The Busicom HL-21 pinwheel mechanical calculator is a late model and dates from the 1960s, not long before electronic calculators became more available to the general public. It was lighter than older models of pinwheel calculators, such as the original Odhner, as it made use of more modern materials such as plastics and diecast metals. It is a hand-operated calculator with 10 places on the setting register, 11 places on the quotient register, and 21 places on the product register.

The HL-21 was advertised as the "Busicom Educational Calculator" with prices starting at £60 Sterling, which was reduced to £39 10s for educational users.

This model was also sold as the Nippon HL-21 but the company changed its name to Busicom (Business Computer Corporation) in 1967 when it started manufacturing electronic calculators. Broughtons of Bristol were a British company who imported Nippon/Busicom products to the UK. Broughtons bought the trading name and stock of Busicom when it went bankrupt in 1974.

Internal picture can be seen at http://www.vintagecalculators.com/html/hl-21.html

Manufacturer: Busicom
Date: 1960

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH12273. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

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