Sears 801.58770 Handheld Electronic Calculator (Sears 5877)

This handheld electronic calculator was described by its vendor as the “Sears Electronic Slide Rule.” It has an array of twenty-five sloping plastic keys. These may either perform the function indicated on the key or, if the f key is pressed first, perform a “secondary function” which is indicated above the key on the keyboard. With this combination of keys, the calculator performs not only the four arithmetic functions but computes natural and common logarithms and anti-logarithms, trigonometric and inverse trigonometric functions, square roots, roots, powers for any real numbers, and reciprocals. The number pi may be recalled and there are five memory keys. An on/off switch and a degree/radian switch are behind the keyboard. A mark behind them reads: Sears Electronic Slide Rule. Behind this is an eight-digit fluorescent display with a sign indicator.

At the base of the back is a compartment for four AA batteries. A sticker above this reads in part: IN ALL CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING THIS ARTICLE ALWAYS MENTION (/) MODEL (/) NUMBER 801.588770 (/) CALCULATOR (/) #194964. It also reads in part: ASSEMBLED IN MEXICO.

The calculator has a plastic, cloth-lined carrying case marked on the front. Also in the case is a pamphlet entitled Sears Instruction Manual Sears Electronic Slide Rule Calculator. Compare the Rockwell 63R (1986.0988.163).

References:

[Advertisement], Los Angeles Times, December 18, 1974, p. I8. Calculator advertised as regularly priced at $119.99, on sale for $99.99.

[Advertisement], Los Angeles Times, February 23, 1975. Calculator advertised as regularly priced at $98.99, on sale for $84.88.

[Advertisement], Chicago Tribune, April 2, 1975, p. D2. Advertised as on sale for $79.98.

Guy Ball and Bruce Flamm, The Complete Collector’s Guide to Pocket Calculators, Tustin, CA: Wilson/Barnett Printing, 1997, p. 135.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Sears Spring through Summer 1974 [Catalog], 1974, p. 1023. Calculator with catalog model number 5877C, which closely resembles this one, offered for $168.95.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Sears Fall and Winter 1974 [Catalog], 1974, p. 1262. Calculator with catalog model number 5877C, which closely resembles this one, offered for $168.95.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Sears Spring and Summer 1975 [Catalog], 1975, p. 1095. A Sears 5877C electronic calculator, which looks very much like this one, is offered for $98.95.

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