Why do you do this?
Simple. I am very interested in preserving and documenting this particular aspect of our technological base. With technologies that change so fast, there are many aspects of technology which come and go so quickly that little record is left of its existence. Calculator technology is an example of this, where the technology advanced at such a tremendous rate that machines were literally outdated by the time they made it to market. This rapid pace of change resulted in many machines having relatively short lifetimes -- even though a machine may have still worked just fine, the savings in desktop space, electricity, and improved functionality and features offered by replacing the machine with a newer one were hard to deny. As a result, many machines were simply cast aside, either relegated to a storage room, basement, garage, or shed, or worse, thrown in the trash. Because technology is something that is generally considered 'disposable' in our society, many examples of the basis for our technologies of today are gone. My goal is to make sure that, even if the machines are massively outclassed by the amazing technology of today, that as much information about these wonders of their time is preserved and shared.

May I copy or use material from the museum?
Not without asking first. The museum materials are copyrighted and protected by law. If you wish to use excerpts or copies of material from the museum, simply send me an EMail explaining your interest, and how you intend the use the information. Please be detailed in your explanation, including specific references to the materials you would like permission to use. Generally, I will grant such requests, with the the provisions being that any materials used carry the copyright information (©1997-2024), a clear indication of the source of the material (The Old Calculator Museum), and the URL of the museum website (http://www.oldcalculatormuseum.com), that any images be left exactly as they appear in the museum, and that any text is quoted verbatim. There have been numerous cases of people stealing material from the museum, most notably using text or images from the museum for eBay auctions where the seller has a calculator or calculator-related item for sale that is exhibited in the museum. In cases where I find such instances occurring, I immediately report the seller to eBay's investigation division as an infringement of eBay's rules and regulations, and a violation of copyright law. In all cases reported so far, eBay has responded by removing the auction in question, and in one case, barring the seller from listing items on their auction sites. Please don't make things difficult - simply take the time to ask first before using text or images from the museum. In most all cases, within the provisions above, permission is granted to allow use of materials from the site.

How much is my calculator worth?
A lot of folks write me describing a calculator that they have, wanting to know how much it is worth. The simple answer is that the museum's collection is not focused on the value or investment potential of the machines.

See the next FAQ Question for more information.

How can I find out how much my calculator is worth?
Some old calculators have attracted interest as collectibles. Even though the focus of this museum is not related to the monetary aspects of collecting, the reality is that to keep the museum going, I must acquire, restore, and provide proper storage space for the machines, as well as providing the computing resource to develop and host the web site. All of these things cost money, most all of which I currently pay out-of-pocket. To help in funding the museum, I will provide expert appraisals of the value of selected calculators for a nominal fee. I only provide appraisals on AC-powered, desktop-style electronic calculators from the period between 1960 and 1979. I do not provide appraisals for ancient calculating devices, adding machines, mechanical or electromechanical calculators, accounting machines, or handheld calculators, as I simply do not have the expertise in these areas of calculating technology to render accurate and value-added appraisals.

If you have an instrument that meets these criteria, and are interested in an appraisal, please write me an EMail providing details about the machine. Include in your EMail the make/model/serial number, cosmetic information (is there damage to the cabinet, is it dirty or clean, condition of accessories?); functional status (does it power up and operate properly, does the keyboard work smoothly, display condition, do all operations provide proper answers?); accessories (manuals, other literature, dust cover, power cord, carrying case, program storage media?); peripherals (card reader, programmer, printer, plotter, I/O interfaces); any information on the history of the machine (are you the original owner, or if not, do you know anything about where the machine came from, how long you've owned the machine?); what you paid for the machine if you purchased it; and, if you have the capability, photos of the machine and accessories that are detailed enough to verify the general cosmetic condition of the calculator. I can accept GIF or JPG images via EMail, or photographs can be mailed to me via the US Mail. Cost of an appraisal is US $75.00 per calculator, and includes a custom-written document containing all information that I can find (historical, technical, operational) about the machine being appraised, a statement of the condition and operability of the machine, and my estimate of the fair market value of the machine as presented. The appraisal will be generated within 10 days of receipt of the information, and will be sent to the customer via EMail, as well as a signed copy of the document sent via conventional mail.

Can you give me information about a calculator I have that isn't listed in your museum?
Sure! The only thing I won't do is tell you what I think it is worth (see FAQ questions above on calculator value). If you have a question about the history, operation, technology, or anything else related to a machine that is within my area of focus (late model electromechanical calculators from 1950-1970, and electronic calculators from 1960-1975), please don't hesitate to drop me an EMail. I'm more than happy to provide all information that I can about any particular machine you may be interested in finding out more about. Something to consider: If you have a calculator that isn't in the museum, and want to learn more about it, consider making it featured as a "Guest Exhibit" in the museum. The museum can pay for packaging and shipment of your calculator to the museum, and then I will prepare a detailed exhibit of the machine, and return the machine to you. I have a lot of experience shipping these old machines around, and know how to package them to maximize the chance of a safe round-trip. Of course, I can't guarantee that shipping damage won't occur, and strongly suggest that insurance be taken out on any machine that is shipped. Any machines shown as guest exhibits will prominently credit the source for the machine in the exhibit and accompanying materials.