National Semiconductor Novus 6025 Handheld Electronic Calculator, the Financier PR

In 1975, Novus, the Consumer Products branch of National Semiconductor Corporation, introduced a series of handheld electronic calculators known as the “Professionals.” As a June 1975 advertisement in the Chicago Tribune put it, these were designed to fill the gap between “very expensive calculators offering every feature in the book” and “‘Mickey Mouse’ models which were much less costly, but which just didn’t have what it takes to do the job.” The least expensive of these calculators was The Mathematician, which initially sold for $69.95. Others in the series included the Programmable Mathematician, the Financier, the Programmable Financier, the Statistician, the Programmable Statistician, and the International Computer (later sold as the International Converter). By 1976, Novus had also introduced the Scientist and the Programmable Scientist.

This is an example of the programmable form of the Financier. The handheld electronic calculator has a black plastic case and thirty-six rectangular plastic keys. In addition to digit keys, keys for arithmetic functions, a decimal point key, and a clear entry/clear key, the calculator has keys for calculating the present value and payments of loans and savings at various rates of interest for various time periods. Four keys on the far left side assist in editing and running programs. A switch at the top can be set to load, step, or run programs. There appears to be no provision for entering letters or saving programs.

Behind the switch is an eight-digit red LED display. A mark directly above the keyboard reads: Financier PR. A mark behind the display reads: NOVUS.

A sticker attached to the back of the calculator gives instructions. It reads at the top: NOVUS 6025. It reads at the bottom: NOVUS – Consumer Products from National Semiconductor Corp. (/) Made in U.S.A. It also reads there: Serial No. (/) 1013431. A mark molded into the plastic at the base of the back reads: U603.

References:

[Advertisement], Los Angeles Times, February 20, 1975, p. E8. Novus Mathematician advertised as costing $69.95, Novus Financier $99.95. A price for the Programmable Financier is not given. Copy indicates that the calculator will be available in a few days.

[Advertisement], Chicago Tribune, June 1, 1975, p. A16. Novus Mathematician advertised for $69.95, Novus Programmable Financier for $149.95..

[Advertisement], Los Angeles Times, April 17, 1976, p. C5. Novus 6025 (Programmable Financier) advertised for $99.95.

[Advertisement], Los Angeles Times, December 24, 1976, p. C2. Novus 6025 (Programmable Financier) on sale for $39.95.

Novus 6020 Financier Operations Guide, Sunnydale, California: NOVUS, [no date]. This is online at wass.net, accessed September 9, 2014. This instruction manual is not for the programmable form of the instrument.

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