Binatone
Binatone Electronics Ltd. was founded in 1959 by two brothers, Gulu and Partap Lalvani, and was named after Bina, their younger sister. Based in Wembley, on the outskirts of London, the company specialised in importing consumer electronics from the far east. It continues to be a thriving business.
With the running down of Sinclair Radionics in 1979, Binatone bought the stock and rights to the Sinclair Enterprise calculators and the Microvision televisions[1].
Known Binatone vintage calculator models:
Binatone Model 02/4252
6v (4x AA batteries).
Display is 8 digits, green Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD).
4-function, %.
Integrated circuit - Texas Instruments TMS 0857NL (here date coded to late 1975).
78 x 145 x 29 mm (3.1" x 5.7" x 1.1").
Made in Singapore.
Binatone BRAINWAVE
9v (PP3 battery).
Display is 8 digits, red LED.
4-function, %, memory.
Integrated circuit - Texas Instruments ZA0571 (here date coded to early 1976).
70 x 140 x 24 mm (2.75" x 5.5" x 0.9").
Made in Singapore.
Binatone CADET
3v (2x AA batteries).
Display is 8 digits, VFD.
4-function, %, memory.
72 x 125 x 19 mm (2.8" x 4.9" x 0.75").
Binatone MASTERMIND - Model 02/4503
9v (PP3 battery).
Display is 8 digits, red LED.
4-function, %, memory.
67 x 125 x 24 mm (2.6" x 4.9" x 0.9").
Made in Singapore.
Binatone MEMORYMASTER - Model 02-4236
6v (4x AA batteries).
Display is 8 digits, blue VFD.
4-function, %, memory.
80 x 147 x 29 mm (3.1" x 5.8" x 1.1").
Made in Singapore.
Binatone PRESIDENT - Model 02/4309
3v (2x AA batteries).
Display is 8 digits, green Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD).
4-function, %, memory, square root.
Integrated circuit is Sharp LI2003.
83 x 138 x 20 mm (3.3" x 5.4" x 0.8").
Made in Taiwan.
Binatone SCIENTIFIC SLIDE RULE
4.5v (3x AA cells).
Display is 8 digits, green vacuum fluorescent display (VFD).
Scientific functions.
80 x 150 x 34 mm (3.1" x 5.9" x 1.3").
Made in Taiwan.
Reference
British calculators
Vintage Calculators
© Text & photographs copyright Nigel Tout 2000-2019 except where noted otherwise.