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Texas Instruments TI 58
 & some specialist calculators derived from it

TI Programmable 58

Rear of the TI 58 with battery pack and "Master Library Module" removed.

The "Master Library Module".

Inside the TI 58.
The program module presses against the 8 gold contacts in two rows at the bottom

The model TI 59 used these program modules too, but also had a magnetic card writer/reader for storing the users own programs.

One highly specialised version of the TI 58 is shown below.

In the same way that you buy a general purpose personal computer and install specialist software to do precisely what you want, so you could buy the general purpose TI 58 calculator and install the program module to give you the specialist calculator required.
In this way Texas Instruments could provide a range of specialist calculators more cheaply, since the majority of each calculator was the same, only program modules differed. Several companies took advantage of this flexibilty and had calculators produced with special keyboards, some of which are shown below.

Specialist calculators based on the TI 58

By contracting Texas Instruments to fit a TI-58 with a custom library module and keyboard, other companies could obtain a calculator with specialist functions at no great cost. Some of these calculators are illustrated here and are featured in greater detail on the TI 58 Special Function Calculators page.

USMC Harrier VSTOL/REST Calculator

USMC Harrier VSTOL/REST Calculator.

This calculator is fitted with a "Harrier" module to calculate Vertical & Short Take-Off & Land charcatersitics and Range, Endurance, Speed, & Time characteristics of the Harrier aircraft.
Originating in Britain as the Harrier the version used by the United States Marine Corps had the code AV8-A (and TAV8-A for the twin seat trainer version). 102 of the AV8-A were delivered between 1971 and 1976, and 8 of the TAV8-A were delivered in 1975 - 1976.

Made for MCDONNEL AIRCRAFT COMPANY

Allianz insurance calculator

These calculators with special functions are featured in greater deatail on the TI 58 Special Function Calculators page.

TI Navigatronic

The TI Navigatronic is a TI 58 fitted with a Navigation programs module but retains the standard calculator keyboard. For each navigation program a separate legend panel can be slid in at the top of the keyboard to label the special action of each of the function keys.

The calculator is supplied in a fitted wooden case.

For more details see the Navigation Calculators page.

Vintage Calculators

© Text & photographs copyright Nigel Tout  2000-2008 except where noted otherwise.