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:
- 02/4252
- BRAINWAVE
- CADET
- MASTERMIND - Model 02/4503
- MASTERMIND MK 3 (a "Standard Type 2" model, with green VFD display)
- MEMORY
- MEMORYMASTER (02-4236)
- P-805
- PRESIDENT (02-4309)
- SCIENTIFIC SLIDE RULE
- Super Thin
Binatone Model 02/4252
Display is 8 digits, green Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD).
4-function, %.
6v (4x AA batteries).
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
Display is 8 digits, red LED.
4-function, %, memory.
9v (PP3 battery).
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
Display is 8 digits, VFD.
4-function, %, memory.
3v (2x AA batteries).
72 x 125 x 19 mm (2.8" x 4.9" x 0.75").
Binatone MASTERMIND - Model 02/4503
Display is 8 digits, red LED.
4-function, %, memory.
9v (PP3 battery).
67 x 125 x 24 mm (2.6" x 4.9" x 0.9").
Made in Singapore.
Binatone MEMORY
Display is 8 digits, red LED.
4-function, %, memory.
9v (PP3 battery).
69 x 133 x 24 mm (2.75" x 5.25" x 0.95").
Made in Hong Kong.
This is a 'Standard Type 1' calculator.
Grateful thanks to David Lee for kindly donating this calculator.
Binatone MEMORYMASTER - Model 02-4236
Display is 8 digits, blue VFD.
4-function, %, memory.
6v (4x AA batteries).
80 x 147 x 29 mm (3.1" x 5.8" x 1.1").
Made in Singapore.
Binatone P-805
Display is 8 digits, blue VFD.
4-function, %.
1.5v (1x AA batteries).
72 x 110 x 22 mm (2.8" x 4.3" x 0.9").
Made in Singapore.
Binatone PRESIDENT - Model 02/4309
Display is 8 digits, green Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD).
4-function, %, memory, square root.
3v (2x AA batteries).
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
Display is 8 digits, green vacuum fluorescent display (VFD).
Scientific functions.
4.5v (3x AA cells).
80 x 150 x 34 mm (3.1" x 5.9" x 1.3").
Made in Taiwan.
Reference
Vintage British Calculators
© Text & photographs copyright Nigel Tout 2000-2023 except where noted otherwise.