#Retro

The display that turned out to be more

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Browsing popular auction sites, I once came across an offer for a display similar to those manufactured in the 1970s and 1980s. It was described as our indigenous CEMI design, although the “NN” logo, denoting National Semiconductor, was visible on the board. Of course, this type of design was produced in communist Poland, although not on a large scale, it is much more common to find displays from Czechoslovakia, where production volumes were larger. So, I think one can forgive the seller’s marketing gaffe of labeling the element as a CEMI production, although this is also some misrepresentation. Nevertheless, the price of the item was quite low, so I decided to order it, and in this article I will tell you about its construction and the adventures of trying to get it to work.

PRIVILEG Modell 802 – Calculator from the former West Germany

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During the communist era, the dream of many people was to own electronic equipment from the West. Acquiring the coveted computer equipment was downright impossible, but equipment such as calculators and audio systems were somehow obtainable. Today we will take a closer look at one such design. The Privileg Modell 802, as it is referred …

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Электроника МКУ-1 – Soviet school calculator

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The story of our today’s hero begins in 1987. It is then that the electronic equipment factory in Svetlovodsk (today’s Ukraine) leaves the first calculator Электроника МКУ-1 (Elektronika MKU-1). The device was the result of an idea by officials of the Central Planning Bureau and was designed with a specific purpose in mind – the equipment was to serve high school and college students of the Soviet Union. It would enable them to solve even complex mathematical equations much more quickly and simply.

Электроника МК-52 – Soviet calculator in orbit

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The great events of the space industry not only capture our attention, but also inspire us to think about the achievements of science and technology. One of the fascinating aspects of the conquest of space is the role that technology has played in these spectacular achievements. However, in the shadow of the famous rockets, astronauts and space stations, there are little-known elements of this space history, such as the Soviet Электроника МК-52 calculator.

Furniture construction Soviet clock

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In the category of retro equipment I usually throw in descriptions of calculators, because they are the biggest part of my collection. However, it’s time to introduce a little more variety, which is why a description of a vintage display appeared some time ago, while today I’d like to introduce you to an electronic clock that is more than 30 years old, manufactured in one of the factories of the former Soviet Union.

Elwro 105LN – Is it really a Polish calculator?

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The Elwro 105LN is one of the first office calculators to be produced at the Elwro Wroclaw plant. This device is a direct successor to the 105L model and, in fact, the first mass-produced one since the early 1970s. The design is very interesting both in terms of technical solutions, but also in terms of history, which is not so obvious.

Compendium of knowledge about Nixie

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On a cold December morning in the Czech village of Březolupy, a man stops his truck in front of a 17th century castle. He puts on thick gloves, gets out of the truck and opens the tailgate. Then, very carefully, he unloads more crates of heavy equipment and glass.

Bolek and Lolek from Wroclaw

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In my last article on retro equipment, I told you about a pocket calculator manufactured at the Unitra Eltra plant in Bydgoszcz. This time we will also take a closer look at a pocket design, or even several such devices from the times of centrally planned economy, with the difference that these will be calculators signed with the logo of Wroclaw Elwro.

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