Trying to FIX a Faulty 34+ year old Calculator

Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль

Hi, this video shows me attempting to repair a Radio Shack Portable Desktop Calculator which was released between 1978-1985.
Remember that this is just for entertainment and I am not an expert in these repairs. The processes in the video may not be the best way, the correct way or the safest way to fix these things.
I do love fault finding and trying to fix broken things so I hope that comes across in this 'Trying to FIX' series.
Many thanks, Vince.

Пікірлер: 168

  • @tech-5231
    @tech-52315 жыл бұрын

    now you can try to connect it to the switch.

  • @bullshitdetective1

    @bullshitdetective1

    5 жыл бұрын

    headcase

  • @soulmourne2698

    @soulmourne2698

    5 жыл бұрын

    You can play the switch like a game and watch with that calculator hahahah

  • @julianwagners

    @julianwagners

    5 жыл бұрын

    The calculator hast more power then a switch

  • @HowDoIlockGeometryDash

    @HowDoIlockGeometryDash

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@julianwagners lol

  • @heberdua
    @heberdua5 жыл бұрын

    Your getting so good at fixing things that they get fixed on the way to your house!!

  • @Kwstr42
    @Kwstr425 жыл бұрын

    you should use all 8's to test all the lines in the display, not just random numbers

  • @Operational117

    @Operational117

    5 жыл бұрын

    Beat me to it, but I just wanna add that afterwards you can type 0.00000000, and check that all the decimal dots work as you type it in.

  • @GadgetUK164

    @GadgetUK164

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@Operational117 Beat me to it as well! Probably a bad segment.

  • @AmyDaisy69
    @AmyDaisy695 жыл бұрын

    I don't know why but I really love these old displays. They are so much more magical than LCD displays.

  • @philsinclair
    @philsinclair5 жыл бұрын

    I'm not lie, I'm really disappointed the calculator didn't need fixing!

  • @CYPH3RsD0M41N
    @CYPH3RsD0M41N5 жыл бұрын

    TRYING to "turn on" a calculator.

  • @Operational117

    @Operational117

    5 жыл бұрын

    Mudzi Result: Embarrassing success!

  • @Pyridox
    @Pyridox5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for sharing. Radio-Shack sold decent calculators back in the 70's & 80's, most likely a major manufacturer made them for RS.

  • @GadgetUK164
    @GadgetUK1645 жыл бұрын

    Nice pickup! As others have already suggested - try typing 8888888888888888 to fill the display. As they use 7 segments for each digit, failed segments can be revealed that way. If one has failed, there's nothing you can do except swap the VFD =/

  • @AnnoyingLion
    @AnnoyingLion5 жыл бұрын

    Perhaps you are so good at fixing stuff, you fixed it in your sleep then perfectly wrapped it back up again :o

  • @CLC-1000
    @CLC-10005 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic video Vince. Lovely to see old equipment working in the modern day.

  • @saka-hyenabro7773
    @saka-hyenabro77735 жыл бұрын

    The amount of care and craftsmanship put into these old electronics is amazing. Of course many of them are simple by today's standards but to think something made that long ago still works perfectly fine is amazing to me, even if it is just a calculator. Then you see smartphones today are deliberately designed to degrade after a few years of use. Also from the looks of it, it looks like this particular calculator can connect to some sort of display via the port in the back, maybe that would have been the fault in the machine?

  • @Mymatevince

    @Mymatevince

    5 жыл бұрын

    Hi, thanks for the comments. That port at the back is for a power supply, to save you using the D cell batteries :-)

  • @aldinelt7214
    @aldinelt72145 жыл бұрын

    Hi Vince, Just wanted to thank you for all of these fix-it videos you have put together. Watching them gave me the confidence to tackle my own fix-it job. Bought 2 Canon SX10IS digital cameras from eBay and was able to make one fully functioning camera from the two of them. Thanks again.

  • @Mymatevince

    @Mymatevince

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the comment and well done for fixing up a working camera :-)

  • @SaccoBelmonte
    @SaccoBelmonte5 жыл бұрын

    I had a similar one, well, my dad had a similar one. Lovely piece of retro loveliness.

  • @aljoin
    @aljoin5 жыл бұрын

    I love these fix it video. Keep them coming.

  • @100bl
    @100bl5 жыл бұрын

    Autodidact .. self taught.. how I approach fixing things... great channel 👍

  • @tamerakel
    @tamerakel5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks again for the video, keep them coming!!

