Texas Instruments TI 59

Description

Brand: Texas Instruments
Model: TI 59
Type: Programmable scientific calculator with built-in card reader
Picture: TI 59
Batteries: Battery pack
Lifetime: Introduced: 1977
Terminated: unknown
Notes: The TI 58, TI 58 C and the TI 59 are programmable calculators that can be extended using Solid State Software Libraries.

This series of programmable calculators (TI SR-52, TI SR-56, TI 57, TI 58, TI 58 C, TI 59) really set the tone of most programmable scientific calculators to follow. But they also clearly borrow from the fabulous HP calculators that came before them.

The TI 59 has volatile memory, but memory strips can be used to store user programs and to load user programs or commercially available programs.

There’s an excellent web page on the TI 59 which does however claim the TI 59 is the first "real" programmable calculator in the world, which obviously isn’t true. The first "real" programmable calculator in the world is pre 70s, and the very first hand-held programmable calculator was made by Hewlett Packard, that being the HP 65.

Still, take a look at the TI 59 site by going to http://www.ti59.com (link valid 2024-01-13).

The programming instructions of this calculator include flags (which could be used for a number of hidden functions as well), indirect addressing, subroutines,

Thanks for this rather nice addition to my collection, Alexander Veenstra!

Peripherals

This calculator can be mounted on top of an extension module, which made it look like a really slick kind of cash register with a key lock and all. This module connects via a row of contacts in the calculator’s battery compartment. Available are the printers PC-100A and the PC-100C.

There is also a power adapter.