Commodore Calculator Repair
The 8-Bit Guy・12 minutes read
Received non-working vintage Commodore calculator with historical significance from David Leech, found hand-drawn traces, a Texas Instruments chip, and debris in key switches; after cleaning and adjusting, the calculator started working again.
Insights
- The vintage Commodore calculator, donated by David Leech, holds historical significance despite not working due to its association with the Commodore brand and the unique features of its design, such as being solely powered by 120V with no battery option, showcasing a piece of technological history.
- Through a meticulous process of disassembling, testing, and cleaning, the calculator was restored to working condition, revealing the intricate hand-drawn traces on the board, the presence of a Texas Instruments chip indicating a historical connection, and the necessity of cleaning key switches to remove debris and adjusting springs for proper functionality, highlighting the importance of thorough maintenance and repair in preserving technological artifacts.
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Recent questions
How old is the vintage Commodore calculator?
Around 1972
What was found inside the disassembled calculator?
Hand-drawn traces on board
What was the issue with the calculator's key functionality?
Debris from disintegrated foam
What was the significance of the Texas Instruments chip on the calculator board?
Known Commodore-TI history
How did the calculator suddenly start working?
Voltages close to expected numbers
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Summary
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Vintage Commodore Calculator Restoration Success
- Received vintage Commodore calculator from David Leech as a donation
- Calculator does not work, historical significance due to Commodore name
- Made around 1972, only powered by 120V, no battery option
- Disassembled calculator, found hand-drawn traces on board
- Tested fuse with multimeter, found it to be functional
- Discovered Texas Instruments chip on board, known Commodore-TI history
- Found voltages close to expected numbers, calculator suddenly started working
- Investigated key functionality, mapped out working and non-working keys
- Disassembled key switches, found debris from disintegrated foam
- Cleaned key switches, adjusted springs for proper contact, reassembled successfully
