sized flat cable from the keyboard assembly plugs in into a female connector in the PCA.

Internal active components are:
- NS MM5760N Slide Rule Processor (1975 week 43);
- NS DM8864 9-digit LED cathode driver (1975 week 49);
- NS A1298 0.110 inch, 9-digit, common cathode GsAsP 7-segment LED numeric display (1975 week 36).


Edit to add documentation information:

user guide available at Katherine Wasserman excellent site.

The NS MM5760 processor details can be found here.

Current consumption (measured using a fresh 9Volt 6LR61 battery):
- After Power ON (one digit lit with "0" plus decimal point lit): 23mA
- All digits lit ("8"'s plus minus sign lit): 62mA
- After entering battery saver mode (all decimal points lit): 25mA
Real funny, where the battery saver mode consumes more current than the initial power ON state.

[jebem]

The Pi value according to Novus 4510:



And the sin (Pi) and cos(Pi) are:



The ln (1000) and 2^5 are:



The power save mode:

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(03-08-2015 06:49 PM)jebem Wrote:  I saw this rare RPN machine(...)

Mmmmm, I really don't think it is rare at all. :)

Still have mine from '76 (I think), my first RPN machine.

Thanks for the pictures.

[jebem]

The 9VDC DC-902 European AC adapter, made in Germany:




The super quality pouch, HP-67 style:




I was lucky to get the original user guide in the deal as well:




And the Portuguese translation user guide, courtesy of the JJE local distributor:
JJE is a respected electronic instrumentation distributor based in Lisbon.
This Portuguese guide was written for the 4515 model, but it was included in the 4510 as well. The user just needed to ignore the 4515 extra features.

[jebem]

(03-08-2015 07:03 PM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  

(03-08-2015 06:49 PM)jebem Wrote:  I saw this rare RPN machine(...)

Mmmmm, I really don't think it is rare at all.

Still have mine from '76 (I think), my first RPN machine.

Thanks for the pictures.

Grazie tanti for your feedback, Massimo!
Yap, I guess that I was kind of ripped off by the seller, but hey, when I saw it was a RPN machine I just had to have it!
Well, at least it is rare to find one here in Portugal.
Agree that it is easy to find them in TAS.

[Massimo Gnerucci]

Well, I think 40€ it's not really expensive for this calculator since it is a complete, working, clean item.

Congrats!

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(03-08-2015 07:21 PM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  Well, I think 40€ it's not really expensive for this calculator since it is a complete, working, clean item.

I think too, that the price is reasonable. Recently I fished one out of the bay for 12 Euros, working, but without accessories and with a wrong manual (it came with a 4515 manual). Also the back labels are missing.

But it is very special in one way and shows mid seventies Malaysian quality control:



(somewhere on the planet there must be another Novus 4510 with two "+" keys :-) )

Regards
Max

[bshoring]

Does this have the 3 level stack ?

[jebem]

(03-11-2015 05:50 AM)bshoring Wrote:  Does this have the 3 level stack ?

Yes, apparently.
You may have a look for the details in the user guide available at Katherine Wasserman excellent site.

Edit to add processor information:

The NS MM5760 processor details can be found here.

[Steve Simpkin]

(03-11-2015 05:50 AM)bshoring Wrote:  Does this have the 3 level stack ?

This was my first RPN machine until I bought my HP-25. You could work around the 3-level stack by using the memory register when needed but the biggest limitation for me was the lack of scientific notation.