Object Record
WANG Laboratories, Inc. Calculator, Model 450-1
WANG Laboratories, Inc. Calculator, Model 450-1
| Catalog Number | 04.0009.003 |
| Title | WANG Laboratories, Inc. Calculator, Model 450-1 |
| History |
This calculator was used for about 40 years by Dr. Earl Stadtman. This series of calculators was Wang Laboratories Inc.’s first ones to make exclusive use of Large Scale Integratiion technology. These calculators were programmable. The 450 model was called the "Scientist". The Wang Laboratories' series 400 calculators, introduced in 1972, were the first of that firms' products that relied on Large Scale Integration chips. The use of RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read-Only Memory) served to miniaturize a great portion of the functionality of the forerunner Wang 600-Series calculators into a reasonably compact true desktop machine. Each of the four models, incorporated functions particularly suited for a specific discipline. The Model 450-1 Calculator is designated as "Basic Scientific". (452, was Advanced Scientific,) Model 462, was dubbed Statistical and Model 482 was named Surveying. The 450-1 calculator could be programmed by the user by use of the numeric keypad and a set of special function keys whose location brings to mind the function keys found on today's PCs. Programs could alternatively loaded by use of an optional device that read punched or mark-sense cards. The calculator was equipped with sixteen solid state chips called memory registers. The data on these chips could be accessed by sixteen corresponding special keys All four basic arithmetic functions could be performed directly or indirectly on data stored in a register. The specialized functions that especially suited the Wang 451 for general scientific applications, what Wang called "personality", was provided by a plug-in discipline-specific circuit board containing read only memory (ROM) programs. Results from calculations was provided on a Panaflex display atop the keyboard that comprises a series of twelve neon bulbs with filaments, portions of which can form numerals from 1 to 9 as well as 0. The Model 450-1 Wang Calculator was actually quite expensive. When first introduced in 1972 it cost $1300 or about $7200 in 2012 dollars. |
| Description | Textured metal--body painted tan, control panel is black. Vents in two rows on top. Fuse and electrical cord on back. Right side has sticker "Please move to: Earl Stadtman, Building 50, Room 2140." Panel has plastic keys: number pad, two pads for operations, circuits for log activities. |
| Date | mid 1960s |
| Organizations | NIH; NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) (1976-present) |
| Buildings |
Building 3 Building 50 (Louis Stokes Laboratories) |
| NIH Property # | 760212 |
| Old NIH Property # | 352350 |
| Serial # | DD 1403 |
| People |
Park, Buhm Soon Stadtman, Earl R. |