  • @ftrueck
    @ftrueck5 жыл бұрын

    These calculators are legendary for any collector. You were very lucky to get it in such great condition. Nevertheless nice video. 😊

  • @fazoke2906
    @fazoke29065 жыл бұрын

    Great video, Vince!

  • @brianrb84
    @brianrb845 жыл бұрын

    All your videos are good no matter the outcome!!!

  • @KiloooNL
    @KiloooNL5 жыл бұрын

    You are correct Vince, after 90 days eBay listings are removed from the servers.

  • @RcHelpDotCom
    @RcHelpDotCom5 жыл бұрын

    The black mark in the lower right corner of the Vacuum Fluorescent Display is actually an oxygen indicator. If the screen leaks, that black mark will turn white letting you know it is no longer under a vacuum. I also agree to test it with all 8's to test every line in each character. Thanks for the video!

  • @Noone-vv9yb
    @Noone-vv9yb3 жыл бұрын

    Finally, a calculator that can match my math skills.

  • @splatnoah5166
    @splatnoah51665 жыл бұрын

    Great video

  • @Dave64track
    @Dave64track5 жыл бұрын

    Great video looks like brand new all the white keys look so clean don't think it's been used much by the looks of it. You need to try all 8's like Kw3str said might be a segment missing.

  • @AlvinMarin.
    @AlvinMarin.5 жыл бұрын

    My mate Vince is so good, how good is he.... he can fix a calculator by just looking at it 👍👍👍👍👍

  • @ARIGHETTI
    @ARIGHETTI5 жыл бұрын

    Well that was interesting! It's fully working 😂👍

  • @gravedigr12
    @gravedigr123 жыл бұрын

    just curious I have an old adler royal-1248 PD and it works fine but the screen is so dim I need to use it in the pitch black darkness any clue what would cause this?

  • @Ryan-zc3ef
    @Ryan-zc3ef5 жыл бұрын

    Love your Channel vince

  • @gogogagetfingers
    @gogogagetfingers5 жыл бұрын

    According to the online USA inflation calculator if that was purchased in 1975 for $29.99 in today's money it would of been $142. So yes quite expensive at the time

  • @kennethbarker852
    @kennethbarker8522 жыл бұрын

    great video

  • @androo4519
    @androo45193 жыл бұрын

    I've bought one or two old calculators on Ebay listed as not working with VFD displays and if they haven't been powered up for long time can sometimes take quite a few seconds to come back to life when you put new batteries in. Worth waiting 30 seconds. And cleaning contacts of course.

  • @danmackintosh6325
    @danmackintosh63255 жыл бұрын

    Haha the irony, I've just built a brand new kit calculator and it does not work! (faulty ADC IMO, seller being a pain lol).I have had similar luck though buying my second Game Gear (your fault Vince haha :D ) which was described as not loading games, but just had dark screen/no sound hence failed caps and is now my default player to keep the first one I did in great shape! Thanks for sharing, it's nice to know you got a bit of luck finally even if it didn't make for a chewy repair vid.

  • @lisaforbes3807
    @lisaforbes38075 жыл бұрын

    I am able to retrieve eBay orders placed back in 2018 and 2017. If you click on My eBay drop down box located on the top of screen, you then select Purchase history. The default will list current purchases, however if you click on "see orders from" the default is last 60 days, click on the drop down box you will be able to select 2018 or 2017. Once you do that you should find your purchase and open it up. I use this all the time so I know it works.

  • @ninjabot1647
    @ninjabot16475 жыл бұрын

    Epic video!

  • @P5ychoFox
    @P5ychoFox5 жыл бұрын

    Yay I guessed 1978. That makes it one year younger than me. Bloody ancient.

  • @RandyDarkshade2
    @RandyDarkshade25 жыл бұрын

    I have a Casio from 1979 which I still use. I bought it for 50p at a car boot sale a few years ago.

  • @tomthebadasscat
    @tomthebadasscat5 жыл бұрын

    Hi Vince, I guessed late 70's due to the display and styling of the calculator. I think that calculator was designed for accountants. I think the GPM button stands for Gross Profit Margin. Also there was most probably a 4% tax or something due to the 4% button. Have a good one, sorry it wasn't broken for you. 😁

  • @Graytail
    @Graytail5 жыл бұрын

    VFD Vacuum Flurescent Display. Fun things. The black spot in there shows the display is still under vacuum, they're supposed to turn white if the seal is broken. Quick way to tell if the display has failed without removing and testing the elements. I had a similar story myself last week, bought myself an Atari Flashback 8 which was 'freezing when you play with it' Hours of 'testing' later... dont judge me I grew up playing Atari games.. no freezing.... yay? The red digit calculator, if not early LED based, simply had a red filter infront of the same kind of VFD you have there. Just like some of the grandstand style games did to have colour graphics.

