Sharp EL-8028 Handheld Electronic Calculator

In 1977, an advertisement in a Chicago newspaper introducing this calculator claimed that it offered “International elegance. Out of this world intelligence.” The advertisement described two Sharp calculators using liquid crystal displays. These required much less power than other forms of display, making it possible to build smaller, more stylish instruments.

The thin handheld electronic calculator has silver-colored metal case and an array of twenty rounded rectangular plastic keys. These include ten digit keys, a decimal point key, a % key, four arithmetic function keys, an on/clear key, a clear entry key, a square root key, and a total key. Behind the keyboard is an eight-digit LCD display. The on/off switch is below the display at the left. Text right of this reads: SHARP (/) ELECTRONIC CALCULATOR. Text below the keyboard reads: SHARP ELSI MATE (/) EL-8028.

The back of the calculator has a compartment for two squat cylindrical silver oxide batteries at the base. Text above this reads: ELECTRONIC CALCULATOR (/) EL-8028. It also reads: SHARP CORPORATION (/) MADE IN JAPAN BM. The text also reads: NO. 71109296. The most recent U.S. patent listed has number 3976994. This patent, for an LCD display, was issued in 1976 and assigned to Sharp.

The brown leatherette case holds the calculator and a paper manual for it. Text on the outside of the wallet reads: SHARP (/) ELECTRONIC CALCULATOR.

References:

[Advertisement], Chicago Tribune, June 22, 1977, p. B6. This model calculator selling for $19.95. A closely related model, the EL-8128, had five memory keys and sold for $24.95.

[Advertisement], Washington Post, October 21, 1977, p. C8. This calculator was on sale for $15.99. The EL-8128 was on sale for $19.95.

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