Wang 300 Calc

[Rick Bensene]

The 300 - Series Wang Calculators consisted of two parts: an electronics
package, and
"Keyboard/Display Units".  The electronics packages are usually
small-briefcase-sized (single-user) or longer, shorter packages with a
connector (or connectors for the multi-user versions)  that the
keyboard/display units plug into.

The Keyboard/Display units are pretty much useless by themselves -- they
need the "brains" in the electronics package to do anything.  All the
keyboard/display units consist of are a keyboard and keyboard encoding
circuitry, and a Nixie tube display with display decode/driver
electronics.  There are no mathematical electronics in the
Keyboard/display units. 

There were single-user calculator electronics packages and two
"multi-user" electronic packages that could
Run four simultaneous keyboard/display units. 

There were a number of different keyboard/display units made, with
varying functions.  There were two special
Keyboard/display units (370 and 380) which had programming functionality
in them, which would allow programs to be read from punched cards (370)
or magnetic tape (380).  These particular keyboard/display units are
pretty hard to find.  The other 300-series keyboard display units were
the 300, 310, 320, and 360/362.  These units varied in the number of
math functions they provided.  There were also four models of special
keyboard/display units with diode ROMS and sequencers in them that would
provide trigonometric functions (albeit slowly).  These, too, are rather
hard to find.

The keyboard/display units have pretty simple circuitry inside them.  It
wouldn't be too hard to build some kind of microprocessor or
microcontroller-based gizmo that would emulate the electronics package
and bring a Keyboard/Display unit to life.  You'd need some good math
knowledge to implement the various math routines, but the interface is a
very simple multiplexed BCD display, and a six-bit key code for each
key, encoded by a diode matrix.  

You can lear more at http://oldcalculatormuseum.com/wang360.html.

Rick Bensene
The Old Calculator Museum
http://oldcalculatormuseum.com




> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org 
> [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Jason T
> Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 3:45 PM
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> Subject: Wang 300 Calc
> 
> I've got a line on one of these old Nixie-tube calculators at 
> a fair price.  I know they used an outboard processor, making 
> them little more than (very pretty) terminals to a central 
> CPU.  Are they of any use other than a doorstop or eye candy 
> for the collection?  (And don't say "harvest them for the Nixies!")
> 
> --
> jht
>