  • @ValeYard13
    @ValeYard135 жыл бұрын

    Fixing this just doesn’t add up, Vince. 🤣

  • @chevsev

    @chevsev

    5 жыл бұрын

    vfd = vacuum florescent display, be carful they run on fairly high voltage. And the getter absorbs oxygen that out gasses that will damage the display.

  • @Lee-mq4yp

    @Lee-mq4yp

    5 жыл бұрын

    Robert Mitchell he took a calculated risk.

  • @ValeYard13

    @ValeYard13

    5 жыл бұрын

    Lee 133 I feel like your comment is subtracting from his efforts.

  • @Operational117

    @Operational117

    5 жыл бұрын

    Robert Mitchell I’m trying to come up with a witty reply, but I’m rather divided between several options...

  • @abzhuofficial

    @abzhuofficial

    4 жыл бұрын

    Me laughing at the mathematical puns here are multiplied by OVER 9000

  • @brutlern
    @brutlern5 жыл бұрын

    Try to fix it video turns into a try not to break video.

  • @smigunc3024
    @smigunc30245 жыл бұрын

    Just a bit off topic, I was wondering what that little laptop that you used to show where you purchased the calculator is?

  • @gazzaka
    @gazzaka5 жыл бұрын

    I am thinking maybe DC adaptor plug is broken. Nice calculator display !

  • @Bleats_Sinodai
    @Bleats_Sinodai5 жыл бұрын

    The getter serves 2 purposes: - get rid of impurities when the vacuum device is manufactured; - show how good the vacuum seal is; It gets white if air gets in contact with it, which tells you that's a dead tube that needs replacing immediately!

  • @markwilliams5418
    @markwilliams54185 жыл бұрын

    hi vince can i ask have you closed you e bay shop link does not show your shop thanks

  • @bucketlung61
    @bucketlung614 жыл бұрын

    Was that a power adapter socket on the back ? If so, did it also work ?

  • @truthfilter
    @truthfilter5 жыл бұрын

    i'm so crap at maths i can't even use a calculator

  • @hugowoowoovlogs300

    @hugowoowoovlogs300

    5 жыл бұрын

    truthfilter i dont think you should swear on vince’s vids.

  • @Okurka.

    @Okurka.

    5 жыл бұрын

    Hugowoowoo Vlogs, why the fuck not?

  • @joshuakhull1015
    @joshuakhull10155 жыл бұрын

    Can you do more console trying to fix it videos Vince please

  • @Tass...
    @Tass...5 жыл бұрын

    $115 in today's money adjusted for inflation. An expensive calculator. Maybe donate it to the Centre for Computing History in Cambridge. They have some retro mock-up office exhibits of that period and it's in exhibit condition. They might be interested in it.

  • @Alexander_l322
    @Alexander_l3225 жыл бұрын

    Those Duracell industrial batteries are great from Amazon, so cheap and last forever lol

  • @danmackintosh6325

    @danmackintosh6325

    5 жыл бұрын

    True, they're actually working to gain back the reputation that Duracell lost on their original black/gold brand when they went rubbish. Very good batteries IMO.

  • @Alexander_l322

    @Alexander_l322

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@danmackintosh6325 well I remember and they still probably do sell fake Duracell batteries on markets, ebay, Amazon, corner shops and other places so that couldn't have helped the reputation of them but I've always known they are alright and the industrial ones are really mint. My LG magic remote has not needed fresh AAs yet! It's been 5 months and the Xmas light up Santa is still lit :)

  • @danmackintosh6325

    @danmackintosh6325

    5 жыл бұрын

    Could have been that too but even the genuine ones from places like Tesco or Asda went downhill, mainly in that they leaked before they even ran out or passed their date. I've noticed lately they seem to be using the black/gold for their "economy" line so perhaps the damage was bad enough they had to rebrand the good ones as industrial? (Compare this to some people I know of who have found Duracell D cells in old keyboards with a date of 2001, next to a different brand that had leaked everywhere, and the old Duracell still looked perfect & IIRC even showed some charge.

  • @amigaman9433

    @amigaman9433

    5 жыл бұрын

    I'm really pleased to hear you guys saying Duracell Industrial batteries are good as I wasn't sure when I bought some 9V PP3 ebay 10 for £10.99 112343789541

  • @smikee
    @smikee5 жыл бұрын

    Vince, whats that little computer you show all your listings on?

