Wang 300 Calc

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