Keystone Atlas-Rand 240 Handheld Electronic Calculator

Some early manufacturers of electronic calculators had their beginnings as makers of photographic equipment. One of these was the Keystone Division of Berkey Photo, Inc. Keystone Camera Company traced its origins to a company founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in1910. Early products included movie cameras and projectors. In 1966, Berkey Photo, Inc. acquired Keystone. By 1973, the Keystone Camera Division of Berkey, with its factory in Clifton, New Jersey, had expanded to making instant-load cameras with electronic flash. It also, from late 1972 until at least 1975, made handheld electronic calculators.

The Atlas-Rand 240 calculator resembles one of the first handheld calculators mentioned as a product of Berkey-Keystone. It has a black plastic case, a metal keyboard and trim, and eighteen plastic keys. The keys are square with circular tops. In addition to ten digit keys, a decimal point key, a total key, four arithmetic function keys, and a cancel key, the calculator has a percentage key. Buttons left of the percentage key can be used to set a constant and to set the display for numbers or dollars and cents. The on/off switch is above the keys. Behind it is an eight-digit display. A mark above the keyboard reads: Atlas-Rand. Text along the front edge reads: Made in U S A 240. The socket for a power adapter as at the back edge.

A sticker on the back of the calculator gives operating instructions. It is marked at the bottom: Keystone (/) PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY 07652 SERIAL # C058728. A compartment in the back holds four batteries.

The calculator has a black plastic zippered carrying case.

Prices for this calculator range from $119.95 in 1973 down to $29.95 in 1975.

Compare 1986.0988.366.

References:

“New Products,” Chicago Tribune, July 7, 1973, p. W A13. Here the Berkey-Keystone calculator shown, which features four arithmetic functions and a percentage key, is said to cost $119.95.

[Advertisement], Los Angeles Times, August 24, 1974, p. C4. Ad describes calculator, gives price of $49.95. Mentions credit card promotion mentioned again in 1975.

[Advertisement], Los Angeles Times, March 1, 1975, p. D12 . Ad describes calculator. Part of text reads “Thousands of these calculators were sold in 1974 by a major oil company in a credit card promotion for $99.95.” Device on sale for $29.95.

Currently not on view