  • @liammcgroarty7390
    @liammcgroarty73905 жыл бұрын

    So cool

  • @sirmugman
    @sirmugman5 жыл бұрын

    ooooh in the box! LGR must be drooling slightly from this,

  • @a2zme
    @a2zme5 жыл бұрын

    Fastest 'fix' ever :)

  • @Okurka.

    @Okurka.

    5 жыл бұрын

    It took him 4 months.

  • @DarkGT
    @DarkGT5 жыл бұрын

    It was broken, but Vince the magic fingers fix it with one touch.

  • @jaydeh.
    @jaydeh.5 жыл бұрын

    Wow.

  • @JamesPotts
    @JamesPotts5 жыл бұрын

    It's an "adding machine" style calculator. For example, to calculate 30 - 8, you would enter "30 + 8 -" .

  • @pbarratt73

    @pbarratt73

    5 жыл бұрын

    @James Potts I still have one of these and wondered why it worked different to normal calculators I thought it was faulty

  • @Mymatevince

    @Mymatevince

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the info :-)

  • @JamesPotts

    @JamesPotts

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@pbarratt73 I briefly worked as a programmer at an insurance company, and they had a bunch of spare adding machines, but no calculators. So I learned to use one out of necessity.

  • @pbarratt73

    @pbarratt73

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@JamesPotts my Parents used to do all their bills and savings etc on the one I have I remember in the early 80's and I kept it safely all this time. The store was called Tandy in UK instead of radio shack though. Thanks for the info matey.

  • @KOCGaming2011
    @KOCGaming20114 ай бұрын

    When multiplying or adding numbers, you should press the [+=] key. The [-=] key ("Negative equals") is only used for division and subtraction.

  • @james22939
    @james229395 жыл бұрын

    I love this so much you so handy

  • @Puremindgames
    @Puremindgames5 жыл бұрын

    Just out of curiosity, what do you do with the stuff you fix? Do you keep them or sell them on? Is there method to the madness?

  • @_MarginOfError
    @_MarginOfError5 жыл бұрын

    What about the cable port on the back?

  • @montyburns56
    @montyburns565 жыл бұрын

    Perhaps you should have a spin off channel where you try to break things that are working?

  • @red_eclispe71kush19
    @red_eclispe71kush195 жыл бұрын

    your the best vice

  • @t31000
    @t310005 жыл бұрын

    Trying to find the date,look on the pcb for the date of manufacturing

  • @richardmatthews711
    @richardmatthews7115 жыл бұрын

    I just found a Texas Instruments sr56 in a box. I think it uses a LED type display.

  • @keithwhisman
    @keithwhisman5 жыл бұрын

    Digital calculators were crazy expensive considering most calculators at the time were analog hand crank operated.

  • @CloudyMN
    @CloudyMN5 жыл бұрын

    okay this is epic

  • @emptytomb4967
    @emptytomb49675 жыл бұрын

    it's wonderful it works... the box looks like a lighter color plastic, so you could do like the 8 bit guy and retrobright it, lol.

  • @ajune3332
    @ajune33322 жыл бұрын

    I like the old calculator🙂.i think when i used calculator it easy to look and colour is clearly 👍👍

  • @420gramas7
    @420gramas75 жыл бұрын

    I had this type of calculator from Ussr. Powered with AC 220V. Played with it to pretended it was cash register while i was a kid.

  • @BBC600

    @BBC600

    5 жыл бұрын

    Ramunas Ram That seems like something I would’ve done! When I was younger one Christmas I was given a cassette tape recorder. I remember that I was sad that it wasn’t an answering machine. I think I might have pretended that it was one if memory serves me right.

  • @johanlaurasia
    @johanlaurasia3 жыл бұрын

    It's not a scientific calculator, it's an accounting calculator. That calculator has GPM (Gross Profit Margin), and ITM I'm unsure but it's accounting related. Also you can fix the decimal position at 2 which is done mainly in accounting.

  • @glenbishop2609
    @glenbishop26095 жыл бұрын

    good old days good old ways. it will go for other hundred years

  • @lex9fy
    @lex9fy5 жыл бұрын

    It might work cus it had been tossed around when shipping or sat in storage long enough for it to work

  • @tatwo_
    @tatwo_5 жыл бұрын

    Put a red film on top of the display to make it red.

