Ultra Rear Sharp EL-8 Mint Condition

Description

Sharp
EL-8
(aka
Compet ELSI-8
)
Distinctive features:
One of the first hand-held, battery powered calculators.
Technical details:
Display is 8 digits green "Itron" fluorescent tubes.
Note the strange shape of the numerals and the half-height zero clearly shown in the photograph of the Facit version below, distinctive of Japanese-made calculators of this time.
Four-functions.
The keyboard on this calculator has the number of keys reduced to the minimum by the use of only three function keys, including a combined "x÷" key.
Here, pressing "x÷" gives the multiplication function if "+=" is subsequently pressed to give the answer, and gives the division function if "-=" is subsequently pressed to give the answer, so:
4 x÷ 2 +=  gives the answer 8.
4 x÷ 2 -=  gives the answer 2.
Main integrated circuits - Rockwell NRD2256, AC2261, DC2266B, AU2271B, CG1121.  The four large-scale integrated circuits (LSI) are for the calculating functions, and the integrated circuit in the small can is the clock generator.  This model was sometimes called the
ELSI-8
, where
'ELSI'
stands for 'Extra Large-Scale Integrated'.
7.2v (6 x AA) re-chargeable battery giving three hours operation.
100 mm x 163 mm x 67 mm (4" x 6.5" x 2.7").
Was advertised in the U.S.A in early 1970.
In June 1971 in the U.S.A. the cost was US$ 345
(about £145 GBP).
The Sharp
EL-8
was advertised as
"operates on rechargeable battery or AC or battery (26 oz.)"
whereas the Sharp
EL-8A
was advertised as
"AC only (19 oz.)"
, so being a lot lighter appears not to have the rechargeable battery inside.
The Sharp
EL-8
has smaller rechargeable batteries than the Sharp QT-8B which was launched at about the same time and so is smaller.
The Sharp
EL-8M
also has a memory and is slightly larger than the
EL-8
.
Made in Japan.
The keyboard is notable for its use of only 15 keys.  Multiplication and division are combined in one key, but the operation actually used is determined by whether the += key is pressed at the end of the calculation, to give multiplcation, or the –= key, to give division.
Photos are part of description. Please take a look at them in order to have a better and complete idea of condition.