  • @webfischi
    @webfischi5 жыл бұрын

    I was already wondering why this vid is just 14 minutes long

  • @rohanmato3309
    @rohanmato33095 жыл бұрын

    Cool

  • @leem1076
    @leem10765 жыл бұрын

    Honestly don’t see why you’d want a 30+ calculator, but hey I’m here

  • @paulosullivan3472
    @paulosullivan34725 жыл бұрын

    Although C and D cell batteries are both 1.5v they produce very different currents. If the seller put C cell batteries in the display may have been flickering on and off which might explain why they thought it was faulty.

  • @antoinroberts
    @antoinroberts5 жыл бұрын

    Vince you didnt check the AC jack

  • @nameless5413
    @nameless54135 жыл бұрын

    a guide on how to power on calculator 5* from me! (yes i still want the * system back)

  • @majoryoshi
    @majoryoshi5 жыл бұрын

    That calculator is approximately $103.78 according to an online inflation calculator, assuming this particular one was purchased in '79.

  • @Okurka.

    @Okurka.

    5 жыл бұрын

    *was It is probably worth $5 now.

  • @alexanderclark973
    @alexanderclark9735 жыл бұрын

    It looks like it was sealed. Maybe they just forgot batteries?

  • @danmackintosh6325

    @danmackintosh6325

    5 жыл бұрын

    That could well be true, worth investigating the tape on the bag and see if it looks aged. Maybe they just switched it on through the bag & nothing happened, and because it's old & weighs more than something modern they assumed the batteries would already be installed (much like modern calculators)

  • @Scaze74
    @Scaze745 жыл бұрын

    It lookt N.I.B Maby it was from a loot of damaged boxes and u got one of the good ones. You broke the seal. The only thing that is bad on it now ;)

  • @IBrianrish
    @IBrianrish5 жыл бұрын

    You should give the calculator to Techmoan you know since it's Retro.

  • @Okurka.

    @Okurka.

    5 жыл бұрын

    And it's an audio device...

  • @sublime90
    @sublime905 жыл бұрын

    when "trying to fix" turns into "how to insert batteries"

  • @Ariidayo
    @Ariidayo5 жыл бұрын

    That is the same calculator I had!

  • @GYRUSS
    @GYRUSS5 жыл бұрын

    To test a calculator. Type in 14215469x 5=SHELLOIL if you turn the display upside down.

  • @TheJeracuda
    @TheJeracuda5 жыл бұрын

    pretty sure that Ebay will let you check your purchase history between 3 - 6 months

  • @cbathinkingofaname8623
    @cbathinkingofaname86235 жыл бұрын

    Why did you change your name to my mate vince? If I'm correct it was Mr telephone

  • @adamarzo559
    @adamarzo5595 жыл бұрын

    I've got a bunch of shit in boxes with some masking tape slapped on with the problem + what it is. I would be so fucking lost without this roll of masking tape and permanent marker. I'm sure there are better ways to sort stuff out, but for now slapping some tape on the front of the box is perfect.

  • @telesniper2
    @telesniper25 ай бұрын

    Oooooh vacuum fluorescent display!

  • @darkspongebob11
    @darkspongebob115 жыл бұрын

    vincee i can tell by looking its from the 70s...

  • @discoHR
    @discoHR5 жыл бұрын

    I always liked LED calculators more than LCD but never had one with LED. Time to visit eBay, I guess.

  • @swagamotherfr.6696
    @swagamotherfr.66965 жыл бұрын

    Hmm I have a ps4 pro that has the blod wanna make a video on it?

  • @FireballXL55
    @FireballXL555 жыл бұрын

    I can look at items I bought in 2017.

  • @maximusretardious4597
    @maximusretardious45975 жыл бұрын

    Im the same age as the calculator and my math sucks just as bad as its lol

  • @MrJohnziboi
    @MrJohnziboi5 жыл бұрын

    Tandy corp i bet the 8 bit guy could tell you about this 😀

  • @jojoskunk
    @jojoskunk5 жыл бұрын

    AVE time!!! put you got that confuser thing figured out.

  • @Reigner1985
    @Reigner19855 жыл бұрын

    For entertainment purposes only.

  • @Ma7hiu5
    @Ma7hiu55 жыл бұрын

    I think you'll be better off putting it back in its box and sealing it up and storing it, to then pass it down the family, who knows an old calculator thats fully working and boxed in another 50 years could be worth quite a bit.

  • @pvc988
    @pvc9885 жыл бұрын

    My guess is someone tried it with AC adapter and it didn't work because it's evil center negative connector.

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